Someone gave me a Marshall amp today

Volusia · 12-01-2008, 06:43 PM

Long story short, a lady at work, that knew I played guitar, gave me an amp her ex left at her house. Apperently she had it in the basement for many years and just wanted it gone. It's a Valvestate 80 Model 8080 with 1x12. I know it's not a highly sought after amp but, it was free.

It will power up but I cannot get any sound from it. My first thought is a lose soder at the input jack. Just curious to know what some of the more common issues may be that could cause this. I thought if I could get it to play it would make a good practice amp or something that I can use to record with.

Many thanks in advance

VastHorizon · 12-01-2008, 06:50 PM

Valvestates are tube pre-amp? If it is, try changing them.

IMO, It's better to bring it to a tech.

GibsonSlash · 12-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Sweet!!

Post

bluemoon · 12-01-2008, 09:20 PM

My bet is it is preamp tube--either dead or missing

Volusia · 12-02-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluemoon

My bet is it is preamp tube--either dead or missing

Thanks for the replies. I am going to do what I can this weekend and I guess if I can't figure it out I'll see how much it will cost to have a tech repair it. Would someone here care to give me a dollar figure that would be too much to put into this amp?

Thanks,

drewbertca · 12-02-2008, 08:31 AM

My uncle has one of those...I think it's the same model....not a bad sounding amp.....

coldsteal2 · 12-02-2008, 09:31 AM

The 8080 is a great amp, yea you probably need a new
ECC83 preamp tube, i would get a JJ ECC83S

refin · 12-02-2008, 10:04 AM

My Valvestate 50 watt head uses only one tube....that's probably it.
I would open it up and spray the pots too,if the amp has been in a basement.

siore · 12-02-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volusia1*

Long story short, a lady at work, that knew I played guitar, gave me an amp her ex left at her house. Apperently she had it in the basement for many years and just wanted it gone. It's a Valvestate 80 Model 8080 with 1x12. I know it's not a highly sought after amp but, it was free.

It will power up but I cannot get any sound from it. My first thought is a lose soder at the input jack. Just curious to know what some of the more common issues may be that could cause this. I thought if I could get it to play it would make a good practice amp or something that I can use to record with.

Many thanks in advance

Check the speakers first, then work your way backwards to find the problem. Nice score on a free amp!

***b-squared*** · 12-02-2008, 10:47 AM

It shouldn't cost more than 30-50 bucks for a tech to go through it, including a new preamp tube. Might be worth it to get it looked at once.

BB

Blues Power · 12-02-2008, 11:50 AM

yup you got yourself a good one. let us know when you get it working

LoKi · 12-02-2008, 12:45 PM

My bass player had the same problem with his. I think it turned out to be the volume pot or one of the effects loop pots.

Volusia · 12-02-2008, 02:37 PM

Thanks to all you guys for the advice. I was bummed when it wouldn't play but it sounds like the pre amp tube makes the most sense. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Volusia · 12-03-2008, 01:02 PM

Update - a friend helped me get this working today. It turned out that the preamp tube was not seated correctly and the volume pots and input jack were extremely dirty. After applying contact cleaner to the front and inside of pots and to the inside of input jack the amp plays great. I feel really lucky to have had this given to me and to have a friend that took the time to go over with me.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll go play now.

coldsteal2 · 12-03-2008, 02:33 PM

They have great tone, and if you slap in a Celestion V-30
even better

captcoolaid · 12-03-2008, 08:29 PM

wow merry christmas

Volusia · 12-04-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoKi

My bass player had the same problem with his. I think it turned out to be the volume pot or one of the effects loop pots.

Turns out the GAIN and VOLUME pots on the Boost channel may be bad. We've tried contact cleaner repeatedly but the volume output is about 60% less than it is on the Normal/Clean channel.

Where could I find replacements pots for these?

12-01-2008, 06:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Volusia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 71 Thanked 24 Times in 11 Posts	Someone gave me a Marshall amp today Long story short, a lady at work, that knew I played guitar, gave me an amp her ex left at her house. Apperently she had it in the basement for many years and just wanted it gone. It's a Valvestate 80 Model 8080 with 1x12. I know it's not a highly sought after amp but, it was free. It will power up but I cannot get any sound from it. My first thought is a lose soder at the input jack. Just curious to know what some of the more common issues may be that could cause this. I thought if I could get it to play it would make a good practice amp or something that I can use to record with. Many thanks in advance __________________ *Hang out with us in the Lil' Ditty Guitar Lounge...* www.facebook.com/LilDittyGuitarLounge http://www.soundclick.com/blucas

12-01-2008, 06:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
VastHorizon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,391 Thanks: 55 Thanked 313 Times in 87 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today Valvestates are tube pre-amp? If it is, try changing them. IMO, It's better to bring it to a tech. __________________

12-01-2008, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
bluemoon Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 978 Thanks: 2 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today My bet is it is preamp tube--either dead or missing

12-02-2008, 08:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
drewbertca V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Timmins, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,529 Thanks: 6 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today My uncle has one of those...I think it's the same model....not a bad sounding amp..... __________________ BFG Defender....The normal ones...Not the over priced "First 52 of Each" ones. THIS THREAD IS DEAD!

12-02-2008, 09:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
coldsteal2 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA "Fly Over America" Posts: 35,350 Thanks: 701 Thanked 102 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today The 8080 is a great amp, yea you probably need a new ECC83 preamp tube, i would get a JJ ECC83S __________________ Cold Steal soundclick...My YouTube ... Interview.. ...Sunset Strip Rock Alumni 76-83' I'm Insane (pre-ratt)...Scene of the Crime (Pre-Ratt)..Street Legal..Song of Mine..Loved You So I Lied

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12-02-2008, 10:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
refin V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,526 Thanks: 8 Thanked 64 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today My Valvestate 50 watt head uses only one tube....that's probably it. I would open it up and spray the pots too,if the amp has been in a basement. __________________ "Play skillfully with a loud noise." PS. 33:3 MyJams http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=330460 "Sometimes you have to gag on fancy before you can appreciate the plain".

12-02-2008, 10:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
*b-squared* MLP Pacific NW! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northwest WA Posts: 20,718 Thanks: 632 Thanked 713 Times in 104 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today It shouldn't cost more than 30-50 bucks for a tech to go through it, including a new preamp tube. Might be worth it to get it looked at once. BB __________________ Life's too short to deal with bad tone!

12-02-2008, 11:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
Blues Power V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hicksville Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 19 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today yup you got yourself a good one. let us know when you get it working __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/electricbluespower

12-02-2008, 12:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
LoKi V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 6,243 Thanks: 145 Thanked 39 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today My bass player had the same problem with his. I think it turned out to be the volume pot or one of the effects loop pots. __________________ www.youtube.com/LoKi6922

12-02-2008, 02:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Volusia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 71 Thanked 24 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today Thanks to all you guys for the advice. I was bummed when it wouldn't play but it sounds like the pre amp tube makes the most sense. I'll let you know how it turns out. __________________ *Hang out with us in the Lil' Ditty Guitar Lounge...* www.facebook.com/LilDittyGuitarLounge http://www.soundclick.com/blucas

12-03-2008, 01:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
Volusia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 71 Thanked 24 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today Update - a friend helped me get this working today. It turned out that the preamp tube was not seated correctly and the volume pots and input jack were extremely dirty. After applying contact cleaner to the front and inside of pots and to the inside of input jack the amp plays great. I feel really lucky to have had this given to me and to have a friend that took the time to go over with me. Thanks for all the advice. I'll go play now. __________________ *Hang out with us in the Lil' Ditty Guitar Lounge...* www.facebook.com/LilDittyGuitarLounge http://www.soundclick.com/blucas

12-03-2008, 02:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
coldsteal2 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chico, CA "Fly Over America" Posts: 35,350 Thanks: 701 Thanked 102 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today They have great tone, and if you slap in a Celestion V-30 even better __________________ Cold Steal soundclick...My YouTube ... Interview.. ...Sunset Strip Rock Alumni 76-83' I'm Insane (pre-ratt)...Scene of the Crime (Pre-Ratt)..Street Legal..Song of Mine..Loved You So I Lied

12-03-2008, 08:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
captcoolaid Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nor Cal Beotch Posts: 11,149 Thanks: 374 Thanked 513 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Someone gave me a Marshall amp today wow merry christmas __________________ http://mhd-pickups.com/ Luthier pricing available. Or visit my youtube page http://www.youtube.com/user/MHDPickups?feature=mhum#p/f http://soundcloud.com/mhd-pickups/madhousedesigns-gameybluesmp3 DC DOES NOT EQUAL OUTPUT. Dc is a resistance value and that is all. It WILL NOT tell you what it will sound like, it WILL NOT make you sound like another player.

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