HawkeyeKane
1275 posts
Dec 05, 2012
7:38 AM
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As you know, I have my new Alamo Fury.
But there's a couple mods I'd like to make, and I'd like advice on the best way to go about it.
First, I wanna fit her with a three-prong power cord to ground it. I'm getting zapped by my vocal mic quite often, and it's bugging the hell outta me. What would be the best place to lug the third line? It does have a two-prong convenience outlet on the back, which I'd prefer to also make a three-prong. My father-in-law however recommended I lug it to the back of this outlet inside the chassis. Thoughts?
Also, since she uses 7868 power tubes, and they're becoming exceedingly rare outside the realm of Electro-Harmonix, I'd like to add a standby switch. I know, I know...tubes rarely go bad. But in this case, better safe than sorry. EH 7868's are only 30 bucks a pop, but NOS ones are going for upwards of 90. A standby switch would make me feel more at ease about the longevity of these tubes. I don't think they're original to the amp, but they're close. They're Sylvanias. Again, what's the best way of going about this?
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Hawkeye Kane
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Rick Davis
972 posts
Dec 05, 2012
8:47 AM
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I think we should have a thread about whether it is okay to refer to one's amp as "she." ;-)
I'd like to hear a recording of this amp! The 7868 tubes were used in 60's Ampeg Reverbrocket and Jet amps, which were sometimes used for harp.
As for your mods, I'd take it to a qualified tech for that. The power cord mod will be cheap. Buy a 10-foot heavy duty extension cord at WalMart and take that with you to the tech. He will cut off one end and use that. It is a pretty simple fix, probably just the minimum bench charge. And it will get done right.
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-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
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HawkeyeKane
1276 posts
Dec 05, 2012
8:58 AM
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@Rick
LOL. As I mentioned in another thread, it seems like Alamo had a propensity to name their amp models with corresponding names of cars. Fury, Dart, Capri, Challenger, Futura, Embassy, Electra, Galaxie...
So maybe not EVERY amp oughta be referred to as a female, but ones that share names with classic muscle seem to fit the bill. ;-)
I'll try and get a good recording done of the amp soon. I still need to make recordings of my 'Zoo and my friends' Lectrolab and Valco-Gretsch.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Dec 05, 2012 9:00 AM
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HawkeyeKane
1278 posts
Dec 06, 2012
12:24 PM
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Well...nevermind the standby idea. It struck me yesterday, she's SS rectified, so that's pretty much a moot point. And going to three prong may prove dicey depending on whether the chassis is hot or not. Schematics are still in the wind.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Willspear
234 posts
Dec 06, 2012
4:36 PM
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There is a guy who plays guitar locally and uses an old Alamo and he sounds tremendous. One of the few times I did a double take for someone else's rig.
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HawkeyeKane
1281 posts
Dec 07, 2012
10:39 AM
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@Willspear
Yeah...I've often heard Alamo referred to as the Southern Valco. They kinda used some oddball components at times (namely tubes), but pretty much all their stuff is bulletproof.
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Hawkeye Kane
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walterharp
995 posts
Dec 07, 2012
10:58 AM
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Yeah, take it to a good amp tech for the grounding. Not only is the placement of the grounding important, but also the older schematics often do not have the fuse in the best (safest) location, so with minor wiring changes you can protect yourself and your amp components better, but it takes someone who knows their electronics to figure this out.
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HawkeyeKane
1283 posts
Dec 07, 2012
1:17 PM
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@JD
Well, yes. Polarity is the general issue. It just seemed to me that fitting it with a 3-prong was the simplest way to avoid that. If the polarity on my amp is running the same direction as the PA, then shoots that trouble. Unplugging and replugging to reverse works too, but it's a pain, especially when you're playing. Sometimes it isn't easy to make that manuever. What about a reverse switch?
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Hawkeye Kane
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timeistight
936 posts
Dec 07, 2012
6:20 PM
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"well, sonny, (making humor 8^) when I was comin' up we set up our gear and checked polarity before we started playing. It was just something you always had to do in the old days."
Heh. I used to carry a little Radio Shack AC circuit tester in my gig bag. Without that, you'd have to use your fingers to test. Painful, but not as painful as getting zapped in the lips.
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HawkeyeKane
1296 posts
Dec 17, 2012
7:48 AM
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@timeistight
Yeah, I carry an outlet tester myself. I use it to make sure whatever outlet I'm using is grounded. I don't like not knowing with my Kalamazoo since it's hot-chassised.
Saturday night I used my fingers to test the Alamo polarity. Luckily I was using my Peavey H5 and not my Akai DM13. The H5 has a little bit of latex insulation, whereas the Akai is just enamel-painted metal. I got a slight zap to my left palm, but nothing serious. Flipped the plug before we got started and I was fine the rest of the evening. I used to wear a leather-palmed bartender's glove back in the day when I used my RetroRocket, and it usually safeguarded me from any zappage. But every now and then....
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2012 9:55 AM
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