I’ve had a Louis Electric Tremoverb amp for a few months. I’ve not used it a massive amount, probably less than 25 hours in total, and worked fine until rehearsal on Friday. The sound dropped off quickly while playing and smoke started coming out of the back. Turned it off, sulked a bit and brought it home. I’ve had the back off this afternoon and powered it up on standby and it sounds like the power transformer is boiling...it’s getting very warm very quickly and I don’t really want to leave it on very long like that. I can’t see anything obviously wrong (loose wires or damage). Can anyone help identify what this might be? I will return it to Coda as it should still be under warranty but that’ll be a pain in the arse as I haven’t got the box anymore (and it’s heavy) but if anyone knows anything that it might be worth checking as a way of fixing it that would be appreciated.
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"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The amp was returned to Coda. It was returned to their tech who reported the power transformer failed due to faulty valve. Now, 10 weeks after I returned it, the replacement transformer has still not been supplied by Louis Electric even after a number of attempts from Peach/their tech to get one. The tech is now suggesting getting one from the UK and using that.
What are your thoughts on this? My issue is that even though it is only the power transformer and should not affect the sound it is not an OEM part and could devalue the amp if I choose to sell it on. I bought the amp new in January and through no fault of my own I will no longer have a 100% original product (I can understand if the issue was just replacement tubes as that is normal but the power transformer shouldn't need changing).
I am just being fussy or should I demand replacement or refund? I've pretty much lost faith in Louis Electric as this is the second amp I've had issues with.
I would like to make 100% clear that Coda have been great through all this and I have absolutely nothing bad to say about them. Marc has kept in touch and let me know what is going on and when I have chased has got back to me straight away. The issue is with Louis Electric and very poor customer service.
Myself and a colleague often deal with these sort of issues and it can be a real pain getting original spares.
One US builder (whose work would pass NO safety standard) simply said use a Hammond off-the-shelf for a blown output transformer rather than try to supply a replacement. They paid us to do this, but that's hardly the point.
Like you say, Coda provide top notch service and I would assume they're pretty naffed off at Louis Electric too. Not good. It's got to be said that it's not the first time I've heard reliability issues with them - even one in Coda I tried had something wrong with it! They do sound deliciously 'old' though.
OP - happy to help in any way that I can
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
Just a bit odd that the output tx should cook like that.