Blowing valve amp fuses??

Bob_Gnarly

Is this an indicator of power amp valve issues?
My Blackstar Artisan 15H recently blew a mains fuse and then the replacement straight away.
Another replacement is holding a week later, so just dodgy new fuse, of symptomatic of other issues?

ICBM

Unfortunately it’s like to be a valve issue - rectifier or power, not preamp. They can sometimes develop intermittent faults which do this and then appear to go away, but not usually permanently.

ecc83

ICBM said:

Unfortunately it’s like to be a valve issue - rectifier or power, not preamp. They can sometimes develop intermittent faults which do this and then appear to go away, but not usually permanently.

Yes, almost certainly the EZ81  (best replacement IC? ) I HATE thermionic rectifiers!

Dave.

Bob_Gnarly

Cheers ICBM, any recommendations of what will work nicely with the Mullards you put in it?
Cheers

ICBM

You can probably get an old Mullard for not that much, if it’s the EZ81 that’s the problem - they’re not one of the expensive valve types. If not, JJ are usually the most reliable of the new-production ones. Rectifier valves in general don’t make a noticeable difference to the sound as long as they’re the proper spec. (There are some, eg Sovtek GZ34s, which are not.)