RyanScott80
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- Joined
- Jan 27, 2024
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- 6
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I bought a red stripe last year that was in rough condition, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Filter caps were leaking, a pot shaft had broken clean off, the grille cloth needed replaced, the fan was missing, EQ sliders were seized up, and the tolex was beyond filthy. I knew all of this when I bought it, and paid well below the market price.
I've addressed all these issues, and the last thing I need to do before I call this restoration finished is to replace all the original electrolytic caps on the main board. I know most of them are accessible from the top, but some are in a densely populated area of the board, making it difficult to work from the top. I also can't replace the radial cap without getting underneath it. I'd prefer not to clip and solder to existing leads, even though that might be considered acceptable. Before I dig into this, what is the best approach to get the board out with minimal desoldering? I don't do this professionally, but I have a background in engineering and I'm not new to working on amps. I've done builds, mods, and maintenance on a few different amps, and I know how to work safely. I'm just not used to dealing with the rats nest of a Mesa chassis, I come from the Marshall world. If anyone has done this and can offer advice on the cleanest way to get it out, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
I've addressed all these issues, and the last thing I need to do before I call this restoration finished is to replace all the original electrolytic caps on the main board. I know most of them are accessible from the top, but some are in a densely populated area of the board, making it difficult to work from the top. I also can't replace the radial cap without getting underneath it. I'd prefer not to clip and solder to existing leads, even though that might be considered acceptable. Before I dig into this, what is the best approach to get the board out with minimal desoldering? I don't do this professionally, but I have a background in engineering and I'm not new to working on amps. I've done builds, mods, and maintenance on a few different amps, and I know how to work safely. I'm just not used to dealing with the rats nest of a Mesa chassis, I come from the Marshall world. If anyone has done this and can offer advice on the cleanest way to get it out, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.