tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88794029571162647152024-03-13T00:30:38.564+00:00Russ Fletcher's HiFi, audio and beyond...This blog is about me, my friends and the things I or we do. You may find information about what I'm up to in my business, articles about music or local gigs, things I have got for sale (usually hi-fi or PA gear), info about local events and occasionally something personal. Hopefully, you will find some things that are interesting!Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-9732419410269660192012-10-16T11:40:00.002+01:002012-10-16T11:54:23.734+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jpmbZdyk9Tvfk60lQMqpJNyGRD12JawHdhhMKdCAPeYE0wIVrpo1CXM8z_MkNwbRIqFxdsd7d1op0ZXL5V6QZkO7q_qybktEwyAml5J0nXMr8-JapiJXxE0yA6mv_JMXxXFbSEAWDv4/s1600/foh-news-item.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jpmbZdyk9Tvfk60lQMqpJNyGRD12JawHdhhMKdCAPeYE0wIVrpo1CXM8z_MkNwbRIqFxdsd7d1op0ZXL5V6QZkO7q_qybktEwyAml5J0nXMr8-JapiJXxE0yA6mv_JMXxXFbSEAWDv4/s400/foh-news-item.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Acoustic Streams has also been selected to host a leg of the Naim "The Future of Hi-Fi" roadshow on Saturday 10th November from 12pm to 6pm. The full Naim streaming product range will be available to demo with music from Naim Label and why not bring your own as well? Staff from Naim will be available on the day to answer any questions you may have.<br />
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Visit <a href="http://www.naimaudio.com/future-hifi-register" target="_blank">http://www.naimaudio.com/future-hifi-register</a> fill in the form and select "Penzance, Acoustic Streams" from the drop box for a chance to win a Naim UnitiLite. On Naim's site you can also find out more about what the event entails.<br />
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Think that streaming is all lo-fi, iPods and mp3s? Just pop along and prepare to be Naimwashed!<br />
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<a href="http://www.acousticstreams.com/news">www.acousticstreams.com/news</a>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-29174627218418273912012-10-16T11:23:00.005+01:002012-10-16T11:29:35.912+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVgfNrfcErVjQwTjb8Mh5SiOY7h9oaLuMQ2cTNTMWiMbLxApqYpV8wBJWwrenuLmZAr-Kma_in9CNVgjCrVsmN6uEN3153yrUBrHL0mKbw-XgFDeSiAVhpUCsm6opEfr9K3lt6IWR_6A/s1600/acousticstreams-chord-digital-event-A4-003jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVgfNrfcErVjQwTjb8Mh5SiOY7h9oaLuMQ2cTNTMWiMbLxApqYpV8wBJWwrenuLmZAr-Kma_in9CNVgjCrVsmN6uEN3153yrUBrHL0mKbw-XgFDeSiAVhpUCsm6opEfr9K3lt6IWR_6A/s400/acousticstreams-chord-digital-event-A4-003jpeg.jpg" title="Acoustic Streams Chord Digital Event Poster" width="283" /></a></div>
Poster for the Digital Audio event Acoustic Streams in Long Rock are hosting for The Chord Company. The event is between 5pm and 9pm on Friday 26th October and 9am and 5pm on Saturday 27th October.<br />
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Lots of music to listen to and great equipment to listen to it on. Full range of Chord digital cables on demonstration, new product exclusives, prize draw, special offers and pasties!<br />
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Plus they have the full "A" range of Spendor speakers in for the event and Rega's reference Isis and Osiris, CD player and amplifier.<br />
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<a href="http://www.acousticstreams.com/news" target="_blank">http://www.acousticstreams.com/news</a>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-41334142392128143582011-12-23T22:23:00.000+00:002011-12-23T22:23:10.726+00:00More vintage / unusual stuff<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJpAXxWgxJs/TvT20aa0sTI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/PN5q4hOffIY/s1600/Vox+AC30+Super+Twin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yet more unusual items:</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NagwLYW2uEg/TvT27NueNRI/AAAAAAAAAew/oC-OHbA2Ag4/s1600/Feton+Weill+Reverbertion+Unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NagwLYW2uEg/TvT27NueNRI/AAAAAAAAAew/oC-OHbA2Ag4/s320/Feton+Weill+Reverbertion+Unit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fenton Weill Revderberator</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oa1iSLI5o4/TvT21ySVBeI/AAAAAAAAAek/xXShDsN1ibw/s1600/Crest+CA18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oa1iSLI5o4/TvT21ySVBeI/AAAAAAAAAek/xXShDsN1ibw/s1600/Crest+CA18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Crest CA18</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SUaqehPXanY/TvT29ZWITvI/AAAAAAAAAe4/iCm03sLypv8/s1600/Miracle+ITA45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SUaqehPXanY/TvT29ZWITvI/AAAAAAAAAe4/iCm03sLypv8/s320/Miracle+ITA45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Miracle ITA45</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-iocnxkV7o/TvT2-CN4b1I/AAAAAAAAAe8/oPRKjjRACSw/s1600/Panoramic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-iocnxkV7o/TvT2-CN4b1I/AAAAAAAAAe8/oPRKjjRACSw/s320/Panoramic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Panaramic Model 62</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlMYG23kCVY/TvT2-5k8WUI/AAAAAAAAAfI/G9AuJRUVaKI/s1600/Selmer+Zodiac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlMYG23kCVY/TvT2-5k8WUI/AAAAAAAAAfI/G9AuJRUVaKI/s1600/Selmer+Zodiac.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Selmer Zodiac 50 combo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0iU0uZBbqE/TvTg8apwwrI/AAAAAAAAAdI/bsxKFCApn3w/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d0iU0uZBbqE/TvTg8apwwrI/AAAAAAAAAdI/bsxKFCApn3w/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Custom built valve mic pre-amp</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRkUiTma4XA/TvThAi1pK9I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Bmkm7Cnfgio/s320/IMG_5021.JPG" width="320" /></span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfW2CdRCmck/TvT2_aQG4fI/AAAAAAAAAfU/54liHx2cQko/s1600/Seymour+Duncan+Convertible+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfW2CdRCmck/TvT2_aQG4fI/AAAAAAAAAfU/54liHx2cQko/s320/Seymour+Duncan+Convertible+100.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seymour Duncan Convertible 100W</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TsRvboJSecc/TvThrq50cCI/AAAAAAAAAdc/57jjYQAZquY/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TsRvboJSecc/TvThrq50cCI/AAAAAAAAAdc/57jjYQAZquY/s320/IMG_4713.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snell Type J MkII for cone rebuilds</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PF9ZRDlI75U/TvTiMs15s2I/AAAAAAAAAdw/Jsl5iGfsvUU/s1600/IMG_4980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PF9ZRDlI75U/TvTiMs15s2I/AAAAAAAAAdw/Jsl5iGfsvUU/s320/IMG_4980.JPG" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">VOX LS40 for upgrade</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSoXeaZ6kmc/TvTilxqcbrI/AAAAAAAAAeE/5mhp5xN_6AY/s1600/IMG_4987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSoXeaZ6kmc/TvTilxqcbrI/AAAAAAAAAeE/5mhp5xN_6AY/s320/IMG_4987.JPG" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old & new - conversion from 40W to 800W!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67dDfr8QII8/TvT21QMR92I/AAAAAAAAAec/NsckeT0gBHU/s1600/Ampeg+B-15N.gif" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-67dDfr8QII8/TvT21QMR92I/AAAAAAAAAec/NsckeT0gBHU/s1600/Ampeg+B-15N.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ampeg B-15N<br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uMc_n3r9m8/TvT2-hyeQbI/AAAAAAAAAfE/oC0ioEjKAxY/s1600/Peavey+Wiggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uMc_n3r9m8/TvT2-hyeQbI/AAAAAAAAAfE/oC0ioEjKAxY/s320/Peavey+Wiggy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Peavey Wiggy<br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJpAXxWgxJs/TvT20aa0sTI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/PN5q4hOffIY/s1600/Vox+AC30+Super+Twin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJpAXxWgxJs/TvT20aa0sTI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/PN5q4hOffIY/s320/Vox+AC30+Super+Twin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">VOX AC30 Super Twin</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nvIVeMResE/TvT20zkd2eI/AAAAAAAAAeU/YWVL4Y40Qj4/s1600/AKG+D12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nvIVeMResE/TvT20zkd2eI/AAAAAAAAAeU/YWVL4Y40Qj4/s320/AKG+D12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">AKG D12</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-77789195354477300922011-12-16T17:04:00.000+00:002011-12-16T17:04:39.595+00:00Lots of Work!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The work just doesn't seem to be letting up lately, I've been <i>incredibly </i>busy for he last couple of months (and just plain busy before that!).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Without much time to sit down and write a full-blown episode at the moment, here's a taster of just some of the vintage guitar amps that have been coming in lately:-</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Elpico AC-55</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLv2En3W5t7BuKXaNVmDvxlwgRAISVh08-mUYtzPQG3Ht7XX-kVV_fZc1Ts9QeXGRuxS0bsmr2OG5qF0ET0lfm4mXpf5wS1WCFRqkS9jRsiBRcpgp6e_668qSD6cdM4mMo_cBMvquUGc/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLv2En3W5t7BuKXaNVmDvxlwgRAISVh08-mUYtzPQG3Ht7XX-kVV_fZc1Ts9QeXGRuxS0bsmr2OG5qF0ET0lfm4mXpf5wS1WCFRqkS9jRsiBRcpgp6e_668qSD6cdM4mMo_cBMvquUGc/s320/IMG_5006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAiXRbITCfhE-XenOVQ5t0unSqMTfJkbsff-rJPtqou4sokr6uT4eMtTzPaNC39To9XkJN0MVqbpuo7ZpPND8snuAaby0uKXFjn38RhcjA1hpvWqBN_W2AVv6NHCRr-031Jp1Y6Npyug/s1600/IMG_5007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAiXRbITCfhE-XenOVQ5t0unSqMTfJkbsff-rJPtqou4sokr6uT4eMtTzPaNC39To9XkJN0MVqbpuo7ZpPND8snuAaby0uKXFjn38RhcjA1hpvWqBN_W2AVv6NHCRr-031Jp1Y6Npyug/s320/IMG_5007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Selmer Zodiac 100 S.V.</span></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Watkins Scout</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM-tVjxYxfCnvF2MGkJFS-25BOl8wUXwo1rKysC8GOgShmE5mCe7_3Yoeh82JIVZlM4Pk6sY3sIC40oe8kYbl4TtZZbqR1IAJl29K9uwoBwyaqDnLY1iN6PahvEWtOLK5pSfsS-wFaZY/s1600/Watkins+Scout+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM-tVjxYxfCnvF2MGkJFS-25BOl8wUXwo1rKysC8GOgShmE5mCe7_3Yoeh82JIVZlM4Pk6sY3sIC40oe8kYbl4TtZZbqR1IAJl29K9uwoBwyaqDnLY1iN6PahvEWtOLK5pSfsS-wFaZY/s320/Watkins+Scout+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You don't say!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>My next personal project:</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is a late 1960's <a href="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/selmer/kelly/kel.html">Kelly</a> 50W lead & bass head.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm not a player, so this will be up for sale when it's finished (any offers?).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's basically in good shape, so should turn out nice. I have no idea when it was last used and I haven't run it up yet, so don't know if it has any major issues. Probably not as the build standard is very high.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrY8mV72P2iXjrl_q2S5roKcw4MspVG2Y_sahed_UutU6DQXFVZrLV9oW_GG1_GO8IbvCvHVALX5zLrKugY6XbHKhSx044hc_-b6yfitWWx62inarSy4B5HmuzCPLNKEKLGur546fdHQk/s1600/01+As+it+arrived.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrY8mV72P2iXjrl_q2S5roKcw4MspVG2Y_sahed_UutU6DQXFVZrLV9oW_GG1_GO8IbvCvHVALX5zLrKugY6XbHKhSx044hc_-b6yfitWWx62inarSy4B5HmuzCPLNKEKLGur546fdHQk/s320/01+As+it+arrived.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhTKbavMykWqRCQJdVIw7fBomwIwDZE5L7_6yKjDJUc_v74k-b80Ng1c9pSEv9EbDsVtTgMoNNAswaXNARv8oCai3p42qOxM5SLzQfz0e0-jfEcofAbEMg4g4rz-EbMZxRSqOorieAMY/s1600/04+A+porevious+owner+perhaps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhTKbavMykWqRCQJdVIw7fBomwIwDZE5L7_6yKjDJUc_v74k-b80Ng1c9pSEv9EbDsVtTgMoNNAswaXNARv8oCai3p42qOxM5SLzQfz0e0-jfEcofAbEMg4g4rz-EbMZxRSqOorieAMY/s320/04+A+porevious+owner+perhaps.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A previous owner?</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhfsQo93frJMkuebWOXm7rJ4bsdmKbQtrU7t8yZQVjqG6-Kh9FpdG_wDaxmMk-w2qPa6t_gXT34BGpfbXUg8HnIrtdvlQF-iatI2UVQ2saR8GW6u2IL-R4e8sGwYU8xqG9_IlDxG-ek/s1600/17+Tag+strip++right+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhfsQo93frJMkuebWOXm7rJ4bsdmKbQtrU7t8yZQVjqG6-Kh9FpdG_wDaxmMk-w2qPa6t_gXT34BGpfbXUg8HnIrtdvlQF-iatI2UVQ2saR8GW6u2IL-R4e8sGwYU8xqG9_IlDxG-ek/s320/17+Tag+strip++right+side.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-21148560068606845222011-11-07T00:15:00.000+00:002011-11-07T10:12:34.724+00:00An ageing Fender amp<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A very old Fender Tremolux guitar amp recently entered the workshop. A brief investigation revealed that it was a 1962 6G9-B, a blonde, brown face.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About 30 years ago, the owner had bought a good working Tremolux combo and this "non-runner" came with it as a spares donor. It had been in his loft ever since and now it's time for a total electronics rebuild.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_nLxUXhSm6bNavPjLUD-pxvNwkjhGnroROfP5k-UaFWjgfKN4KzvorCJWJw1lUFisaBXjzFYAe1zy_zQTR1Inn40MzTrmcw-jvtcegII9TQMNLOcJWds4xXvrKSESivNczS57-XCFcc/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_nLxUXhSm6bNavPjLUD-pxvNwkjhGnroROfP5k-UaFWjgfKN4KzvorCJWJw1lUFisaBXjzFYAe1zy_zQTR1Inn40MzTrmcw-jvtcegII9TQMNLOcJWds4xXvrKSESivNczS57-XCFcc/s320/IMG_4646.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A little bit scruffy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdnYa5HeMqX-cV_UlWmJT9g5re8Ukx1CmE7SLw9UOqLvLbC7yP8ka82t4v1BlJ7AUxTcxR0cJmVT17JF6Nl9V5uK_Ftbhv_-8D95NGqJHPO8A_d3QcQb2lAnAIaJ3JO2GjMCMyFJwaiE/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdnYa5HeMqX-cV_UlWmJT9g5re8Ukx1CmE7SLw9UOqLvLbC7yP8ka82t4v1BlJ7AUxTcxR0cJmVT17JF6Nl9V5uK_Ftbhv_-8D95NGqJHPO8A_d3QcQb2lAnAIaJ3JO2GjMCMyFJwaiE/s320/IMG_4647.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pity we're not going to re-do the tolex as well as the internals.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUlD9Z4a_S7_p1JRDEiXs-17sM0EoGWWJ0Jt8zOxv3Vm43NLm9CeTPZh88gYV_bkTLHDre3TzPMqJkFralm13gUFw8T1DRvc9Ij7uX_z467ApMKf3hmrdjRXwu3vdg0r1J0rgBRvmxHc/s1600/IMG_4649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUlD9Z4a_S7_p1JRDEiXs-17sM0EoGWWJ0Jt8zOxv3Vm43NLm9CeTPZh88gYV_bkTLHDre3TzPMqJkFralm13gUFw8T1DRvc9Ij7uX_z467ApMKf3hmrdjRXwu3vdg0r1J0rgBRvmxHc/s320/IMG_4649.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The chassis is looking a bit tired.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC-z0PEhJojpjf9MGC3ZUWUuVp97bgVYb9amWsIAY0Hi3hzl826153cRcknQ8zADiT7gttooADEaLcAKXGTxaQgvsehOKtLsR1pAd-Sqqo2Ywy0tN_tNRCj8YNmNj9YDB7X5LiTHg3R4/s1600/IMG_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC-z0PEhJojpjf9MGC3ZUWUuVp97bgVYb9amWsIAY0Hi3hzl826153cRcknQ8zADiT7gttooADEaLcAKXGTxaQgvsehOKtLsR1pAd-Sqqo2Ywy0tN_tNRCj8YNmNj9YDB7X5LiTHg3R4/s320/IMG_4648.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The filter caps are in various stages of decay and the cover is missing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o_8phsNkpK6Og9YjjabVBPDhTufB6cyiTL5rhut1_l4pAM2WbIGYhZ69aalEX6Z6KX6UlgivBuouFGBSG1F5PnUM0QGDWqicVuSHD3D-6-Cdr6u3z_KwyQztNqRIOhtjCA15rLbXkHQ/s1600/IMG_4650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o_8phsNkpK6Og9YjjabVBPDhTufB6cyiTL5rhut1_l4pAM2WbIGYhZ69aalEX6Z6KX6UlgivBuouFGBSG1F5PnUM0QGDWqicVuSHD3D-6-Cdr6u3z_KwyQztNqRIOhtjCA15rLbXkHQ/s320/IMG_4650.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A few valves missing, but we're going to replace them all anyway.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRkYudnaqUceTGYBeDv7gXdsdig78AJj7riAGptY0zJyyLFnw2JrW7ZyqYojQGDJkqi8kuK0lIkryD9hJ8YSIC0YsYfRCVHNofzFGXSC-KdSRVUeH1iLi7x0-j6tPEFzr8ctNYchkw-M/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRkYudnaqUceTGYBeDv7gXdsdig78AJj7riAGptY0zJyyLFnw2JrW7ZyqYojQGDJkqi8kuK0lIkryD9hJ8YSIC0YsYfRCVHNofzFGXSC-KdSRVUeH1iLi7x0-j6tPEFzr8ctNYchkw-M/s320/IMG_4651.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is where most of the work is going to happen.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELzJsZDNOXBiucHLXzC0OEVDbyiuNsNJqzr9bjCSHiWX8e95EKK4POwvbstasDMA80pPyz4jnV-Sp4UaFlYUSZebeE_-tZUl_mJPolAqNz_1zOX_e9rGO3nr7BrDI0g8hNDeWrT6NuNw/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELzJsZDNOXBiucHLXzC0OEVDbyiuNsNJqzr9bjCSHiWX8e95EKK4POwvbstasDMA80pPyz4jnV-Sp4UaFlYUSZebeE_-tZUl_mJPolAqNz_1zOX_e9rGO3nr7BrDI0g8hNDeWrT6NuNw/s320/IMG_4652.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">And a view from the other side.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yIb2CNIhcq7ERBYJRtBRXWDGPlriXNIMKH_plSdjQ-wHs5_aHW-JicnsnGOXBw2OtAtMpaFOkTpM9HMAFczRYKFv8f-UKI4Xf3uuEmazzyc0gCBUxaSXEjI2UWDe-Fce3FwHeJuCpSM/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yIb2CNIhcq7ERBYJRtBRXWDGPlriXNIMKH_plSdjQ-wHs5_aHW-JicnsnGOXBw2OtAtMpaFOkTpM9HMAFczRYKFv8f-UKI4Xf3uuEmazzyc0gCBUxaSXEjI2UWDe-Fce3FwHeJuCpSM/s320/IMG_4653.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Check-out the hand wiring.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uldYti_LcVACBeBoqNu1-arGu1ovn1ySKafAnmcGmUzCVsg50EdFA4YSYtLFen1vnUCmCdmFDU3Ym6EYfPlytHAmzNuVP91Jb_oCCa-NTHpUvWMiGkYsPKM-kVynXpOuauk7eaqajkE/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uldYti_LcVACBeBoqNu1-arGu1ovn1ySKafAnmcGmUzCVsg50EdFA4YSYtLFen1vnUCmCdmFDU3Ym6EYfPlytHAmzNuVP91Jb_oCCa-NTHpUvWMiGkYsPKM-kVynXpOuauk7eaqajkE/s320/IMG_4654.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mains transformer turned out to be defective, so we'll have to find a replacement.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jVaNdMk5_IQ_F82dOJY1E7J6iLE-1leIyK0ISXtH4H0i9jd_2HspQKjnl4FxiLBKJLpPep6FItP47jeI2KgAfm193qIDniJw5J2vPaeMZEL4C0bq7Mn8TnD7vPcd9oa7xpBezRSY5j0/s1600/IMG_4706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jVaNdMk5_IQ_F82dOJY1E7J6iLE-1leIyK0ISXtH4H0i9jd_2HspQKjnl4FxiLBKJLpPep6FItP47jeI2KgAfm193qIDniJw5J2vPaeMZEL4C0bq7Mn8TnD7vPcd9oa7xpBezRSY5j0/s320/IMG_4706.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is looking a bit better now.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P7kNx4ar8BzJribDUPUesikkYbuJtmQ-WD1-PEl-hZ-OstRlaPxFfWLEQBnMULhWNBGTYUyMoWhKWbQ8gKqEhnN-Q_Wm53Yv1cg9Bej6Rdpwsd4WAGIFai6u6fnJ23ek8qlCpcQrK20/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P7kNx4ar8BzJribDUPUesikkYbuJtmQ-WD1-PEl-hZ-OstRlaPxFfWLEQBnMULhWNBGTYUyMoWhKWbQ8gKqEhnN-Q_Wm53Yv1cg9Bej6Rdpwsd4WAGIFai6u6fnJ23ek8qlCpcQrK20/s320/IMG_4708.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some new filter capacitors fitted, those carbon resistors are still good and can stay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqK5cvASeOeW2MaVCK0YG4Qr0f0bQcWLeOU1JQjpHfRz3j2uyxrmjViuU1GmoFo_XQC_huFP9Hq5KHQxIb3TjWd1XDesafcgPI_uXZ3vbJn954A8j0AyskGvlwl0_IXJhiDU3e7G6-88/s1600/IMG_4711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqK5cvASeOeW2MaVCK0YG4Qr0f0bQcWLeOU1JQjpHfRz3j2uyxrmjViuU1GmoFo_XQC_huFP9Hq5KHQxIb3TjWd1XDesafcgPI_uXZ3vbJn954A8j0AyskGvlwl0_IXJhiDU3e7G6-88/s320/IMG_4711.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The original amp was 110v ac input, a bit of new labelling applied at the rear end.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegHRnbvlNhyphenhyphenBo0wbbcxB3qYF1jplZSI4cVnUBnC30RCkJ8TB6T1aF3_oby4i1EdBbWy0DF0pASCTCv_Op-tr24H7YtfEdnp9o5nJPuHATsJXtAGnQ-iFGwlU9zGSAKSeF09x5dhgE9Z8/s1600/IMG_4945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegHRnbvlNhyphenhyphenBo0wbbcxB3qYF1jplZSI4cVnUBnC30RCkJ8TB6T1aF3_oby4i1EdBbWy0DF0pASCTCv_Op-tr24H7YtfEdnp9o5nJPuHATsJXtAGnQ-iFGwlU9zGSAKSeF09x5dhgE9Z8/s320/IMG_4945.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The new mains transformer courtesy of Mike at Danbury Electronics. The size is perfect, it drops straight in. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC5ZC7op1JjbxJKgo2s1H04L5FNFkVdb-Twya-q4pmt3CBdfs8PU3Bu5Cnoq7bbYi2bV1tUcp6Q2O7h_hFyjnH5h5gDtVNa5kqanBGiQ6UCosgoDOqNwHdQh3uEwJke6wJoIOn9a6mGQ/s1600/IMG_4946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC5ZC7op1JjbxJKgo2s1H04L5FNFkVdb-Twya-q4pmt3CBdfs8PU3Bu5Cnoq7bbYi2bV1tUcp6Q2O7h_hFyjnH5h5gDtVNa5kqanBGiQ6UCosgoDOqNwHdQh3uEwJke6wJoIOn9a6mGQ/s320/IMG_4946.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A close-up of some new pots.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsRIr3Ze5a6CJz-CZzqpOJ73LXQbFVE3BWfF4L_F3uevB_Bf9L78tf6WFi5Xk-3k4i5aTJxYAaK0m4N4jvm9oHiuQdb3Nd5Vzmv7zDixKNrdx4Zm1eUc0laQpyfONaiVcze3HCzzLcac/s1600/IMG_4949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsRIr3Ze5a6CJz-CZzqpOJ73LXQbFVE3BWfF4L_F3uevB_Bf9L78tf6WFi5Xk-3k4i5aTJxYAaK0m4N4jvm9oHiuQdb3Nd5Vzmv7zDixKNrdx4Zm1eUc0laQpyfONaiVcze3HCzzLcac/s320/IMG_4949.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the replacement for the peculiar 350k/70k tapped pots used in the treble positions. I can supply these if anyone needs them.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLmByqCQpi03jP9VMMCBoMsDJT4NmxvwMgQjWOr6kSlFr4IWL6u91iAceX0JGVvfIiET79PaChyphenhyphenDgCXnTfzT5opYP2StWrMTperISO-JlGEMFLtxBTpxLcx8GKlJEzN8z9d_ZHYlWqGQ/s1600/IMG_4951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLmByqCQpi03jP9VMMCBoMsDJT4NmxvwMgQjWOr6kSlFr4IWL6u91iAceX0JGVvfIiET79PaChyphenhyphenDgCXnTfzT5opYP2StWrMTperISO-JlGEMFLtxBTpxLcx8GKlJEzN8z9d_ZHYlWqGQ/s320/IMG_4951.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">When fired up, it turned out that the output tubes were running a bit hot. This is a little mod for adjustable bias, now we can trim it a bit more accurately. Apart from this little bias issue, the amp worked first time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGglgI40wZBFP_gWSngY5Tyjh2O6-nvz5EJo92kdN8fYcEY75RRq-xRrNNvvJ1-7top5_GstHiD69yShrJ8ReXtcTzA7pSzGv8Cht7gL-TwZ2Hcdyy6oerAAM79uJQeERcNIkasuBaVM/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGglgI40wZBFP_gWSngY5Tyjh2O6-nvz5EJo92kdN8fYcEY75RRq-xRrNNvvJ1-7top5_GstHiD69yShrJ8ReXtcTzA7pSzGv8Cht7gL-TwZ2Hcdyy6oerAAM79uJQeERcNIkasuBaVM/s320/IMG_4943.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Topside after completion. Those tube shields cleaned up nicely.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdLhVoVNsXsahSvZZlnWqhh5HXNs0rNa5YUb_cg_x6peDItMiFlLSPcOLxLbFxeSDTv68rvDgzs705sDp9EWC3HuAyVZGN2Ss_FP7MkB_ykLBPSRH1FkCGDb6mPKTlGLB87q80kEf_PY/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdLhVoVNsXsahSvZZlnWqhh5HXNs0rNa5YUb_cg_x6peDItMiFlLSPcOLxLbFxeSDTv68rvDgzs705sDp9EWC3HuAyVZGN2Ss_FP7MkB_ykLBPSRH1FkCGDb6mPKTlGLB87q80kEf_PY/s320/IMG_4944.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A cleaned up front panel with a matching set of the original design knobs.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdzJrRB5ZNLUzUXDJ8d-Ynw-0eKstCwNYdCJUVuvQ5iOUGUvhafrpa5vjoQv_ycO6aBrz9Ly2T3-2J9K4Ema7lQvrn7tEeBuOJB2z-1fQc48JvryE-DFNknHt80-FZywnzXgBZrxscwU/s1600/IMG_4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdzJrRB5ZNLUzUXDJ8d-Ynw-0eKstCwNYdCJUVuvQ5iOUGUvhafrpa5vjoQv_ycO6aBrz9Ly2T3-2J9K4Ema7lQvrn7tEeBuOJB2z-1fQc48JvryE-DFNknHt80-FZywnzXgBZrxscwU/s320/IMG_4956.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">The finished amp.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U9uriVZZBrDyDcVcz7Jz-OwWEepBpfrJvv6SyKAx1A1T5f1koeNWiUzctQeUCNxMoyiUn_tDCmTyrikabbxhDXXuc8_6Oz6J2l2df9ReTePFTAnTmCzuj-deB7xxjCwgz4G7xhj3BYc/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U9uriVZZBrDyDcVcz7Jz-OwWEepBpfrJvv6SyKAx1A1T5f1koeNWiUzctQeUCNxMoyiUn_tDCmTyrikabbxhDXXuc8_6Oz6J2l2df9ReTePFTAnTmCzuj-deB7xxjCwgz4G7xhj3BYc/s320/IMG_4957.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">IEC fitted at the rear, instead of the grubby old Powercon that was on there.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-46001159184414430582011-10-04T15:03:00.000+01:002011-10-04T15:42:38.140+01:00A bit of a fire in a Marshall DSL50 guitar amp<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's an interesting little job just done</span>.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a Marshall DSL50 valve guitar amp with the report "keeps blowing fuses and there's a funny smell".</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXlhrOSIIrQjOwI-BqbirQrNjYL8G_ruTGSdPCzas6EPTZFDDrFnHdiFNI_S-01dZSK5gNC35UQa2dR0ZDsr0axi0OPT1nH2k9eFqh4x4UzyXCgHPqXxYB8M6aJuoAar9Xt-MMYVpxYg/s1600/Marshall+DSL50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXlhrOSIIrQjOwI-BqbirQrNjYL8G_ruTGSdPCzas6EPTZFDDrFnHdiFNI_S-01dZSK5gNC35UQa2dR0ZDsr0axi0OPT1nH2k9eFqh4x4UzyXCgHPqXxYB8M6aJuoAar9Xt-MMYVpxYg/s320/Marshall+DSL50.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let's open it up. The output tubes checkout at very low emission using my Mullard MkIV valve tester. So whatever else I find, they need replacing anyway.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBdTRr7PqWDJkXiF2Zy_bje0F3fDpAgQbVzrXEvwNP6wEIm7hnusBorOZS-uTtnpRE6OYe7eiLo8Xadod8R_cBdvV1W_xDxtAjplUvlFAhZEo2Ere2W-j4DvLiZk1LeJ2UosIIVf5uu8/s1600/EL34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBdTRr7PqWDJkXiF2Zy_bje0F3fDpAgQbVzrXEvwNP6wEIm7hnusBorOZS-uTtnpRE6OYe7eiLo8Xadod8R_cBdvV1W_xDxtAjplUvlFAhZEo2Ere2W-j4DvLiZk1LeJ2UosIIVf5uu8/s200/EL34.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the valve bases is a bit black and sooty, and so is the socket that it came out of. Better take a closer look. Let's get to the PCB.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT_y3nLF30z4HVpitLucGxqPlWXfyx0owu2WnWuCySb2spCMp41fxbm-LOQdLOCM2kP_r8CjPkIqXjCrCjM1YdSQG87SbL1eMMvwbyvYisxyej_-J8ypja76mKEFcWGb9CoARDE1AssM/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT_y3nLF30z4HVpitLucGxqPlWXfyx0owu2WnWuCySb2spCMp41fxbm-LOQdLOCM2kP_r8CjPkIqXjCrCjM1YdSQG87SbL1eMMvwbyvYisxyej_-J8ypja76mKEFcWGb9CoARDE1AssM/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Valves out and top plate removed. That'll be the trouble then!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuam72EqumkOc6lMKtW31fgnskfp3t890cXjCs983Fik_IONGa88fU6uXDqqGr5cqfGf0NlLg60qxCGVZRKALsOtDpOgJJIWdBUPpV-nWTtyr8c7xcR_nm1p_Si0P0vCSjT7KQxsn3jaQ/s1600/IMG_4687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuam72EqumkOc6lMKtW31fgnskfp3t890cXjCs983Fik_IONGa88fU6uXDqqGr5cqfGf0NlLg60qxCGVZRKALsOtDpOgJJIWdBUPpV-nWTtyr8c7xcR_nm1p_Si0P0vCSjT7KQxsn3jaQ/s320/IMG_4687.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> A closer view at that valve socket.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichWajdijbNRvkxmRiI4AWH3hxCd5i7OZNukgEWF-0-Iqy66WycGX2gXY11lj1Lv-FnLb4J_mDWNguwz8f3a2vcGaNmZTxQfKIG6M29_BYSYg-WGWj4oUbsYBF_u92GYsNkGsgxActVlM/s1600/IMG_4690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichWajdijbNRvkxmRiI4AWH3hxCd5i7OZNukgEWF-0-Iqy66WycGX2gXY11lj1Lv-FnLb4J_mDWNguwz8f3a2vcGaNmZTxQfKIG6M29_BYSYg-WGWj4oUbsYBF_u92GYsNkGsgxActVlM/s320/IMG_4690.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Get the socket out of the way so we can see what we're really dealing with.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK-gTR3Q9e8wON8kx5p8Dh8HGn28k6rLMpqDjdkTBVIuZ0CYfbXhU5JZGsueDlTsaDZyPgOB_VT9sD2sKtLgJOmAMjJbdncT1Jb4nDHi9trS87K09FSxLuAdkDcD-wuq5Pe8A2mHuHqM/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK-gTR3Q9e8wON8kx5p8Dh8HGn28k6rLMpqDjdkTBVIuZ0CYfbXhU5JZGsueDlTsaDZyPgOB_VT9sD2sKtLgJOmAMjJbdncT1Jb4nDHi9trS87K09FSxLuAdkDcD-wuq5Pe8A2mHuHqM/s320/IMG_4693.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> That's major carbonisation between plate (pin 3) and heater (pin 2).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMaTogUV5F8twkf-MkwmtkGJ-QG_Ghoy53gvwaYfREgKuSgGQodj_Aeu0zjMAO8DwLOsakew5KK4_SE8MSA78rOUwK9QDC-2TzVmDC5VdD4XMRJkO9HXg48uOxJ-TWRrvBElIdYrbBBs/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMaTogUV5F8twkf-MkwmtkGJ-QG_Ghoy53gvwaYfREgKuSgGQodj_Aeu0zjMAO8DwLOsakew5KK4_SE8MSA78rOUwK9QDC-2TzVmDC5VdD4XMRJkO9HXg48uOxJ-TWRrvBElIdYrbBBs/s320/IMG_4697.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All that conductive area needs to be milled out and generally cleaned up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The hole in the board is fine, the high voltage won't track across that! The pad at the anode is burnt away, but there's no connection on this side of the board. The burnt pad at the heater is a bit more of an issue, we'll need to make a repair there - de-solder braid is still useful after it's been used for de-soldering the socket. Don't forget to clean up the socket as well!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4qfPtsrg9AGRZvxgVLNyRJo4zR0L7iOUzjkdg6pV-SzVRMqyL4VXPdV9MT1X_LkCPRFl6lpkFXy4a4z_e_MTmRzveP2xqlhF_0b2bfhxaKsNHAcSbfDOnLdII1hXo1JEuDKrQayW9U8/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4qfPtsrg9AGRZvxgVLNyRJo4zR0L7iOUzjkdg6pV-SzVRMqyL4VXPdV9MT1X_LkCPRFl6lpkFXy4a4z_e_MTmRzveP2xqlhF_0b2bfhxaKsNHAcSbfDOnLdII1hXo1JEuDKrQayW9U8/s320/IMG_4698.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's the topside view, note preventative medicine at the second valve position.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've lost the pad at the heater pin, but again it's not used on this side of the board - we don't worry about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wTwLWCMF07GdIrj-OEB4_YL9TS56nA6e7YczoSzC35KV7Ta22YIpGo9TIABojcgCj1yHCtN5TFdgv4jwYegKJeODIEVCzfbE0NwRodsy2lG9L_6Kl44HHHh8swCoibdc1BTDUsEjDFA/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wTwLWCMF07GdIrj-OEB4_YL9TS56nA6e7YczoSzC35KV7Ta22YIpGo9TIABojcgCj1yHCtN5TFdgv4jwYegKJeODIEVCzfbE0NwRodsy2lG9L_6Kl44HHHh8swCoibdc1BTDUsEjDFA/s320/IMG_4701.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A decent repair at the PCB heater track using a bit of used de-solder braid.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now reassemble with a new pair of EL34 outputs, refit the original pre-amp tubes, power-up and set the bias. Working great, no more fire or smoke and no funny smells. Soak test for a couple of hours and sign it off.</span></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-63552459364636720542011-10-04T13:42:00.000+01:002011-10-04T14:02:52.930+01:00Quad Electrostatic Loudspeakers - Replacing Noisy Panels<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you've owned Quad electrostatics for any length of time, you're probably familiar with the odd noises that can occur when there's a problem - fizzing, screeching, whistling and rustling. All normally caused by a leakage of the EHT voltage somewhere within the speaker. The usual is a breakdown of insulation on one or more of the panels. You'll need to try and isolate where the problem is before ordering parts or making a repair.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To ascertain where the problem is, you can usually roughly locate it by running an ear closely over the entire speaker frontal area. Once you think you know where that area is, you will often be able to see a discharge or sparking at the exact spot. This is best done in a darkened room (it can be very faint), and you may need to roll down the "sock" (grill cloth - read on for details).</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the procedure that I've adopted to repair or replace panels in the Quad electrostatic speakers. This is written for the 988 / 989's, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">63's are very similar and it could easily be adapted for them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Please don't ask me to do this for you, it takes a lot of time and requires a lot of space, two things that I don't seem to have much of lately! </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">988's (and 63's) have four panels arranged in a vertical stack, 989's have two additional panels, one each at top and bottom. In both cases, t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he centre two have a "bull's eye" pattern which is the arrangement of delay driven concentric rings which generate the point source imagery.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you want a bit of history, or to get really technical about how ESLs work, here's a few interesting links:-</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.quadesl.org/Hard_Core/ESLTheory/esltheory.html">http://www.quadesl.org/Hard_Core/ESLTheory/esltheory.html</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.quadesl.org/Hard_Core/hard_core.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.quadesl.org/Hard_Core/hard_core.html</span></a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_loudspeaker"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_loudspeaker</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.f2s61092.f2s.com/review57/review57.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.f2s61092.f2s.com/review57/review57.html</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.onethingaudio.net/FOR/QUA/63/9512-QUA-63-REV-NK-A2.htm">http://www.onethingaudio.net/FOR/QUA/63/9512-QUA-63-REV-NK-A2.htm</a></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/">Quad</a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">will undertake this work at very reasonable cost, so unless you really want to have a go yourself, it's worth checking with them first. However, shipping is expensive and you'll need the original packing cases. You can arrange to drop off your faulty speakers in person. I believe they no longer offer support for the ESL57s.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://onethingaudio.net/">One Thing Audio</a> will repair your 57s or 63s. They will even refurbish your original panels or offer a service exchange.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPvfDKP2OEO7sq4_8FdPzgfTl_F0z6fz1qsYlNdBCzq5kzwx89YE9C6WFAG0TAMX1z98MRUQmHAd7TcAPIq8No7fA7pzmrYecGR6LVRrYkMRqdC5RTk0kKjlkwc47aA4t3__KDY-SA0c/s1600/Quad+989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPvfDKP2OEO7sq4_8FdPzgfTl_F0z6fz1qsYlNdBCzq5kzwx89YE9C6WFAG0TAMX1z98MRUQmHAd7TcAPIq8No7fA7pzmrYecGR6LVRrYkMRqdC5RTk0kKjlkwc47aA4t3__KDY-SA0c/s320/Quad+989.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ESL 989, Black</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you are to attempt this procedure, take some time to familiarise yourself with this information <i>before </i>starting and get all the parts in first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As well as the replacement panel(s), make sure you have replacement dust cover kits (available from Quad’s service department) to hand before commencing – you will need them! One for each side of the loudspeaker, I've found that there's enough to allow for a mistake. You will also need some black cloth tape – duct tape or gaffer tape is ideal.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Be sure that the speaker has had adequate time disconnected from the mains to allow discharge of the high voltages within the assembly.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the top plate – a sharp tap with the heel of your hand (left side, looking from the front) will unclip it from the top moulding.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Release the “sock” from the grip on top of the speaker and pull it down away from the top of the speaker (it will later be removed altogether).</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the black cloth tape from around the end of the panel which is holding the grill and moulding together and preventing rattles.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the top moulding by removing the 4 self tapping screws (15mm) to the top corners and releasing 3 self tapping screws (9mm) per side at the top of the grills. The top moulding will also be attached with double sided tape against the grill – break this as necessary by gently prying with a screwdriver, the top moulding will now come away.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Turn the speaker up-side-down (rest it against your work bench or a table) and remove the base plate (held by 17 self-tapping screws (9mm) with toothed washers. Watch out for the ground wire inside the base and disconnect it as the plate is removed.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Disconnect (by de-soldering) the two red HT wires from the vertical PCBs attached to the lower moulding.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="9" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Disconnect (by de-soldering) the yellow signal wire from the drive PCB attached to the base of the speaker (along with the transformers).</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="10" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Withdraw and release the red drain wire which is held in position by the vertical PCBs and stops short of the side of the base moulding.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="11" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the base moulding complete with its electronics by releasing the 8 silver M4 hex nuts and flat washers. Note the black grounding wires attached by these.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="12" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now the sock can be completely removed out of the way. Keep the speaker assembly up-side-down.</span></span></li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr9MEErVfpPTQ8fXQTKQ52hEdwcxvuMdJ6R9BwGnschFJFbdCFy5uPNaZQJylndnd9aF2IJSv-CpCnIIDpElU6nOIjYPkviPCBfPaxHk0ZbVKi7jTsn5WZbgiEbqzMrBQp47LVxV3ZsQ/s1600/ESL+988+Vintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr9MEErVfpPTQ8fXQTKQ52hEdwcxvuMdJ6R9BwGnschFJFbdCFy5uPNaZQJylndnd9aF2IJSv-CpCnIIDpElU6nOIjYPkviPCBfPaxHk0ZbVKi7jTsn5WZbgiEbqzMrBQp47LVxV3ZsQ/s320/ESL+988+Vintage.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">ESL988, Vintage</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><ol start="13" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the black cloth tape from around the end of the panel which is holding the grill and moulding together and preventing rattles.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="14" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the front and rear grills of the speaker by releasing 3 self tapping screws (9mm) per side then gently pry the bottom of each grill (presently at the top!) away from the base moulding, breaking the double sided tape. Continue in such a manner that the grill can be slipped out of the side mouldings and away from the frame.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="15" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clean off the old double sided tape from the mouldings and the grills.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="16" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Very carefully cut away the film dust covers from both sides of the ESL (cut as close as possible to the double sided tape which is holding them in place). If you find the old tape is stuck very firm and will not come away easily, leave it in place, otherwise it may be removed.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="17" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">De-solder the wiring to the top and bottom edges of the panel to be removed (both sides).</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="18" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If the grey wires from the delay circuitry are in the way of the panel you wish to remove, carefully break the glue bond holding them to the panel lattice and dress them away from the panel.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="19" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remove the 4 self tapping screws (25mm) to the sides of the panel to be removed - these are holding it to the speaker’s frame.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="20" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The panel can now be removed from the speaker.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="21" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You will notice a central wire from top to bottom on the rear of the faulty panel - remove this and the clips holding it to the plastic lattice, fit it in place on the new panel.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="22" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fit the replacement panel in reverse order, screw in place and then re-attach the wiring.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="23" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reposition any grey wires that were dressed out of the way earlier and put a small spot of adhesive at each slot in the panels such that they will not vibrate and cause unwanted noise when the ESL is operating.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="24" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Refit the top moulding with the 4 self tapping screws (15mm) to the corners.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="25" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Stick new double sided tape (from the dust cover repair kits) around the edge of the loudspeaker frame, front and back, over the old tape.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="26" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;">The dust cover film can now be stuck in place (do one side of the speaker at a time and refit the mesh grill afterwards to avoid damage during further handling). Try </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">rehearsing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"> this procedure in your mind before attempting it</span></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This procedure is best done by two people. Place the ESL face-down on a flat surface and remove the backing from all four strips of double sided tape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carefully stretch out the film above the ESL, pulling it as flat as possible (be careful not to pull too hard as to tear the film). Lower it down on to the tape whilst keeping it as wrinkle free as possible. This is best achieved by sticking down either the top or bottom end first, whilst holding the film just above the speaker (3cm or so). Do not let the film droop and stick to the tape. Move down the sides, keeping the film taught and sticking down about 30cm at a time. Finally stick down the opposite end to where you started from. There will be some wrinkling which can be removed afterwards as described below.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make sure the film is stuck down all the way around the speaker frame and trim to size close to the tape outer edge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The wrinkles in the dust cover must be removed, since these will produce audible rattles. This is achieved by means of heat which thermosets the plastic film and may be applied by a warm air blower, such as a domestic hair dryer. You will find this easier with the speaker standing on end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The nozzle should be held close to the dust cover and moved from side to side across the unit slowly and steadily in regular lines to cover the whole area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To achieve sufficient heat to thermoset the plastic, it may be necessary to restrict the supply of air to the dryer by placing a hand over the intake. This can be dangerous so ensure that is equipped with a thermal cut-off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Repeat the process until all wrinkles have disappeared, but always treat the whole area and do not tackle individual wrinkles separately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A certain amount of skill is required in the operation. Obviously, if the nozzle is not close enough and/or the speed of travel too great, there will not be enough heat to affect the cover. On the other hand, too much heat at one point can quickly burn a hole. When carrying out this process for the firs time, progressively reduce the distance and speed until the desired results are obtained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An “industrial” hot air gun, such as those used for heat-shrink tubing, is a lot more powerful so proceed with caution if you intend to use one of these – you will need to move it faster to avoid holes appearing in the film!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take your time with this process and persevere if you damage the film. It will be frustrating to start over, but, as mentioned, there is usually sufficient tape and film in the repair kits to allow for a disaster or two!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ol start="27" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Don’t forget to re-fit the grill to the side you have completed, this will protect the work you have achieved so far. Some new double sided tape is required along the top and bottom edges of the end mouldings to prevent the grill rattling. Once the tape is in place, remove the backing in preparation for the grill. Slot the grill into the rebate one of the side mouldings. Bow the grill across the front of the speaker and slot it into the other side moulding. Be careful not to slip and damage the film you have just finished.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="28" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Repeat the procedure for the other side of the ESL.</span></span></li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfPWUfEq9v9QxCkQjF76rzKWh1X6vg_dMRE5IxA10JIlqGsZBtlLE-PF-07BSbFcwHU-72Ae0pD_-2Cp9Fy2bx8ulxuKtmL25LV8R_bh5HxKZ26J0MwisFWtGTZ13HEzqaKqBNmYHN1E/s1600/ESL+988-989+NOUVEAU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfPWUfEq9v9QxCkQjF76rzKWh1X6vg_dMRE5IxA10JIlqGsZBtlLE-PF-07BSbFcwHU-72Ae0pD_-2Cp9Fy2bx8ulxuKtmL25LV8R_bh5HxKZ26J0MwisFWtGTZ13HEzqaKqBNmYHN1E/s1600/ESL+988-989+NOUVEAU.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">988 and 989, Nouveau</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><ol start="29" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With the speaker standing on end (bottom upward), put some new black cloth tape (approximately 2cm wide) around the bottom end of the speaker in order to bond the grill and moulding together and prevent rattles.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="30" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can now replace the sock over the speaker. The seam in the material should be positioned to a rear corner and thus be less visible. Carefully feed the sock over the end of the speaker, being sure not to ladder the material on the way. Pull it down the speaker as you go in order to get the bottom (presently facing upwards) tidy. Leave about 3cm surplus material for fixing in place. When you are happy with the positioning of the sock, press the surplus material at the end into the grips on the end moulding.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="31" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next re-position the base moulding and electronics over the 8 M4 studs at the bottom of the panel.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="32" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Place the 8 silver M4 clear flat washers over the 8 studs.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="33" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;">Replace the black grounding wires onto the M5 studs - 2 to each side.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="34" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tighten down with the 8 silver M4 hex nuts.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="35" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reposition the red drain wire through the holes in the vertical PCBs and pull through towards the side of the base moulding stopping short of the side at approximately 3mm.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="36" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Re-connect (by soldering) the yellow signal wire to the drive PCB attached to the base of the speaker (along with the transformers).</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="37" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Re-connect (by soldering) the two red HT wires to the vertical PCBs attached to the lower moulding.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="38" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At this point, apply mains power to the loudspeaker and switch on, allow a few minutes for the elements to become properly charged. BE AWARE OF HIGH VOLTAGES AT THE ELECTRONICS WITHIN THE BASE – DO NOT TOUCH THE INTERNALS WHILST MAINS POWER IS APPLIED, ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE EHT TO DISCHARGE BEFORE HANDLING.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="39" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Check over the loudspeaker for spurious noises indicating other panel defects.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="40" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Note the neon lamp (N1) on the control PCB - this should be flashing at around 10/second.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="41" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Refit the base plate (held by 17 self-tapping screws (9mm) with toothed washers. Don’t forget to re-connect the black ground wire inside the plate.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="42" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Turn the speaker over and stand it upright on its base.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="43" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Put some new black cloth tape (approximately 2cm wide) around the top end of the speaker in order to bond the grill and moulding together and prevent rattles.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="44" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pull the “sock” up the speaker, stretching out any wrinkles, and press the surplus end into the grip on top of the speaker.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="45" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Refit the top plate – align the two pegs into the brackets in the top moulding, a sharp tap with the heel of your hand (right side, looking from the front) will clip it into place.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="46" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reassembly is now complete.</span></span></li>
</ol><ol start="47" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Apply mains power and connect to an amplifier output. Switch on and allow the elements a few minutes to charge up. Play some music and check for correct operation, enjoy!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-61203871654088046242011-01-13T16:05:00.000+00:002011-01-13T16:06:51.937+00:00Fender Vibroverb<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's a few pictures of a Fender Vibroverb (re-issue) that I've recently done some work on for a client. Apart from the obvious aesthetic refurbishment, it also had some minor electronic issues which were also sorted (some noisy pots, vibrato not working, footswitch needing re-termination).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYkOtHkaWd9To5uhZT0pVObDxyFq88uSdy2zsRPq1FtcOSFKXUVI7Q-ORn6iqUlZjvi_KLGVkXf8x6zcK0yIIPKO_xEhkdpf2iiU42Gh4Vt_esMZk0_Bu3ThO8PIpUEkgEiAxwAJmkGU/s1600/Vibroverb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYkOtHkaWd9To5uhZT0pVObDxyFq88uSdy2zsRPq1FtcOSFKXUVI7Q-ORn6iqUlZjvi_KLGVkXf8x6zcK0yIIPKO_xEhkdpf2iiU42Gh4Vt_esMZk0_Bu3ThO8PIpUEkgEiAxwAJmkGU/s320/Vibroverb+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> This is how the amp arrived</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHagM_He3EqNocyIp_aJ-pbg_TRQMqPg-ZIpQ8KOhVVZ2Kt_eYo9mKsdWK7NODuRL4P6vxGT5d9LlLCqHUNSD_WsxM-DfxJvRlZ1yfZl8TK24phafQNuz1T48QjR_D2jFx9f5SXgbpM8/s1600/Vibroverb+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHagM_He3EqNocyIp_aJ-pbg_TRQMqPg-ZIpQ8KOhVVZ2Kt_eYo9mKsdWK7NODuRL4P6vxGT5d9LlLCqHUNSD_WsxM-DfxJvRlZ1yfZl8TK24phafQNuz1T48QjR_D2jFx9f5SXgbpM8/s320/Vibroverb+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Close-up of the deteriorated grill cloth</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDsh9zGhMRbp1k6XlQ_ZO457IO0Rhyphenhyphenp-84U6bl87nCUcNLkzMmBeCP0lkNwogcWlajrE6RugIfXFoJVEWZP1B33HnfrN2dB2RT5hB_DUHaf967YQTlRNizx-9A7gw41hVfOup9-kkF-8/s1600/Vibroverb+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDsh9zGhMRbp1k6XlQ_ZO457IO0Rhyphenhyphenp-84U6bl87nCUcNLkzMmBeCP0lkNwogcWlajrE6RugIfXFoJVEWZP1B33HnfrN2dB2RT5hB_DUHaf967YQTlRNizx-9A7gw41hVfOup9-kkF-8/s320/Vibroverb+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Baffle board removed</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofFiFq_wa4VATQgyw6LcgoCLR8VUjD62xv03bHhUUmuWosgfwcUt7PP3_126GtRJhdhgMl92lA6807suRqYKA7IIEWnCj_oIi8LqQRDYa07_QCZcF2342sHJL6wq4SVfIIiOZlHocoJU/s1600/Vibroverb+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofFiFq_wa4VATQgyw6LcgoCLR8VUjD62xv03bHhUUmuWosgfwcUt7PP3_126GtRJhdhgMl92lA6807suRqYKA7IIEWnCj_oIi8LqQRDYa07_QCZcF2342sHJL6wq4SVfIIiOZlHocoJU/s320/Vibroverb+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reverse side showing the original 10" speakers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z7Gzda7ck8Jtqk760szdZusvMUkRFLvIUyrCsBx57epGgBDNKXHjFXfzlD7AlHIbjjnHRFP5mCLQzfhkVTeassEowzGCdhzOS2W5V9boKZnfymQGucBj8OaudrhSRvND5_mOVBIMyWs/s1600/Vibroverb+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z7Gzda7ck8Jtqk760szdZusvMUkRFLvIUyrCsBx57epGgBDNKXHjFXfzlD7AlHIbjjnHRFP5mCLQzfhkVTeassEowzGCdhzOS2W5V9boKZnfymQGucBj8OaudrhSRvND5_mOVBIMyWs/s320/Vibroverb+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chassis and reverb tank </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TcGk1X4NXGtJ0luJmBYfvw8nmkVTK2Tfrjym892dhrdRtTI5cF7dNw093Ip_QkG19L5xcXf7t_5Vv7vq5eexr5XzkZOkAyNuuYtJ76tCuSDnTg5FMVyaBvlWb1YuML7RvtJxTnoAxMw/s1600/Vibroverb+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TcGk1X4NXGtJ0luJmBYfvw8nmkVTK2Tfrjym892dhrdRtTI5cF7dNw093Ip_QkG19L5xcXf7t_5Vv7vq5eexr5XzkZOkAyNuuYtJ76tCuSDnTg5FMVyaBvlWb1YuML7RvtJxTnoAxMw/s320/Vibroverb+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Internals</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLGE4sWHAjcgBCs-o_CuHVqRh3uCmeCwfROPqROH24LBqAIRuIzxpawJx3D-RibKCRts6ws7hb4lXNCuDcQbZjfhY2_6JX2mW5oCFbnrPr06a7pJYKFizyKJqdqS3tJ0TPOqaldDlank/s1600/Vibroverb+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLGE4sWHAjcgBCs-o_CuHVqRh3uCmeCwfROPqROH24LBqAIRuIzxpawJx3D-RibKCRts6ws7hb4lXNCuDcQbZjfhY2_6JX2mW5oCFbnrPr06a7pJYKFizyKJqdqS3tJ0TPOqaldDlank/s320/Vibroverb+7.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cleaned-up cabinet</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzI4MYrZG01GcBN4Uz2E_urGv2GUNESbv6I0R7UySmM9zBSPagefSLT9vmPcNfuIT442R0K_Ssdef7NZjV3jxPVJMfvYBdmFhsrMch1oNqbxTNEBf3-_6Hy2ObtJMmMmB2E1yjxDAjPM/s1600/Vibroverb+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzI4MYrZG01GcBN4Uz2E_urGv2GUNESbv6I0R7UySmM9zBSPagefSLT9vmPcNfuIT442R0K_Ssdef7NZjV3jxPVJMfvYBdmFhsrMch1oNqbxTNEBf3-_6Hy2ObtJMmMmB2E1yjxDAjPM/s320/Vibroverb+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The finished article</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYkOtHkaWd9To5uhZT0pVObDxyFq88uSdy2zsRPq1FtcOSFKXUVI7Q-ORn6iqUlZjvi_KLGVkXf8x6zcK0yIIPKO_xEhkdpf2iiU42Gh4Vt_esMZk0_Bu3ThO8PIpUEkgEiAxwAJmkGU/s1600/Vibroverb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYkOtHkaWd9To5uhZT0pVObDxyFq88uSdy2zsRPq1FtcOSFKXUVI7Q-ORn6iqUlZjvi_KLGVkXf8x6zcK0yIIPKO_xEhkdpf2iiU42Gh4Vt_esMZk0_Bu3ThO8PIpUEkgEiAxwAJmkGU/s320/Vibroverb+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Back to the beginning for comparison</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sounds awesome!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-22715951437053374472011-01-02T21:57:00.000+00:002011-01-02T21:57:06.969+00:00Rob's Guitars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've been out into the countryside this afternoon, went out for the trip with my good friend and guitarist Tony Farmer, also to return a repaired amp to a new customer and meet the man properly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was Rob (Barry) at Rob's Guitars out at Constantine, between Helston and Falmouth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you're looking for something new or to do a trade on your existing instrument, I'd highly recommend that you give Rob a call.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4BpCqrX6zI1z06ls2CB2Hz_CuAmAxBklAQx3WM5SnAfbRy2xPZKpkZRqDD6g3tERkRbHwuIcbxA1a3_1-XKCzsJRgfeiZjpCI5YgKMVzXTZlrntMvLHb6WPe26erNg_LQveCK8hzAps/s1600/Rob%2527s+Guitars+leaflet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4BpCqrX6zI1z06ls2CB2Hz_CuAmAxBklAQx3WM5SnAfbRy2xPZKpkZRqDD6g3tERkRbHwuIcbxA1a3_1-XKCzsJRgfeiZjpCI5YgKMVzXTZlrntMvLHb6WPe26erNg_LQveCK8hzAps/s400/Rob%2527s+Guitars+leaflet.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-12033016182706321042011-01-01T23:58:00.000+00:002011-01-02T11:32:07.695+00:00How things are progressing.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A number of things have been pre-occupying my mind of recent times and combined, they have prevented me from "getting it together" and I apologise for not posting anything up here for a while. Therefore, my New Years resolution is to be more active on the Blog scene.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We're now just a little over six months from the official start date of the new business. It's been a little slow getting off the ground and much time has been spent researching my market and "networking". This has invariably meant spending quite a bit of time in the local pubs, that's where much of my clientèle tend to appear reliably! I've also done a fair bit of leaflet dropping, especially around the local churches.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But we're gaining momentum and things are improving. I'm now getting recommendations and regular customers. Here's a bit about what I've been up to:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The Pub Scene</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pubs tend to need sound systems these days and if they already have one, it tends to need servicing from time to time. Whatever the situation, it's good to meet the landlords and talk about what I do. The punters also like to gripe over their latest electronic failures or enthuse about their latest desires. A little eavesdropping and a comment at the appropriate moment can generate a little extra income! The pub is also the place where local musicians tend to appear, especially if they have a gig there! Guitar amps and PA gear need repairs and service, I'm doing a lot of this, so it pays to "bump" into these guys as often as possible. I like the music scene too, not to mention the beer, so it has a positive enjoyment factor as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Installation and Maintenance of Equipment on Site</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have now been involved with a number of on-site maintenance issues. These include:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PA systems </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">that are not working properly</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Induction Loops (for the hard of hearing) that are not working properly</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Radio mics that have ceased to function</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Radio mics that function improperly (mainly due to inexperienced installers fitting the wrong products)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CD players that have ceased to recognise discs and won't play</span></li>
</ul><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've also installed several Loop systems, Background Music systems, done a major Church installation and sorted out one or two domestic audio systems.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwKLU4lvkWZPOygbixewd1sQyovtXO7s0eAFKVE6ZMjRlJTUEIDq353S9fmLtSg-9eWZlnKYeDupdnzYIjNRievDiWsC2irg7dPYiqQFFgri6A07-q3DLSKGEHQJh7wO8CbcnZhSkqEI/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwKLU4lvkWZPOygbixewd1sQyovtXO7s0eAFKVE6ZMjRlJTUEIDq353S9fmLtSg-9eWZlnKYeDupdnzYIjNRievDiWsC2irg7dPYiqQFFgri6A07-q3DLSKGEHQJh7wO8CbcnZhSkqEI/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcoOnPJhxz3mL9DfLJomuNCNKy6KZAlSIi12m8fZt6HduPkgnfpr1Tlx2k3BeUHcymsM0KRvhbiQCclux5rcdZHKCVyTlIK85u-vZZ8mMq0fNPTtcFAW65AAaHM1EFFGRJ1w9TtkChPQ/s1600/IMG_0141a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcoOnPJhxz3mL9DfLJomuNCNKy6KZAlSIi12m8fZt6HduPkgnfpr1Tlx2k3BeUHcymsM0KRvhbiQCclux5rcdZHKCVyTlIK85u-vZZ8mMq0fNPTtcFAW65AAaHM1EFFGRJ1w9TtkChPQ/s200/IMG_0141a.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This month I have a 3-zone pub audio system to install and I shortly start work on a new build village community hall. Here I shall be putting in:</span></div></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A background music system for the bar with:</span></li>
<ul><ul><ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speakers zoned to the toilets</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speakers zoned to the foyer</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Speakers zoned to the patio</span></li>
</ul></ul></ul></ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A comprehensive hall audio system capable of being configured for practically any event.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Induction loop for the hard of hearing</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A video projection system with DVD/CDG player</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A stage/theatre lighting system with LED colour wash units for back drop or other wash effects.</span></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>PAT Safety Testing</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every electrical/electronic product that comes my way for repair or service gets safety tested. It is recorded on the repair sheet and a label is attached with the details. I keep a backed-up electronic copy of all repair sheets along with my business accounts.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a number of occasions, I have also performed PAT safety testing for commercial clients in their premises. A detailed report is provided for their records, a copy of which I also keep electronically. This will bring up a reminder on an annual basis such that I can keep the customer informed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sales</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I now have a tremendous array of products available to me owing to my requirements for the installation activities. It therefore follows that, on occasion, I have been able to fulfil sales enquiries. I also have a number of contacts in the industry and have a "knack" for finding used product. Someday, I might even get a webshop up and running?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>Guitar Amp Repairs</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This seems to be my most active duty at the moment. This is possibly because it's something I'm good at and the musical community is spreading the word.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A selection of guitar amps that I've recently had in for service:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGw9-rvp9niK_Qm7-3PbGebm4kop12LBILjyceSoQXA16Q8w7XPY7KnqmG95HaoA5PgbtzUllJ-2rD5MfFr8fM6ZRkrk1r7JsOsZFQJk2g-Y8YyD-NkJTpwOi-m4vVIKWQ0LifFL9UL8/s1600/Fender+FM15G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGw9-rvp9niK_Qm7-3PbGebm4kop12LBILjyceSoQXA16Q8w7XPY7KnqmG95HaoA5PgbtzUllJ-2rD5MfFr8fM6ZRkrk1r7JsOsZFQJk2g-Y8YyD-NkJTpwOi-m4vVIKWQ0LifFL9UL8/s200/Fender+FM15G.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fender FM15G</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqF31UzhRjA5ZsLVGi6KQY8SRjhmAfX33TSGQjqzHPQ-YwZ4DQelW4uq5RZkni27DUdkfJDT8m7eDkhklVUcTH9pNvQInaMc594ASABelciNBJxDHwiLXXvhOE3xq6mU5wafHhRoursc/s1600/Marshall+Valvestate+80V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqF31UzhRjA5ZsLVGi6KQY8SRjhmAfX33TSGQjqzHPQ-YwZ4DQelW4uq5RZkni27DUdkfJDT8m7eDkhklVUcTH9pNvQInaMc594ASABelciNBJxDHwiLXXvhOE3xq6mU5wafHhRoursc/s200/Marshall+Valvestate+80V.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Marshall Valvestate 80V</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNp5GcAQkKRHHnBIJFPllO6JErBwiVNzFpUkGqrGxyfuOavID2xIS7A4alxeyy-1JMb1RAHJkEop7Lp1uO0U4rxrujUjTM-nkijuWOqq1Ji-ymWZuXx6yR_j13xtOAvSul531F9rQYfQ/s1600/Ashdown+ABM300+Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNp5GcAQkKRHHnBIJFPllO6JErBwiVNzFpUkGqrGxyfuOavID2xIS7A4alxeyy-1JMb1RAHJkEop7Lp1uO0U4rxrujUjTM-nkijuWOqq1Ji-ymWZuXx6yR_j13xtOAvSul531F9rQYfQ/s200/Ashdown+ABM300+Head.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ashdown ABM300 head</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv015dWvI_sg4Z2r8i-gD0Qgy-bq6kAodsOuxpu-DKCDIfeuNlmyW-R5No5vxw01yzARy-c7MG0flF1h0g5Sy3wMdp-N8QcGeZFDHW6_JCxJ5NcuiGzAwBFWU2TMr7E0n_oKkiOABKkyQ/s1600/Ashdown+MAG300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv015dWvI_sg4Z2r8i-gD0Qgy-bq6kAodsOuxpu-DKCDIfeuNlmyW-R5No5vxw01yzARy-c7MG0flF1h0g5Sy3wMdp-N8QcGeZFDHW6_JCxJ5NcuiGzAwBFWU2TMr7E0n_oKkiOABKkyQ/s200/Ashdown+MAG300.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ashdown MAG300</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwSTnKJn2ejqgjhFSPnfdgJMBoIVaxrUeTLKg5UU8QRnEFrq2Q2QtDJ7X3abOLaPqqkYEAg2Bx7UdimBbKLkSalHoALJy1e_MxaLy3cGmbWUp4i7WQ3gXBAygdebjSO2wP0R4NhFT4EI/s1600/Fender+Hot+Rod+Deluxe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwSTnKJn2ejqgjhFSPnfdgJMBoIVaxrUeTLKg5UU8QRnEFrq2Q2QtDJ7X3abOLaPqqkYEAg2Bx7UdimBbKLkSalHoALJy1e_MxaLy3cGmbWUp4i7WQ3gXBAygdebjSO2wP0R4NhFT4EI/s200/Fender+Hot+Rod+Deluxe.jpg" width="197" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fender Hot Rod Deluxe</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELJhEDCzVNJ5QSaOmrdCTfrDVbxrkL_c84HjEOU8wahzgMaMjKYa_EYqB2LDu_Avl3M44zy0SKSbfYiCm6ZdJ0ygtci07XGfLEzP-a-vB_j5uGcvFAw3E-mBjwSUimenBijs0gI1ALI/s1600/Marshall+AVT275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELJhEDCzVNJ5QSaOmrdCTfrDVbxrkL_c84HjEOU8wahzgMaMjKYa_EYqB2LDu_Avl3M44zy0SKSbfYiCm6ZdJ0ygtci07XGfLEzP-a-vB_j5uGcvFAw3E-mBjwSUimenBijs0gI1ALI/s200/Marshall+AVT275.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Marshall AVT275</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3lZQkgJqlHmd1vC6F4aYpkShpMnRMOJ_p9iEJI1EmIpg7zAb73w_uN79Np0DcyuAMoCpTqFyqZZ1n-VpENIGquFjZPQckf0XxYY55V6IQTshyphenhyphenKPYdF5BQheP4EZtko0wsMCzPwhw69Y/s1600/Marshall+JCM800+2204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3lZQkgJqlHmd1vC6F4aYpkShpMnRMOJ_p9iEJI1EmIpg7zAb73w_uN79Np0DcyuAMoCpTqFyqZZ1n-VpENIGquFjZPQckf0XxYY55V6IQTshyphenhyphenKPYdF5BQheP4EZtko0wsMCzPwhw69Y/s1600/Marshall+JCM800+2204.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Marshall JCM800 2204</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-ToknueEWvokeOU5YcMuHIqs_5J8hAAWRGqaYkzlgxOwzPGBQ4HTLcGwR5sXUjt0lQrSn9Xhr-hoK-mUi-bKZMp_bgFrGSkivoBLSRWmOEQu7rk_GcVh7n2qSBvm-J5KgMvUKMKsKbY/s1600/Sessionette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-ToknueEWvokeOU5YcMuHIqs_5J8hAAWRGqaYkzlgxOwzPGBQ4HTLcGwR5sXUjt0lQrSn9Xhr-hoK-mUi-bKZMp_bgFrGSkivoBLSRWmOEQu7rk_GcVh7n2qSBvm-J5KgMvUKMKsKbY/s200/Sessionette.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Session Sessionette 75</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oDt14CnZgFot33gxw34MNpj1oi4Ik29IaU5RvC2DMlp5StW8j4W9CtbXQXJmn_MS4RBsVpJpCJN1rcGbUdfHdVF_5mkToDAVbeS13ax8NXUw-_CSY6YsbRkbNaaNcY3o0LAqLmXt5R8/s1600/Viboverb+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oDt14CnZgFot33gxw34MNpj1oi4Ik29IaU5RvC2DMlp5StW8j4W9CtbXQXJmn_MS4RBsVpJpCJN1rcGbUdfHdVF_5mkToDAVbeS13ax8NXUw-_CSY6YsbRkbNaaNcY3o0LAqLmXt5R8/s200/Viboverb+8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fender Vibroverb 6G16</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QETeSLD_AsEDr11YdTWKqq2zFEXTOguP3FSx0Sq1Gzmov-tV7DbmkKcZM_D8YFgt1UwqsirY1-FVIIlNvZj2NNKDP4DPoqPMmH__2FmA19L59iVoSP28j-LIiqFXfueLpWTvZ-cSh0A/s1600/Vox+AC30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QETeSLD_AsEDr11YdTWKqq2zFEXTOguP3FSx0Sq1Gzmov-tV7DbmkKcZM_D8YFgt1UwqsirY1-FVIIlNvZj2NNKDP4DPoqPMmH__2FmA19L59iVoSP28j-LIiqFXfueLpWTvZ-cSh0A/s200/Vox+AC30.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vox AC30 Coppertop</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXAgYCA-KqVm8pYB3l0wwut-sN7tSwE9m7dV8A4sPPmB18gqQ_N09N1G5tOvu9wIwfUu_2BAMt6VU_BAt08QjMFvVmE0jHeGt3ONfNO5n4GYNp5xUDmAPm89p5BiTneAgdCALCnJvlQ0/s1600/Marshall+Superbass.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXAgYCA-KqVm8pYB3l0wwut-sN7tSwE9m7dV8A4sPPmB18gqQ_N09N1G5tOvu9wIwfUu_2BAMt6VU_BAt08QjMFvVmE0jHeGt3ONfNO5n4GYNp5xUDmAPm89p5BiTneAgdCALCnJvlQ0/s1600/Marshall+Superbass.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Marshall Superbass</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Hi-Fi Repairs</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've also had a good few items of Hi-Fi in for repair as well, this is something I need more of. There must be hundreds of CD players out there that no longer read or play discs properly. Unlike the musicians, a lot of Hi-Fi customers are finding me via internet search, I'm starting to crop up all over the place!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A selection of Hi-Fi products that I've recently had in for service:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0fuZUHQVORxWojCzh075A9LubJG_WKhUa-uEHlKFzUl4_hZfcrCZAJwB8qlXW3LV92cTYsnNRQ9FkGxCHdPw_xnb3XHeRMqhdfpL-3j4QwwQ0tAbCti2EAwmsd7wYFQ-o-ccvv6onK4/s1600/Denon+DCD485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0fuZUHQVORxWojCzh075A9LubJG_WKhUa-uEHlKFzUl4_hZfcrCZAJwB8qlXW3LV92cTYsnNRQ9FkGxCHdPw_xnb3XHeRMqhdfpL-3j4QwwQ0tAbCti2EAwmsd7wYFQ-o-ccvv6onK4/s200/Denon+DCD485.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Denon DCD485</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifALzfjgPSL5AbA6Qy-Q0qFLxJWD3A0n5scgTkqC2MwUpGV-X-jXVdEbFndO4cwpLX87fXg94TZdg7jtx34yW5nlUTHBVK_22uqNjnhodJkKv6YlMxE94ElOeZnB5GYdM9xXcUtHZyT1E/s1600/Linn+LP12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifALzfjgPSL5AbA6Qy-Q0qFLxJWD3A0n5scgTkqC2MwUpGV-X-jXVdEbFndO4cwpLX87fXg94TZdg7jtx34yW5nlUTHBVK_22uqNjnhodJkKv6YlMxE94ElOeZnB5GYdM9xXcUtHZyT1E/s200/Linn+LP12.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Linn Sondek LP12</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fcvv5yRsrtc3SFhzEaCbZNsAXjxKQlHXP7MgRAa1lCjIg1yexmBS_l28WWqEmA6XViU9RZL8wMSF8zg1WixlBi6K8k9rmNxHoJo7ndakWYgl5TIy6saV9MD6lTIcWypsG0OyhvuYLxc/s1600/Onkyo+CR515DAB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fcvv5yRsrtc3SFhzEaCbZNsAXjxKQlHXP7MgRAa1lCjIg1yexmBS_l28WWqEmA6XViU9RZL8wMSF8zg1WixlBi6K8k9rmNxHoJo7ndakWYgl5TIy6saV9MD6lTIcWypsG0OyhvuYLxc/s200/Onkyo+CR515DAB.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Onkyo CR515DAB </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtNGQM11yn0mKBqMbTwQmmZ0wuOojIcnFdF5sgAXZy4HVvbS5La76nxU95wcuULZJo59CtDKmKo4j6JHvBWVqot_Ka-31eWSmUDgsZB6K8UHCH7MhRwy4keuErABlVXI70UxyxJ1RODE/s1600/Marantz+CD6002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtNGQM11yn0mKBqMbTwQmmZ0wuOojIcnFdF5sgAXZy4HVvbS5La76nxU95wcuULZJo59CtDKmKo4j6JHvBWVqot_Ka-31eWSmUDgsZB6K8UHCH7MhRwy4keuErABlVXI70UxyxJ1RODE/s200/Marantz+CD6002.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Marantz CD6002</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jZwJiCHGRsP1q1jPtTYwjr_yBsbxk71pA8EkLWlmTQkxCSBh_5DgzD5wR5Ko48iSMcvYrU8DCWiwJhe3sNDQZgvMktwTxYTKTZaMhWSElaa3roEJecLGRzE6na0oLqYQp1TFPBxhCw0/s1600/Thorens_TD165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jZwJiCHGRsP1q1jPtTYwjr_yBsbxk71pA8EkLWlmTQkxCSBh_5DgzD5wR5Ko48iSMcvYrU8DCWiwJhe3sNDQZgvMktwTxYTKTZaMhWSElaa3roEJecLGRzE6na0oLqYQp1TFPBxhCw0/s200/Thorens_TD165.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Thorens TD165</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgOZpqpwK6Sku44zBPyNeUpwu-zWeBnrHdTHISsyM4OKD4tILuFDnX81kvXqYS-g-XeKCcUi2T1D3Q_aq2aoYDBj9sq2iFmlge95kH8LZ7FB10RJ3IMMxDrYPbo0lAvpBTAQYgBU9xnE/s1600/Ariston+RD80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgOZpqpwK6Sku44zBPyNeUpwu-zWeBnrHdTHISsyM4OKD4tILuFDnX81kvXqYS-g-XeKCcUi2T1D3Q_aq2aoYDBj9sq2iFmlge95kH8LZ7FB10RJ3IMMxDrYPbo0lAvpBTAQYgBU9xnE/s200/Ariston+RD80.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Ariston RD80</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W9kcWanHmIOYnNM5lIXW_PcGQVipri_931_AzVLKHUORCPhvaIAsdajJsQDDbmqqaT4hIn8I3AfktL5AeIFKjbxymKUTRKCjFf-FHIoJqQcraAJUkE0xT_Vuvio_CU2s2eq9ghU6anQ/s1600/Aiwa+ADF810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W9kcWanHmIOYnNM5lIXW_PcGQVipri_931_AzVLKHUORCPhvaIAsdajJsQDDbmqqaT4hIn8I3AfktL5AeIFKjbxymKUTRKCjFf-FHIoJqQcraAJUkE0xT_Vuvio_CU2s2eq9ghU6anQ/s200/Aiwa+ADF810.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Aiwa ADF810 cassette deck </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzLvQwZFPJ-0RYpVjBp5peFS4D-Nedj_xJeoYJeRuHtDtfQJq9Ec5KlKePEXBr2gGaGvmMziKVY_bfljdQU5nk1yH4XoSP8uNEYV4zcVPMqQY0XuMFBBrCpb0nx-h3JE16C1d8cOuViY/s1600/Consonance+Cyber_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzLvQwZFPJ-0RYpVjBp5peFS4D-Nedj_xJeoYJeRuHtDtfQJq9Ec5KlKePEXBr2gGaGvmMziKVY_bfljdQU5nk1yH4XoSP8uNEYV4zcVPMqQY0XuMFBBrCpb0nx-h3JE16C1d8cOuViY/s320/Consonance+Cyber_800.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Consonance Cyber 800 valve mono blocks</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Cable Building Service</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've Had a number of clients that have required the custom building of special cables:</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84m-qpPq6d_44Zkt8ytji3iCjZGh2TmZOPcxmAhY4N_OAyI2iSEAmjqXrsplThV5GY5PIAeFXYpxbs4cL74tayVNLyyge_97P3np-XygAnex3SOE_s3NB0BDJ4miHl3O81gWugj6Qwpk/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84m-qpPq6d_44Zkt8ytji3iCjZGh2TmZOPcxmAhY4N_OAyI2iSEAmjqXrsplThV5GY5PIAeFXYpxbs4cL74tayVNLyyge_97P3np-XygAnex3SOE_s3NB0BDJ4miHl3O81gWugj6Qwpk/s200/IMG_3624.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> TRS jack to XLRM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj9Opx05ZPmwhwTr6LVYIRvQbVj_qhMXCgvUdR9NPkTCJ9lfcen2MmyTpAViZq-ta8lGYgUaaHQpns5MUSacl_mJKINubHRjDvzHraRMJXfSffZM3-S0TAUWOCcG3f4TGpibP7mtDomQ/s1600/IMG_3620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj9Opx05ZPmwhwTr6LVYIRvQbVj_qhMXCgvUdR9NPkTCJ9lfcen2MmyTpAViZq-ta8lGYgUaaHQpns5MUSacl_mJKINubHRjDvzHraRMJXfSffZM3-S0TAUWOCcG3f4TGpibP7mtDomQ/s200/IMG_3620.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> XLR to XLR</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3YK3yi6s8xUpCo4nF8rbiyDBauvjX_bXur1escSWv7FmcUs4YqcsxwqbQEue6omY-IKRwMptQVnDiu2Ls4aPU6BD9nPHV0kGrzfDJu_hDN28_n-IUsecUTPdH1cLvI8lYLiNYMkdcTo/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3YK3yi6s8xUpCo4nF8rbiyDBauvjX_bXur1escSWv7FmcUs4YqcsxwqbQEue6omY-IKRwMptQVnDiu2Ls4aPU6BD9nPHV0kGrzfDJu_hDN28_n-IUsecUTPdH1cLvI8lYLiNYMkdcTo/s200/IMG_3621.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> DMX terminator</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy6idhPnA0Jo1t7mRJKbxUr3YLggPwwoOkjNLBL1a5RP-oZj4Ri21JrZw9MOt27BnuY84ukI4iUMLJlbZ4AsPFCnBVqZKBnlqvbzq1DxKGdFHnsfQ1CyL_TUBH8EhowzsGqKhp2Sh_l8/s1600/IMG_3622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy6idhPnA0Jo1t7mRJKbxUr3YLggPwwoOkjNLBL1a5RP-oZj4Ri21JrZw9MOt27BnuY84ukI4iUMLJlbZ4AsPFCnBVqZKBnlqvbzq1DxKGdFHnsfQ1CyL_TUBH8EhowzsGqKhp2Sh_l8/s200/IMG_3622.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Twisted pair pro speaker cable</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93bdczRpMqAeVauR6caLpD1SPwfymVmUx2MObUThdv410YvM0mH3uTUhK1f8dJ11qeUG6pGIIluVet68gfVydy1tog7QRYRJcb3VLD2MbtdS9nmCKSqnAz9uJKRcgP1cXNy26YWosU2E/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93bdczRpMqAeVauR6caLpD1SPwfymVmUx2MObUThdv410YvM0mH3uTUhK1f8dJ11qeUG6pGIIluVet68gfVydy1tog7QRYRJcb3VLD2MbtdS9nmCKSqnAz9uJKRcgP1cXNy26YWosU2E/s200/IMG_3632.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Guitar amp speaker cable</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvV6zDtMJhA3RNzA2_bS_-_mMI4osZx_W3p_m2QnFhKpjJ11-Ulj9wmR-dZhKxB9kEONrvPvw2BR2t9rrQmzVk3jr_iykrmf5oMpSch2QXvciJNT6ILbrfkgPpN-BQ6dFh67f4vnpVOc/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvV6zDtMJhA3RNzA2_bS_-_mMI4osZx_W3p_m2QnFhKpjJ11-Ulj9wmR-dZhKxB9kEONrvPvw2BR2t9rrQmzVk3jr_iykrmf5oMpSch2QXvciJNT6ILbrfkgPpN-BQ6dFh67f4vnpVOc/s200/IMG_3625.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> 2 x RCA to XLRM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj647QssNVgiDXopZ7QbOjs5r4g5_lBZ6VvVhg4Ufzevx1bIYJJHEe9SefHGEoEP4zxXGdEU1W1vv2-_UUcuNfUcSYbziRNt86_LlsT6u3JE9Qm6cmIahAT2f3ucJghx6x_YX4nd69Imxc/s1600/IMG_3629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj647QssNVgiDXopZ7QbOjs5r4g5_lBZ6VvVhg4Ufzevx1bIYJJHEe9SefHGEoEP4zxXGdEU1W1vv2-_UUcuNfUcSYbziRNt86_LlsT6u3JE9Qm6cmIahAT2f3ucJghx6x_YX4nd69Imxc/s200/IMG_3629.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Mini multicore</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYgfzIWsoEhk92friOM0La9xQDvyuXcwBMvdLAJf6xF92yw-MdVy4vIs8Vd6sp9mUUQ5BYPcMoJT22oBn1cb-MsKCoJJg5qy5xscICB4fJqsOsV_rbkW2hQOG3325YFpexH2ukESDMnc/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYgfzIWsoEhk92friOM0La9xQDvyuXcwBMvdLAJf6xF92yw-MdVy4vIs8Vd6sp9mUUQ5BYPcMoJT22oBn1cb-MsKCoJJg5qy5xscICB4fJqsOsV_rbkW2hQOG3325YFpexH2ukESDMnc/s200/IMG_3630.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 x RCA to 5pin DIN</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHH5zMJhqDQCNoCZtG4_uRacKLNbw-NBIiGc4FmEcRo3-Wnyr0FMvJvEs-8CVEbbM4WVFaiOf1VvfCxcTCU-8t6DuD8njD3LOEcR5G0O1eaIPOnAt69jVk519n_wjesw_I2uhaYliMKw/s1600/IMG_3631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHH5zMJhqDQCNoCZtG4_uRacKLNbw-NBIiGc4FmEcRo3-Wnyr0FMvJvEs-8CVEbbM4WVFaiOf1VvfCxcTCU-8t6DuD8njD3LOEcR5G0O1eaIPOnAt69jVk519n_wjesw_I2uhaYliMKw/s200/IMG_3631.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2 x RCA to 2 x RCA</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-66920571098530129862010-04-26T00:12:00.000+01:002010-04-26T00:12:56.114+01:00Why won't my player read a recorded disc?<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Failure to read recorded discs in standard CD and DVD players.</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is a subject raised by my good friend Keith V. I wish he hadn’t! However, I’ve ended up with quite a bank of information which I thought might make good subject material for a blog posting. I know he’s going to read this because I haven’t copied it to his email address (one way of getting traffic!). So, thanks Keith, I hope some of this answers your question! I haven’t done one for a little while, so here’s a post-and-a-half! - </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl9irBpyGZS06mqb7vuXlL5nVguRDy2ao6miG0crRnknUc6kVFFwrn8MV9ehH1_NlJrm3PhlvoiM1liMC7NADPU252H2zBNG0wfUdSR9F2liutCtO4SzYpEzXea7T8tOvJcqS0QwV33g/s1600/cl1vis1%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl9irBpyGZS06mqb7vuXlL5nVguRDy2ao6miG0crRnknUc6kVFFwrn8MV9ehH1_NlJrm3PhlvoiM1liMC7NADPU252H2zBNG0wfUdSR9F2liutCtO4SzYpEzXea7T8tOvJcqS0QwV33g/s200/cl1vis1%5B1%5D.gif" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: magenta;">A word of warning before reading on:- Have you ever noticed the yellow label that is on the back of CD, MD and DVD players (also the older laser disc players)? One is also frequently placed on or near the laser mech itself inside the machine. This is warning of laser emission which may damage your eye sight – never look directly into the laser, you could end up with impaired vision. The laser output is not something you can see, the emission that is doing the work is in the infra-red region of the light spectrum – out of the visible light range of our eyes. A number of customers that have “had a go”, insist that the laser is OK because they can see a red glow within the lens. This red glow is a visible portion of the light generated, it’s not the bit that actually does the work. It is a bi-product. Don’t forget how a disc is “burnt” in a recorder. The phrase may give a clue. In a recording machine the laser is powerful enough to locally heat and permanently change the dye on the reflective surface of the disc. Think safe and don't look directly into an exposed, working laser.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Failure to read recorded discs in standard CD and DVD players.</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is something that I come across frequently!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first thing to consider is if the machine used to play such discs. If this is the case, chances are that something within the machine has changed. I find that normally the electronics are pretty robust and reliable. The problem is usually down to laser ageing or contamination. I have theorised a number of possible processes that can take place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Age related</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_diode">laser diode</a> itself can go "low emission" – put simply, the torch by which the <a href="http://www.daisy-laser.com/images/products/CD/mechanisms/vam1202/vam1202a08x500.jpg">CD mech</a> is trying to read the data is fading. Lasers are a bit like light bulbs, they start wearing out from the moment you switch them on. Burnt discs are harder to read than standard production discs. One obvious observation is that they are less reflective, they have to be in order that energy from the recording laser can be absorbed by the surface for the process to take place. Because they are harder to read, it follows that they could also be the first to appear problematic when the laser is failing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Contamination</strong></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Contamination of the laser pick-up (and other parts of the machine, for that matter) can be a problem. This can be in the form of several types:- </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Dust – can be the usual stuff or pet dust</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Talcum powder – typically in the bedroom player</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Pet hair</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Fluids – spilt drinks, flowerpot overfill, pet fluids (typically cat pee!) – these will often render electronics un-repairable anyway!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Smoke – it’s surprising how the number of problematic CD and DVD players from pubs and clubs has diminished with the smoking ban (same goes for projectors).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are the killers of lasers. Surface contamination of the lens is not the problem, it’s deeper inside the laser assembly where the contaminants get into the internal optics where the issue becomes non-reversible. Even a service engineer can’t get to these areas to clean up. A single particle of dust in the right place can reduce the light output or deflect the beam as to make the laser useless. Replacement is the only cure. By the way, I'm not against the use of lens cleaning discs. So long as they are used regularly they can keep down the level of contaminants on the laer lens itself. If you wait until there is a problem, usually they don't work. Thats because the laser needs to read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_disc_authoring#TOC">TOC</a> of the disc, if it's lens is too grubby, it will not register a disc is in the tray and therefore it won't try to play it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Burnt discs vs. commercial discs</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZKD2aYLTWw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZKD2aYLTWw&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Commercial discs are “stamped” using a master. Obviously "burnt" discs are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R">produced by a method</a> different to that which commercial discs are made. This method, quite obviously, may not be as accurate a recording as a commercially made disc. All players have built in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed%E2%80%93Solomon_error_correction">error detection and correction algorithms</a> in the decoding circuitry/software. The data on a disc is encoded and the decoding in the machine are done in such a way that these errors show up. The player will attempt to anticipate what the data should have been and substitute a correction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Errors can be due to a number of reasons including:-</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• A bad "burn" - random failure of disc writing, see below</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_(writing_speed)">Writing burn speed too fast</a> (common – audio CD’s shouldn’t really be burnt faster than 4x)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• A fault with the burning machine including dust/contamination on the laser lens</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Minute air bubbles in the plastic of the disc</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Cheap discs (one thing I’ve heard very frequently is what a fantastic price a person has paid for discs in the supermarket or on the net, then in the next breath how many they are throwing away because their machine didn’t write properly. OK, there’s a pattern here!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Low quality media that has a poor “shelf life”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Cheap recorders that make mistakes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Scratches on the playing side of the disc</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Sticky labels – the glue can attack the disk surface (the disks own label on is the only protection between the outside world and the reflective surface of the reading side)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Scratches on the label side of the disc (same as reason above)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Discs written on by a sharp device such as ball point pen or pencil (same as reason above)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Errors can also happen when using a PC because of the following:-</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Dust getting into your machine when you open the tray - make sure the outside of the burner is clean to avoid this</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• For maximum performance use the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc-at-once">Disc-at-once</a>” mode – there is a greater chance of errors occurring if you use “Track-at-once”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_(writing_speed)">Fast burning speeds</a> can cause <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_underrun">buffer underruns</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Fast burning speeds often cause lower quality burns</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Don’t run background programs or screen savers – increased processor activity can cause buffer undrruns</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragging">Defragging</a> your hard drive before burning a disc will reduce the risk of your machine being erratic during the burn</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Don’t leave sessions open, always <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finalise">finalise</a> your discs</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Make sure that your player can play the formats that your burner can produce</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Make sure that your media can run at the speed that you intend to burn</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Make sure that you burner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firmware">firmware</a> is updated</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• If using DVD+R/+RW media, making sure that the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booktype">Booktype</a>” field (bitsetting) is set to DVD-ROM will give a higher compatibility yield</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>But what if the problem appears to be none of the above?</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, there are many methods, different software/firmware and design shortcuts that manufacturers use in the production of a machine (recorder or player). Different types of laser also make a difference to the way a machine retrieves the data. Many high street machines are built to a price. This, believe it or not, does affect the quality of the machine and the playback! I have found that, generally, the better the machine (and, therefore, the more expensive it is), the better equipped it is for detecting and correcting these errors. After all, if you spend a lot of your hard earned on a top-of-the-range Hi-Fi system, you'd hope that the music it played would be more lifelike. The problem arises when a machine starts detecting multiple errors. Obviously, there could also be a problem within the machine – the manufacturer didn’t expect you to be playing a “low quality” disc and didn’t allow for a high degree of correction, or, the correction circuitry is overwhelmed and simply can’t keep up with the detection circuitry. The player could actually be trying to tell you that the disc you are attempting to play is rubbish! (It doesn’t conform to the recognised recording standard, there are a number of these depending on the type of recording and its intended use – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Books">red book, orange book, yellow book, etc</a>.) The fact that the “bad” disc plays in a cheap machine may only be down to the fact that the cheap circuitry recognises the data as roughly correct and lets through some of the errors! This all does beg a compatibility issue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don’t forget that the media may not be clear of suspicion as well. If you do find a brand and type of media that works with both your burner and your player, stick with it and buy large quantities. Manufacturers do have a tendency to change the quality and their media ID.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Early machines</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don’t forget that the CD player was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_player">introduced</a> in 1982, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R">CD-R</a> wasn’t conceived until 1988 and wasn’t readily available until 1990. It is unlikely that you will get an early player to read a CD-R. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-RW">CD-RW</a> didn't come onto the market until even later. The same may be true of DVD recordable discs and early DVD players.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CD players in “Midi”, “Mini” and “Micro” systems</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The “Midi” system became popular around the late eighties. The tendency to build-in the CD player caused me to come up with some interesting theory. All was well with the CD as an add-on, optional, box. It usually sat at the bottom of the stack. When it went inboard, things were still fine…. as long as it was at the bottom! When the high street decided that vinyl was dead and the record player was no longer a necessary inclusion in the package, the CD player tended to move to the top of the stack and was most definitely integrated as part of the whole. That’s when the problems began. All of the heavy power consuming, heat producing components tend to be in the bottom of the box – power transformer, power supply PCBs, amplifiers and their heatsinks, etc. Probably the best place to put them. The point here is that, by simple convection, heat rises. There are normally ventilation holes in the back or sides or both, sometimes in the top. Cool air from the room is drawn in to replace the heated air which is rising and (hopefully) escaping from the top. Along with the cool air, is drawn any contaminants which the room’s air may contain. As this air is heated and it rises, so do the contaminants, which are very nicely deposited over the contents of the unit. Especially the CD player which is at the top. The laser is now dirty and cooked! Also it won’t read the data too well. These days, we now have “Mini” and “Micro” system as well, some with DVD decks instead of CD. You know what comes next.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You might say the disc drive in most PC’s is at the top and has a reasonable lifetime…. This is very true, but all the PC drives that I’ve come across are reasonably sealed in their own tin box, which is mounted into the tower. Dust can’t get in apart from through the front opening tray.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Separate Hi-Fi decks usually go on for a fair while without messing about. In fact, as touched on above, smoke can be the real killer here. Unfortunately, smoke particles are tiny and along with any vapours that they contain, they get everywhere. If the player is on 60 a day, you can bet that the laser is well oiled with tar, etc! They don’t read very well with this encumbrance! There are no hardworking, heat producing power supplies or amplifiers inside a stand alone player. Many of them don’t have any ventilation in the casework, it’s not necessary. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Media lifetime – how long will your recordings last?</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When CDs were introduced, back in 1982, they were portrayed as being pretty much indestructible and would play in any state. I’ve searched everywhere to include a clip of the Tomorrow's World episode where a demonstration was done by spreading strawberry jam on a CD before trying to play it. I can remember a man in Laskeys jumping up and down on a CD and a crowd of onlookers falling about as it skipped wonderfully on playback!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recordable discs give the impression of a similar permanence and manufacturers have claimed a lifespan of anything between 10 and 200 years. However, tests have been carried out, by professional bodies, on discs stored for less than 2 years and found that a number had become unreadable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is not to be taken that all discs last for less than 2 years. Many recoded discs have been kept for much longer and have given no trouble. What can be drawn from all of the information contained here is that if you save precious documents, photos, music, video content, etc. on recordable discs:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Use good, branded media</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Avoid self-adhesive labels</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Use only felt-tipped or “CD” pens for writing on the disc label area</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Store your CDs in protective “jewel” cases in a dark, cool, dry location</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Make multiple copies of important items</div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Copy your data to new discs (or new formats as they appear) every 3 to 5 years</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>My own conclusion about recordings</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a rule of thumb, I have learnt to adopt the attitude that recorded DVDs are only guaranteed to play back on the machine that made the recording! If you do get a result in something else, it’s a bonus! CDs aren’t so bad and usually work fine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>And now, something completely different - "CD Rot", "CD Bronzing", "Disc Rot"</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fvHhzxVy77dAxIkiNLuZGABH-VZgOD-OTNsJP9hw8wvg3SMWpxpGFK4aK6cS7hOqQek1nSJtsjxDbuAGnMxajMdYUhNwvAbcwZclgC5QwKBVxsowOvW-SJLrWaVla0qcmE0ala9jsSQ/s1600/dvd_rot%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fvHhzxVy77dAxIkiNLuZGABH-VZgOD-OTNsJP9hw8wvg3SMWpxpGFK4aK6cS7hOqQek1nSJtsjxDbuAGnMxajMdYUhNwvAbcwZclgC5QwKBVxsowOvW-SJLrWaVla0qcmE0ala9jsSQ/s320/dvd_rot%5B1%5D.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This I've come across (so far) only in commercially recorded CDs. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD_Rot">It does exist</a>, I have several examples. In the most frustrating varieties, some sort of chemical action within the CD has attacked the reflective layer and "holes" appear in the silvered (or gold) finish. The areas around this problem are often tainted an orangey colour. Worse case scenarios end up looking a bit "lace-edged". Needless to say, playback is impaired. It seems that once this does show up, it "spreads" through the entire disc rendering it useless. This has happened to a number of my "limited" or "special" edition discs, which I now don't seem to able to replace. <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6BhG5i9Goag/SbDc4n__OvI/AAAAAAAABUw/1pSnNFry-D8/s400/CDROT1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cacaorock.com/2009/03/cd-rot-its-happening.html&usg=__TyOVR-_VMrCrVbcR6zOrErnzdns=&h=370&w=400&sz=19&hl=en&start=5&sig2=9ZY33mRtTHzQaOBheV7VTQ&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=7pcETuidsm-xKM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCD%2Brot%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R2GGLL_en%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=sLnUS5DtHcv4-Qbl4YGIDA">Here's another example</a>. The only good news is that it doesn't seem to be contagious!</div><br />
<strong>Note to the reader</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the information contained here is based wholly on my experiences in testing, fault finding and servicing machines. Some individuals or organisations may not agree with my views! I have also tried to keep this as non-technical as possible, such that the average “man in the street” can understand what is being said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-38407942913245496942010-03-23T00:45:00.000+00:002010-03-23T00:45:56.480+00:00Some more gig dates for your diary<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The Shrinking Violets</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My good friends Al and Verite have sent me some new gig details, which I shall pass on:-</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thestarinn-stjust.co.uk/">The Star Inn, St Just</a> - 27th March.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thestarinn-stjust.co.uk/">The Star Inn, St Just</a> - 17th April </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.harbourpoolclub.co.uk/">The Harbour Pool Club</a>, St Ives 1st May</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thestarinn-stjust.co.uk/">The Star Inn, St Just</a> - 19th May</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">O'Flanigans, Penzance 29th May </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV58E3cEyNfHMWvYBEfPTUHhZee8__1ObqXGT10jPKpHWUvugiLjhxHlvK23KUU1BbLDjPuplH5_eZB7yT7sdMEFMbFAXajjmq9et3xvQ4unrO0AWyU_7dp08TgCJXYrCy-excCHjqEek/s1600-h/Shrinking++Violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV58E3cEyNfHMWvYBEfPTUHhZee8__1ObqXGT10jPKpHWUvugiLjhxHlvK23KUU1BbLDjPuplH5_eZB7yT7sdMEFMbFAXajjmq9et3xvQ4unrO0AWyU_7dp08TgCJXYrCy-excCHjqEek/s320/Shrinking++Violets.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Al Horton on guitar, Verite Alexander on vocals and a little Japanese guy called Sony on backing. He's very good, he plays bass, keys, percussion and more, all at the same time too! But seriously, all the backing tracks are put together by Verite, they're not "bought in".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The style of music these guys play is pop-rock / rock, the sort of stuff that usually goes down well anywhere. Al is quite an acomplished guitarist and very adaptable. Verite's vocals are just mind bogglingly dynamic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">May well see you at some of these.</span>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-90550020661843883972010-02-25T23:47:00.000+00:002010-02-26T10:35:49.858+00:00Cornish Ale Festival - Tasting Notes<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">PURELY CORNISH ALE FESTIVAL</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lower Quarter, Ludgvan, Penzance, Cornwall</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Don't forget the "Purely Cornish" Ale Festival at <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1R2GGLL_en&um=1&q=the%20old%20inn%20ludgvan&ndsp=18&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl">The Old Inn, Ludgvan</a> (near Penzance) this weekend. It's running from Friday evening, 26 February, to Sunday evening, 28 February.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife8tq5ffRo7uJzjF66skX_EAEwovijhFvZRVEADOWJOkYTFW-D05wn7fPR7Tq_d3lm_8lOJQzBt5xMFW4YRTSE_fpPdJbMFo1fTpriA62JeO7Eod119-vNrkevoAZpzlxRX6yXjq9bYs/s1600-h/6f92e4c0b2d3cfbe6d76fa41b2ca391e%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife8tq5ffRo7uJzjF66skX_EAEwovijhFvZRVEADOWJOkYTFW-D05wn7fPR7Tq_d3lm_8lOJQzBt5xMFW4YRTSE_fpPdJbMFo1fTpriA62JeO7Eod119-vNrkevoAZpzlxRX6yXjq9bYs/s320/6f92e4c0b2d3cfbe6d76fa41b2ca391e%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will be there during Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, see you there!</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Definately don't forget - </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><strong>All guest ales are only £2.00 per pint!</strong></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>TASTING NOTES</strong></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>ALES:</strong></span></div><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">All Saints Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">St. Piran</span></strong> 4.0% ABV. No tasting notes available.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Coastal Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Angelina</span></strong> 4.1% ABV. A hugely successful beer, golden colour, citrus sweet aroma, crisp hoppyness, clean and refreshing.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Keltek Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">4K Mild</span></strong> 4.0% ABV. A traditional dark mild but fruity in taste with great character. It is one of those products that catch the eye at the pump. Winner of the Mild Ale Class, SIBA Maltings Beer Festival.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Keltek Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Golden Lance</span></strong> 3.8% ABV. Clear golden coloured with a fruit aroma and tangy citrus flavours. Very smooth with a full hop dry finish<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Lizard Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Kernow Gold</span></strong> 3.7% ABV. A light, golden ale. Crisp and refreshing, the malts used are Maris Otter Pale Malt with a touch of Amber Malt which gives a biscuity note. Challenger and Fuggles hops, finished off with Styrian Goldings which give fresh citrus flavours.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Wooden Hand Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Cornish Mutiny</span></strong> 4.8% ABV. This fine beer enjoys a dark rich colour with a distinctive 'hoppy' character and a slightly 'biscuity' flavour.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Wooden Hand Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Black Pearl</span></strong> 4.5% ABV. A tasty dark stout with a rich nut and hop prickle and a dry chocolate finish. Ingredients: Marris Otter malted barley, flaked and roasted barley; English grown hops.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Blue Anchor</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Spingo Middle</span></strong> 5.1% ABV. Spingo is brewed from water drawn from The Blue Anchor's own well. Most of the fermentable sugar comes from malted barley. The beer is fermented for long enough to produce the required alcohol content but leave just a hint of sweetness which was common in Cornish beers of yesteryear.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Skinners Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Heligan Honey</span></strong> 4.0% ABV. A light refreshing bitter, pale amber in colour with distinct hoppy overtones and the subtle addition of real Cornish honey.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Skinners Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Ginger Tosser</span></strong> 3.8% ABV. Designed for red-headed pancake tossers (of course! What did you think the name was referencing…. for shame!). Originally created to aid the celebration of Pancake Day, now a permanent fixture among the Skinner’s stable. Made with only the finest Cornish Honey.<br />
Clear medium yellow orange color with a average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, citrus, ginger, toffee notes. Flavor is moderate sweet and light to moderate bitter with an average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is light.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Skinners Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Figgy’s Brew</span></strong> 4.5% ABV. This is the maltiest of the Skinners regular range and slightly darker in colour. An expertly balanced blend of malt & hops, premium strength, full flavoured with a smooth finish.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Skinners Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Cornish Lager</span></strong> 5.5% ABV. Golden/Blond Ale. Clear golden with large white head. Sweet malty aroma with caramel notes and fruity flavor. Ends sweet.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Sharps Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Doom Bar</span></strong> 4.0% ABV. Somewhat hazy amber body, small white foam. Nice aroma, a good bit of spicy British hop and crystal malt toffee sweetness. Smooth texture, low carbonation, medium-lean body. Good hop and malt presence on the body. Solid bitter finish.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Sharps Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">6 Hop IPA</span></strong> 3.8% ABV. This is a brand new brew from Sharps, hence no tasting notes as yet. The Old Inn is privileged to have the very first off production, so being début here this weekend.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">St. Austell Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Cockleroaster</span></strong> 4.5% ABV. A newly launched ale, this is the first new beer in a seasonal ale programme launched by St Austell Brewery for 2010. Said to be a "rich dark stout brewed with pale and roasted malt with lashings of dark chocolate and finely chopped chillis.<br />
Head Brewer, Roger Ryman, said: "We're really excited about launching Cockleroaster. Customers should taste the chocolate as the main flavour and get a subtle taste of chilli with the aftertaste."<br />
Chillis from Devon.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Choughs Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Serpentine</span></strong> 4.5% ABV. Reddish amber with a white head. Not best described as a bitter, more like crossing over to an Irish red Ale. Smooth and creamy with hints of sweetness initially. A fleshy fruitiness with a hoppy bitter finish. There is a lemony tartness at the end, quite quenching and full. Ingredients: Pale malt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, wheat malt. Hallertau hops.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">CIDERS:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Skinners Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Press Gang</span></strong> 4.8% ABV. Still, medium cider, described as light and refreshing with the delicate aroma of ripe apples.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Healeys Brewery</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Rattler</span></strong> 6.0% ABV. A light haze. Sweet, slightly woody green apple aroma, hints of tartness. Prickly carbonation. Honeyed sweetness. A reasonable balance of the sweet and tart.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Headley’s</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Special Cider</span></strong> 5.0% ABV Very locally produced. No tasting notes for this one, try it and see!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">GINGER BEER:</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Wheal Maiden</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Grandma’s Weapons Grade</span></strong> 5.5% ABV Traditionally served “on gravity” (straight from the barrel). Gingery (!), fiery hot, fizz provided by natural fermentation.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #93c47d;">Read down my previous blog for further info on the pub.</span></strong>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-71879726869849714672010-02-14T01:22:00.000+00:002010-02-19T00:08:16.214+00:00Something a little different....<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A CORNISH ALE FESTIVAL</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Lower Quarter, Ludgvan, Penzance, Cornwall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here’s something a little different for you, many a friend who knows me also knows my passion for a pint or two of real ale or wheat beer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of my favourite local tap houses is staging a real ale festival at the end of this month. This is an ale festival with a twist – purely Cornish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The venue is </span><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1R2GGLL_en&um=1&q=the%20old%20inn%20ludgvan&ndsp=18&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Old Inn at Ludgvan</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Friday 26 Feb to Sunday 28 Feb.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBARqIPQYPtb-CDNVmrX1oLoGblVbJ7b08mO8tb2SKNh7rPrXvgeuVNwVkMvNCnNjv7w7XK_xVy5IBOjkwH5pzSVBkfg54Z5INexsYRCyHuHt5RV6P9FhlV2iDqQWR9UTGLyT5-2ZgBiA/s1600-h/6255%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBARqIPQYPtb-CDNVmrX1oLoGblVbJ7b08mO8tb2SKNh7rPrXvgeuVNwVkMvNCnNjv7w7XK_xVy5IBOjkwH5pzSVBkfg54Z5INexsYRCyHuHt5RV6P9FhlV2iDqQWR9UTGLyT5-2ZgBiA/s200/6255%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The event is to feature 15+ beers, ciders and alcoholic ginger beer from:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All Saints Brewery</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.spingoales.com/">Blue Anchor Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.coastalbrewery.co.uk/">Coastal Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk/">Healey Cider Farm</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hedley’s Apple Orchard</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.keltekbrewery.co.uk/">Keltek Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lizardales.co.uk/what-happens-brewery.html">Lizard Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/">Skinners Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/">Sharps Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.whealmaidenbrewery.com/">Wheal Maiden</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://woodenhand.co.uk/">Wooden Hand Brewery</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>AND all guest ales at only £2.00 per pint!</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTXolmgY_x_GtccXteAcG0FJ7rsvpZPiHeItz6TMvFUnWJNfffH9n7shTImDcsi596S5mNJzUbDN993o7SEI3ZQkGoWKNwtTRvX9tE_A5gKNpXHJpHGpd-Rsg8c1AMuZb90m8TK0n1Og/s1600-h/6f92e4c0b2d3cfbe6d76fa41b2ca391e%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTXolmgY_x_GtccXteAcG0FJ7rsvpZPiHeItz6TMvFUnWJNfffH9n7shTImDcsi596S5mNJzUbDN993o7SEI3ZQkGoWKNwtTRvX9tE_A5gKNpXHJpHGpd-Rsg8c1AMuZb90m8TK0n1Og/s320/6f92e4c0b2d3cfbe6d76fa41b2ca391e%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>More Info About The Pub</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There's always a warm welcome from Nick, Gaye and all the staff at their traditional 18th century pub. In addition to the main bar and eating area, the pub has a games room with Pool Table. There's an open fire in each room and a piano. Check out the room sized mural of "Old Ludgvan" in the snug. The Old Inn is children and dog friendly too. Definitely a "feel good" atmosphere.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There's usually a choice of three real ales on hand pull, sometimes four. A strong alcoholic ginger beer is also stocked, <a href="http://www.whealmaidenbrewery.com/">Grandma's Weapons Grade</a>, brewed at <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?hl=en&gl=uk&cid=3471360059787026746&ved=0CBgQjAUwAA&sa=X&ei=4D13S4rnJ5KnjAfE0YCABA">Carharrack</a> just outside Redruth. Other "specialist" brews on draught include <a href="http://www.cornishrattler.co.uk/">Cornish Rattler</a>, <a href="http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/shop/skinners-cornish-lager">Cornish Lager</a> and <a href="http://www.sanmiguel.co.uk/">San Miguel</a>. There are, of course, numerous other taps and bottles offering the normal other choices.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The kitchen offers good food in the style of traditional pub grub, with all ingredients sourced locally where possible. But also, if you are into pizza, this is a must go pub for you. On a warm evening, sat outside with a glass of San Miguel and one of Nick's pizzas, all I need to do is close my eyes and I'm back on holiday in the Med or Canaries! These delights are prepared fresh while you watch, they are not pre-packed, frozen or whatever - you will see the dough being prepared and you will see fresh ingredients go onto your pizza. If you fancy something different to the menu, providing Nick has the ingredients, you could make up your own personal recipe. Though powered by electricity, the oven is a proper, purpose made stone based Pizza oven.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Don't take my word for it, please click <a href="http://www.eatoutcornwall.com/cornwall-restaurant/dining-guide.php?pv=6255">here</a> and read some reviews.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-46740414372331276532010-02-12T02:01:00.000+00:002010-02-12T02:07:41.307+00:00Good News For Independent Retailers<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Consumers and independent dealers please read this!</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Supermarket watchdog welcome…</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">...but more is needed to help small shops and suppliers</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Following below is an extract from January's edition of the FPB (Forum of Private Business) news letter. The contents of this brought a smile to my face, at last someone has recognised what the supermarkets are up to. This is a welcome start to the policing that small independent retail businesses need to combat the unfair trading that is going on with these big giants. I have commented many times about their practices to various parties and organizations.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When it comes to service, it may be that the general public is beginning to have second thoughts about buying from these outlets. Of recent times the number of complaints that I have received about x, y or z supermarket have risen enormously. A 32” LCD TV at £599.97 is still a major purchase as far as the man in the street is concerned and when they find that it won’t do what they expected (connectivity / performance for home cinema or computer are a common issues) or worse, it develops a fault, there is often no recourse with the store concerned. You’re stuck with it! For a third party to become involved in the repair of such an item, providing an estimate can be quite expensive and many won’t even look at a large screen TV without a major deposit or fee up-front. Even if there is an issue which could be down to manufacture, the parent company usually won’t even discuss the problem with the owner until he can provide a written estimate of the repair cost and full fault diagnosis from a recognised, approved repairer. The repairer is usually not obliged to negotiate for the owner. There are definite benefits to be had by buying from a local independent dealer at what might appear to be a less attractive price. Check out your local independents, they might not be as expensive as you think. Most have got workshop and back-up facilities for the brands that they support. Better still, they have experience under their belts. Ask their advice and buy a brand name that they recommend, it’ll usually be one that you recognise – Toshiba, Panasonic, Samsung , etc. They will have seen numerous of the Yamatachi type brands, from the local supermarkets, brought in for repair by less fortunate individuals, and most of them will have ended up as landfill. And remember The Sale of Goods Act if you do fall foul of a product that doesn't do what it says on the tin, or if you suffer a premature breakdown - "Sorry Sir, it's just out of warranty" isn't good enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Please remember my favourite quotation:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>The extract:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.fpb.org/">Forum of Private Business</a> (13 January 2010)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Small suppliers are finally being given protection from supermarkets in the form of an ombudsman, but independent business is calling for further measures to help both suppliers and shops.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The FPB is welcoming today's news that the Government has accepted a recommendation for a body to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). It was made by the Competition Commission in 2008 after a two-year inquiry into alleged abuses in the groceries market.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In February, the Government will begin a consultation on how best to enforce the GSCOP, including identifying the nature and powers of the ombudsman.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, there is concern that many suppliers will not come forward to complain about poor treatment at the hands of supermarkets out of fears they will cease to do business with them. A guarantee of anonymity in the complaints process could address this problem.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Research carried out by the FPB shortly after the inquiry was launched found that 76% of respondents wanted a watchdog to oversee the GSCOP, which covers supplier issues such as late payment and retrospective pricing as well as consumer complaints.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, another survey revealed that 74% of business owners believe they should be guaranteed anonymity when giving evidence to both the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Further, the FPB believes that the Competition Commission's recommendations for a ‘competition test', which has yet to be implemented, designed to prevent individual retail giants from dominating local markets, would simply allow other big supermarkets to compete and offers little to struggling high street shops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In its preliminary findings, the Competition Commission said that, between 1999 and 2006, the entry of a supermarket into a town centre had caused more existing independent grocers and local markets to seek alternative locations than it had encouraged new retailers to move in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As long ago as 2006, the All-Party Small Shops Group warned that, with around 2,000 small shops closing every year, the majority of the UK's independent retailers could disappear by 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Now, with the recession driving more and more shoppers to discounted supermarkets, the FPB is concerned that the situation is even worse for shop owners.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
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The Competition Commission's investigation has called into question some other alleged business practices of supermarkets, such as below-cost pricing, where large retailers significantly undercut market prices on the high street by selling certain products at a loss in order to soak up trade, making up these losses on other product lines.<br />
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The FPB has been critical of previous investigations into the practices of large retailers, including the £116 million in total fines imposed in 2007 following the OFT's probe into the dairy market price fixing scandal – a drop in the ocean compared to the supermarkets' vast profits.<br />
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"Small suppliers and retailers continue to suffer as a result of supermarkets' anti-competitive practices. One of the main problems is that many suppliers feel intimidated into silence and do not speak out; a situation we need to change," said the FPB's Chief Executive, Phil Orford.<br />
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"While a dedicated watchdog for these businesses is welcome, it does not go far enough to hold large retailers to account or to address the need to reinvigorate small shops on our high streets and the communities they serve."<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #9fc5e8;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Permission was obtained for the reproduction of this article.</span></strong></span></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-79785075303169265872010-01-17T23:22:00.000+00:002010-01-17T23:48:02.051+00:00More Local Gig Info<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Blues Connection playng at Mousehole, Friday 29th January</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My good friends <a href="http://www.bluesconnection.co.uk/">Blues Connection</a> are playing close to my home once again on the 29th of January. The venue is the <a href="http://www.shipmousehole.co.uk/">Ship Inn at Mousehole</a> just the other side (<a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&rlz=1R2GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=the+ship+inn+mousehole&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=the+ship+inn&hnear=mousehole&cid=0,0,11212245794849020520&ei=b1tTS-LZEYWI0wS2tNytCg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CA0QnwIwAA">west</a>) of Newlyn and Penzance. Well worth getting out to see/hear, the Ship also serves up a decent pint and dishes up a good meal if you want to make a full evening of it.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7ldS3X8-zEk405iZYhUQO-XAUm36r2Co65_0SLn3Qhpq5_hnmjeEayoYEAAgArUQXPGxjpmEk4QeKl99zF8455n68l3MbYwjZQXhoiFE5yfQqS3ltPz4oBeoFWrYrujcu4jvUz3692I/s1600-h/the-ship-inn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7ldS3X8-zEk405iZYhUQO-XAUm36r2Co65_0SLn3Qhpq5_hnmjeEayoYEAAgArUQXPGxjpmEk4QeKl99zF8455n68l3MbYwjZQXhoiFE5yfQqS3ltPz4oBeoFWrYrujcu4jvUz3692I/s320/the-ship-inn.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As you may have guessed from their name, this is a blues band! It's a blues-rock quartet.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Blues Connection are:-</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Scott “Maltloaf” Jeffery, fronting the band with his belting vocal technique, has been part of the Cornish music scene for many years and has lead many a good local group. He is a well-known and popular singer throughout Cornwall.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Phil Jones on guitar has been in the past an international artist, touring extensively across the UK and Europe, supporting the likes of Jools Holland, Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. Of recent times he has played for a good number of local bands - The Hothouse Playboys, The Cadillac Kings and Wammajamma to mention a few.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Emma Spires on bass guitar is an experienced musician who has played with many blues and rock outfits, including Mississippi Burning, Crosstown Traffic and Ragtime Millionaires.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/markwilkindrums">Mark Wilkin</a> on drums has played for a wide range of artists including Bill Bailey, Boney M, George McCrae, Brix Smith, Noctorum, Adrian Borland (The Sound) and Rosebud Choir.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">See you there, don't be late.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">More information:-</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.bluesconnection.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.bluesconnection.co.uk/</span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.pznow.co.uk/gedkingsford1.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.pznow.co.uk/gedkingsford1.html</span></a><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-76317650270539517752010-01-04T22:15:00.000+00:002010-01-06T17:03:48.977+00:00The First Repair<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l7chVY0JWU4Et1N0CZVEWnRGRRt_Ppan_fJpYF7FWRtWLUSJFHN8uwAIK_92eKpmbfLO-ZY5HTBTCOfwN1Ofq1rz-urRfOffiFdTl8tNCnnUJLBIu8THSnXeK5MjWdYQpH_FeuH2LeM/s1600-h/udm31lrg_blk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l7chVY0JWU4Et1N0CZVEWnRGRRt_Ppan_fJpYF7FWRtWLUSJFHN8uwAIK_92eKpmbfLO-ZY5HTBTCOfwN1Ofq1rz-urRfOffiFdTl8tNCnnUJLBIu8THSnXeK5MjWdYQpH_FeuH2LeM/s200/udm31lrg_blk.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>So, your CD player won't read or play discs anymore?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well my little Denon UD-M31 hasn't for a while. Now that I've got my office and workspace finished and equipped, I thought it's about time that this old guy had a new optical pick-up (laser). So, it promptly became the first repair conducted in this new space. A number of symptoms can be apparent when the laser is wearing out in a player:</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><ol><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On loading the disc nothing at all happens.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As 1 above with the usual spin-up "shhh" sound from the mechanism.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As 1 above with a quiet "tick tick tick" sound from the mechanism.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As 1, 2 or 3 with "no disc" appearing on the display.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As 1, 2 or 3 with zeros appearing on the display instead of the <a href="http://www.feurio.com/English/faq/faq_vocable_toc.shtml">TOC</a> information.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The machine takes longer that normal to read the disc contents.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The machine reads the disc contents but then won't play.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The machine is very selective with which of your discs it will or won't play.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The machine won't play or has difficulty playing CD-R discs (older machines and some commercial players aren't designed to play these).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The laser jumps and skips whilst playing the CD and you hear audible ticks or noise during play.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Playback stops part-way through the disc.</span></li>
</ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Beware of dirty or damaged discs as they will also cause some of the faults described above, so if in doubt check the disc for the obvious first. This is a major problem that I have encountered with commercial establishments over the years. Despite the fact that the CDs are all scratched up because they have been all over the bar and on the floor naked, and/or they have a nice coating of stale beer, which by now is growing a few cultures, the owner still wants to blame the machine! I think it's something to do with that "general knowledge" that you can't damage a CD (there could be more about this in another posting).</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Back to the repair</strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8KtvIzCtCj6uZ14M3_uDh6AO4gYlXEzWhu1vb9z5frG7WjMfOffTYGwcSB324YvGYV4TFiyz2ihK4BiWYFPWVCGHPAtBSRS-rJAcZzTzfMqaVqKMlASR20-3DijdZTftfuCo_my0Uvs/s1600-h/KSS210B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8KtvIzCtCj6uZ14M3_uDh6AO4gYlXEzWhu1vb9z5frG7WjMfOffTYGwcSB324YvGYV4TFiyz2ihK4BiWYFPWVCGHPAtBSRS-rJAcZzTzfMqaVqKMlASR20-3DijdZTftfuCo_my0Uvs/s200/KSS210B.jpg" /></a><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Some of these "All-in-One" units can be annoyingly difficult </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">to get in and at the pick-up, so beware if you're going to attempt laser replacement yourself. With this machine, the top has to come off first followed by the front panel. Behind and at the bottom of the front panel is an incredibly delicate ribbon cable which you won't know is there until you've broken it, unless you have the service manual and you've studied it first! The mechanism is shrouded in printed circuit boards, so there's some unplugging of more incredibly delicate cables and the removal of the PCB sitting on top. Unless you've had the experience, it's best to take the mech. out to change the laser, this means more unplugging and more PCBs. It's usually a fairly straightforward mechanical disassembly to get the laser out of the assembly, but this one came complete with the sub-chassis, so it's very easy. Just one or two more delicate cables to remove out of the way!</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEIK76M01ou2ORAtqoCS__Ke3lB5NM0T81p7wMbsk5sBeLc2eMQ7lVifPnkg6NyoVXyU81k1O3mXhWdo028D2co3wEvsTY5YgdVFUR5Za5EG1qlinW9QYKbid1v_iAGb4NEsVysz199Q/s1600-h/Typical+OPU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEIK76M01ou2ORAtqoCS__Ke3lB5NM0T81p7wMbsk5sBeLc2eMQ7lVifPnkg6NyoVXyU81k1O3mXhWdo028D2co3wEvsTY5YgdVFUR5Za5EG1qlinW9QYKbid1v_iAGb4NEsVysz199Q/s320/Typical+OPU.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's great when a laser comes as a complete unit like this. It means you're also changing most of the moving mechanical parts, including the spin and sled motors, together with the pick-up. These are items that may well also be worn and ready to cause you more problems. So, from a preventative maintenance point of view, it's good practice to fit the whole thing whenever you can.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, having got this far, the rest is easy - reassemble in the reverse order. Just hope that you can remember where all the bits all </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">came from! Fitting the ribbon cable back in the rear end of the laser is usually fiddly at the best of times. With this machine, you need hands that are the size of a new born baby's and fingers that work like octopus tentacles!</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Once reassembled, you're not finished yet. Some makes/models will be OK with no further action, but this and several other machines I have come across still may not work properly yet. There is a calibration procedure to be carried out (not all lasers perform identically). With some units, this is done using laboratory instruments like an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscilloscope">oscilloscope</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_generator">signal generator</a>. Measurements and corresponding adjustments have to be made to the machine's electronics. But, with this player, the calibration is automated within electronics and software. First you have to access the service program and then you need to follow a set pattern of key entries, check for responses indicated on the display and ultimately perform the auto-calibration. Clearly, without the service manual, there is no way of knowing how to do any of this, or even if you have to.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If this hasn't put you of doing it yourself, there are only a few other minor issues to consider:</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Some lasers have several variants, you'll need the exact one.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Some lasers are incredibly difficult to identify without experience and information.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Similarly some have been replaced with an equivalent.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Try to only fit original laser types, a lot of the after market replacements (particularly those for obsolete models) are very fussy and some don't work at all. There are a few machines in which I now won't replace the laser because the original is no longer available and the replacements are too unreliable.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Laser pick-ups are sensitive to static electricity and unless <em>you </em>are properly grounded whilst undertaking the procedure, the unit could be damaged by a discharge. Worse, this might not show up straight away.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Some machines require special tools or software, as well as the laboratory equipment, to make the calibration adjustments. These are often only available to trained dealers from the manufacturer.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Shock hazard - be aware of danger. There can be exposed mains voltages inside the machine, make sure you know where they are especially if you intend to operate the machine partially disassembled.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Blindness hazard - be aware of danger. Never look directly into the laser when it is operating, you could damage your eyesight. The laser light is at the infra-red end of the spectrum and is invisible to us, so you won't know if it's there or not. The faint red glow that you may see is only a visible component of the total output and is not an indication that the laser is worn out.</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Trying to fix cheap supermarket CD players and CD-ROM drives is futile - they are very inexpensive to replace. Don't waste your time!</span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Even if the machine exhibits any of the symptoms mentioned at the beginning of this post, don't assume that the laser is to blame. In my experience of recent machines, it probably is, but there are many components in the "front-end" circuitry which can give the same response. A more scientific approach to prove it is often beneficial, without this your new laser may have a short lifetime.</span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Why did it stop working properly anyway?</strong></span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is a question I am asked frequently. There are numerous reasons, some I have theorised myself.</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The answer you really want to hear is "old age". I think a good analogy, which most people understand, is lasers are a bit like a light bulb, they start wearing out from the first time you switch on. Most lasers seem to have a lifetime of around 5,000 hours. In domestic terms this equates, quite often, to 7 years plus (with average use). With commercial use, this would be reduced to 2 or 3 years - a lot of venues are now open 25 hours a day, 8 days a week; the laser isn't going to last forever! This is all providing (in my experience) that it's a decent machine to start with, and there are exceptions that live longer.</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lifetime also has a lot to do with cleanliness. In the past, I have handled many machines where I have felt the laser pick-up has suffered premature failure. Sometimes this is down to design and other times it is some external contribution.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Traditionally, a Hi-Fi tower system had the turntable at the top. When CD came along in 1982, the tower system had become known as a "midi" system and the optional CD player was placed underneath the whole stack. Then CD players became a must and they were built into the bottom and the optional turntable was placed on top. This all seemed fine until eventually the turntable was deemed a non-requirement and the CD player migrated to the top of the box. That's when the trouble started. Right or wrong, I have deduced the following: All the heavy power consuming, heat generating components are in the bottom of the unit - mains transformer, power supplies, the power amplifiers with heatsinks and so-on. Ventilation is provided in the rear or sides and draws in cool air. The cool air warms up inside the machine and rises due to convection, eventually exiting via the position of the CD player. Simple. Except, along with the cool air, contaminants like dust, pet hair and cigarette smoke are also drawn into the box. The rising warm current of air does two things to the CD player before venting back into the room - heats it up and deposits a good deal of the contaminants into the workings. The components can be cleaned, re-lubricated, etc., but the problem with a laser is that you can't get to the internal bits - the laser diode, mirrors and lenses. Once a laser is contaminated in this way, in my book it's useless. The only cure is replacement. Any amount of cleaning of the laser which may get it working again is usually a temporary solution. I never pass a machine as fixed when this is the case. It may be OK as a temporary situation so the customer can find something else, or maybe to buy some time whilst funds allow for a new laser (which might be expensive), but usually these machines will come back within a short period of time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Out of all CD players that I have had for repair or investigation over the last 10 years or so, about 20% were serious Hi-Fi separates. The vast majority of these were suffering effects of age. Of the remaining 80%, the vast majority were all-in-one units, midi, and (now) micro systems with failed lasers. More than half of these showed physical evidence of dust, pet hair, cigarette smoke, talcum powder, occasionally human hair and small (but significant) proportion of cat urine!</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I think that there are a number of significant reasons why the HI-Fi separates last longer. First, generally, they are better designed and built. Then there are no high power components and little heat is generated, therefore no, or little ventilation is required and, unless you leave the tray open, little in the way of contamination can get in.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>A word about CD lens cleaners...</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you want a definitive answer, I'm not really sure if they do any good or not! If the type of contamination we're talking about is light dust then they can't do any harm and may even extend the life of your player. But you must use one frequently. Anything heavier and the best they are going to do is move it around. Chances are you'll buy one and forget about it until you have a problem. No good reaching for it at this stage, it's already too late - if your player won't read a CD it's not going to play the cleaner either. Time for a new laser!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If you want to know more about how CD players work look <a href="http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm">here</a>.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I hope that this has been useful, informative or just plain interesting. As always your comments are invited, as are your faulty CD players!</span><br />
</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-75866205565462383352009-12-30T20:53:00.000+00:002009-12-30T23:31:50.456+00:00Latest Business Developments<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have been busy, for a little while, setting things in motion ready for the new venture.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have purchased a domain and hosting ready for my website to be generated (all I need now is some capital input so that this can be put in progress). </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HpPvy2bDsPxyTdnHXERgIkevEeC8yEEjCQMrSNec5izJ9a8v93lLO5-n_ptdpTvA3oF0ElX5E5RX6_Z1Un0qaN6-uKxIuF9200Yaf2Vm-LA6TwrwvLuX7MEgxdIN1sDt2BDAO1JHAU/s1600-h/cro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-HpPvy2bDsPxyTdnHXERgIkevEeC8yEEjCQMrSNec5izJ9a8v93lLO5-n_ptdpTvA3oF0ElX5E5RX6_Z1Un0qaN6-uKxIuF9200Yaf2Vm-LA6TwrwvLuX7MEgxdIN1sDt2BDAO1JHAU/s200/cro.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have now got a workspace and office which is fully equipped and working. I also have access to many spare parts, so please get in touch about your items that require service. There doesn't seem to be that many repair people around these days, so mail order repairs and spares now appears to be a viable option. I have operated a similar service for other dealers around the country in the past. I also performed a huge number of AC3 conversions on laserdisc players by mail order. So there is no reason why repairing/servicing cannot work direct to end-user, I already have a good courier service that can pick-up as well as deliver.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJASEQize70raOsGIwPYDGiGHUcUw-AanbNLW_TgJmoe9SAx00w9iVoXpfkiX_3smMVQ5Ci7NW6xALGNmnzG5HOJygMs4JgDrt06CTUGmio2VQBT5g1vG5Y8sJ8B3SEdhTCnTxQ3Nrw/s1600-h/Chord+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJASEQize70raOsGIwPYDGiGHUcUw-AanbNLW_TgJmoe9SAx00w9iVoXpfkiX_3smMVQ5Ci7NW6xALGNmnzG5HOJygMs4JgDrt06CTUGmio2VQBT5g1vG5Y8sJ8B3SEdhTCnTxQ3Nrw/s200/Chord+Signature.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I now have an account with <a href="http://www.chord.co.uk/">The Chord Company</a>, manufacturer of award-winning cables for hi-fi & home cinema. As many previous customers will recognise, I am a great advocate of this companies products and great believer in their philosophy. Please direct your enquiries and orders here! No matter what your level of system, I can help you choose the right cables for optimum performance. </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-b1hSgKWuJ6r2QvieYlRcQuyk0BgX045Tf_Pa5yMo0OlxYImHX-dUA2rkTlq9RgFkOXmbYfVJyISa_nQxrICsoJSmedsOwUWUMbervUWJhfjmhkFAWmkgWlMZ51w5qQi5EyVYhGLJb4/s1600-h/genieb_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-b1hSgKWuJ6r2QvieYlRcQuyk0BgX045Tf_Pa5yMo0OlxYImHX-dUA2rkTlq9RgFkOXmbYfVJyISa_nQxrICsoJSmedsOwUWUMbervUWJhfjmhkFAWmkgWlMZ51w5qQi5EyVYhGLJb4/s200/genieb_large.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Many will also know of my great knowledge and expertise with installed audio and visual systems. This is an area that I hope to be returning to. It is something that I enjoy immensely - the conception and design of a system and being able to see the project through to completion and working. In the past I have worked with pubs, clubs, village halls, houses of worship, conference rooms, council chambers, leisure centres and much more. I have even designed systems for the client and successfully instructed his electrician in the installation of the system by telephone and email. I now have access to a variety of <a href="http://www.ads-worldwide.net/">commercial installation products</a> and would very much like the opportunity to carry on this work.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Please contact me now if any of this or related topics interest you!</span><br />
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</div></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-74129960508547387142009-12-07T23:26:00.000+00:002009-12-12T18:59:20.696+00:00Shrinking Violets Gig<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Followers that I may have will recall the posting in November, "</span><a href="http://russhifi.blogspot.com/2009/11/letter-from-friend.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Letter From A Friend</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">", in which I gave a brief description of Al Horton's musicianship with the Shrinking Violets. You can get to see them at <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&ie=UTF8&q=the+star+inn+st.+just&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=the+star+inn&hnear=st.+just&cid=0,0,4811894253553860768&ei=IucjS4z9M8-fjAe7--TYBw&ved=0CAwQnwIwAA&ll=50.123577,-5.679567&spn=0.008254,0.019248&z=16">The Star Inn</a>, St. Just this Saturday (12th December).</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumNBz9p13JWqiU5-R7mGz2n7jC0oP0-v1M7PgZQzO9WDHo3KubqzyWrCkLvvx5yIdHFpn604sUeEqEiCpljZJ8fUbJWWpvy2KxZuVQQZ3bmUHNFS1oJmI_-rEbuYZUFaekRjdg1Fi8Zo/s1600-h/mail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumNBz9p13JWqiU5-R7mGz2n7jC0oP0-v1M7PgZQzO9WDHo3KubqzyWrCkLvvx5yIdHFpn604sUeEqEiCpljZJ8fUbJWWpvy2KxZuVQQZ3bmUHNFS1oJmI_-rEbuYZUFaekRjdg1Fi8Zo/s400/mail.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's Al Horton on guitar, Verite Alexander on vocals and a little Japanese guy called Sony on backing. He's very good, he plays bass, keys, percussion and more, all at the same time too! But seriously, all the backing tracks are put together by Verite, they're not "bought in".</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The style of music these guys play is pop-rock / rock, the sort of stuff that usually goes down well anywhere. Al is quite an acomplished guitarist and very adaptable. Verite's vocals are just mind bogglingly dynamic.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Might see you there.</span><br />
</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-15181231942749021672009-12-04T22:59:00.000+00:002009-12-05T23:31:10.567+00:00RJF Audio Visual stock in Liquidation Auction<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In my first blog posting, I told of the demise of my comany, RJF Audio Visual, after 20 years of trading. Today I'm just putting up a very quick posting to let you know that the companies' stock is up for auction, as <em>no reserve</em> listings. No doubt there will be some rediculessly cheap bargains to be had, even with the buyers premium and VAT. The auction is of an on-line style and is running now for the next 7 days. The stock is being held in Cheltenham and for certain items it would be well worth a journey of several hundred miles to pick-up the spoils. Have a look at <a href="http://www.amsauctions.co.uk/auctiondetails.cgi?auction=273">AMS Actions</a> now and be shocked at what's happening.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's a few items as a taster of what's on offer. Prices I've given in brackets are a guide of the new selling price:-</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My all time favourite Quad 2805 ESL's (new price c. £6,000), these are our ex-dem pair.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All 4 QSC active PA cabs - 2x 12" 500W top / stage wedge cabs plus the 2x 15" 700W subs (c.£4,000).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Definitive Audio Super Towers (£3,800/pair).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Definitive Audio Mythos 1 (£1,800/pair).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Alto PBM4 mini PA amp (£200).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">KAM KAP1000 MkII DJ Mixer.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Denon DVD2500 blue ray player.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Nuforce Reference 9V2 power amps. (Be careful here, one of the 3 listed is actually half of the pre-amp stage, the other half was one item taken in the robbery, but they are worth £1,800 each and the distributor can supply the missing box, so try to buy all 3!)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Allen & Heath PA12 pro live mixing console.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Arcam FMJ A18 and A28 integrated amps.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Densen B-300 integrated amp (£1,000).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Quad 99 and 909 power amps (£550 and £850).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Acoustic Energy EGOm sub sat systems (£129).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Tascam CD-01U pro CD player (£650).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Denon CD players and amps.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Quad, Wharfedale and Monitor Audio hi-fi speakers.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Mini mixers.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Phonic rack processors and amps.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Cables by the box full.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lighting accessories.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Speaker and mic stands.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Microphones.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Guitar Effects.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">PLUS LOTS MORE, ABOUT 450 LOTS IN FACT!</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Please take a look and help youself to some bargains! If your not sure and want to message me about something, that's fine - use the comments feature, I'll get back to you as soon as possible.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A few images from the auction:-</span><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-57956446533947835962009-11-25T15:49:00.000+00:002009-11-25T20:19:12.264+00:00A Letter From A Friend<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKMNloQVH1PVfvWbJMs9jgrPhKBJQQTN-uQ4TyhoshYCANe36T2my2mxk5dBrtlQsA3nNm61pxEQMpsL152D6SaWpiZdzmnUlb35XV_lKtDTKr7sKZhl4YRBImTq6uuzWRfTmN4DzD4I/s1600/Alan+Horton+-+Shrinking+Violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKMNloQVH1PVfvWbJMs9jgrPhKBJQQTN-uQ4TyhoshYCANe36T2my2mxk5dBrtlQsA3nNm61pxEQMpsL152D6SaWpiZdzmnUlb35XV_lKtDTKr7sKZhl4YRBImTq6uuzWRfTmN4DzD4I/s200/Alan+Horton+-+Shrinking+Violets.jpg" yr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As well as the few comments that have arrived to my blog, I also get a good deal of email traffic. Here's one that struck a chord with me very recently, I think worth sharing. It's from my good friend Alan Horton, great guitarist, playing locally for years with the "Shrinking Violets" duo. Al's partner in crime, Verite Alexander, has a fabulous voice. Get out and see them if you have the chance. I believe I first met Al about 20 years ago, he was one of my first customers. He brought me his Session guitar amp for repair. It was making the most horrendous noises. The problem was terminal for the amp's PA stage, I modified it with a much better MOSFET output stage. It ran a little warmer, which didn't hurt, but I recall that it sounded fantastic. I think Al still has it.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hello Russ, I spent sometime reading your story, the first such visit to a blog of that kind for me.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I always thought of them as being more about issues than people. I guess yours is about issues too.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You could describe it as a modern day account of an individual’s battle with a global economy and the unscripted consequences thereof.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It seems to me that the rate of change is what seems to overtake all of us and that awful feeling of disempowerment it can bring.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Failure is an issue for us all in life, it can be a relationship disintegrating or any of a number of other devastating disappointments. Its a wounding it seems to me, and can shatter everything that seems to represent what we like to think of as "ourselves".</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I sense something of this in your writing along with a measure of self examination. Another thing I can identify with and a very typical reaction to loss of some kind.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I look forward to a chat sometime Russ, I remember very very well the last one we had. I was at a crisis (still am!) you seemed to have been there and come out the other side.</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You are quite a people person compared to myself I feel, perhaps a little more vulnerable for that.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Anyway I’ve muttered on enough, lastly though, I think I should congratulate you for the effort and frankness involved in your posting, quite something.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Best for now</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Al </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks for those words Al. I very much enjoyed reading your response. In fact, although I've not done much yet, you made me feel like I have already achieved something.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think you may have just inadvertently stimulated something that I was trying to avoid!!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The global economy is what it is, but the problem I have is with organizations / individuals simply undercutting everyone else because they can, or because they want to, believing that by doing so they will become the prime source. Just look at what happened to our local petrol supply, when Tesco opened their store at the top of Camborne. It’s my belief that they purposely undercut all of the local stations – Polstrong, Glassons, College Street, the one on the corner of Wellington Road, Basset Street, John Richards (North Roskear), Pengegon Motors, Trevenson and others that I don’t immediately recall. All of these stations went out of business and now Tesco is the dearest station for miles!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When it comes to product that requires after sales service, I can’t understand what these people expect to gain by their attitude to pricing. I mean, what makes an individual want to do 10 times the amount of work for the same money? If a product is worth £100 why sell it for less - ridiculously less? If you are big enough and powerful enough, then there is a point – you eliminate your competition, as above. But you have to be able to sustain the campaign. Many sellers these days think that they can steal all of the customers with low pricing but end up putting themselves into bankruptcy, and upsetting a multitude of other dealers and their supplier at the same time. Yes - the supplier. Often the supplier expects the product to sell for a particular price but when the discount wars start, the product quality is undermined and service / support cannot be maintained at the lower price. All too often the manufacturer is forced to lower the quality of the product to suit the "street price". Just look at the supermarkets again; they are now selling into the home electronics market. I wouldn’t trust any of them with a toaster! They haven’t got a clue what a modern day TV is capable of, or how and to what it will connect, let alone how the customer gets the components to talk to one another. Worse still they are getting their third world buddies to manufacture this stuff for them at daft prices with substandard parts and it doesn’t last. Sorry, they are having a laugh! This gear is not repairable, it’s not worth repairing (read that again – it is two statements!) and our stupid governments act all dumb and wonder why we’ve got a landfill problem. So much for their green policies!</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All I want to do is provide a worthwhile service and supply products that actually work (and carry on working), just like the old days. Remember when you bought a product because it performed and lasted? A TV was done for when the tube wore out at 15 years plus old, and the cost of a new video head would scrap your VCR at 10 years or so. I sold scores of those products that I bought second hand off the rental companies. I serviced them, sold them and hardly ever saw them again. My trade is worth something and there are people out there looking for me. It’s already started.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks again for your comment, for me that was some emotion in the right direction! And very well put.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Late addition!- reply from Al:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes it is a long time Russ and I do still use the Amp and thank providence for men like yourself, survivors and of course thinkers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will tell V of your kind words and I'm sure she will appreciate them as indeed I appreciate your generous remarks too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well beyond the call of duty Russ.<br />
</span><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-14189985599476479872009-10-22T23:57:00.000+01:002010-01-13T21:51:24.877+00:00A Few Items For Sale<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here's a few items to whet the appetite - these are for sale right now. Please messsage me if you have any questions, etc., but be quick! They are listed for sale elsewhere. The majority of these are personal items and have had light use.</span><br />
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</div><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Linn Sondek LP12 (Afromosia) / Ittok LVII / Valhalla / Troika</span></strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is my friend’s </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Sondek_LP12"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Linn</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> which I have referred to earlier. As you can see, it’s in pretty good condition, not perfect, after all it is around 25 years old. It has been recently serviced by myself and, as some of you will already know, I have all the necessary Linn gauges and jigs plus the knowledge to be able to do this with some authority. It is kitted out as described above, but has the original sub-chassis and bearing - not cirkus. However, judging by the way it set-up, I’d say that the suspension springs are the newer type, I may be wrong, but getting the loading right, so that the oscillation of movement was good, was all too easy (just like the later springs do!). The cartridge is in very good nick, under the microscope, there’s no visible wear to the stylus and things down there are very clean - a good sign that this has done hardly any work.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As mentioned, the aesthetics are not perfect. There are quite a few fine scratches on the dust cover, as you would possibly expect of a mid eighties unit. However, a little bit of elbow grease and a magic product called “Greygate Plastic Polish” can work wonders, much better than T-Cut or Brasso. They also do a “No. 5 Paste” for deeper scratches, I should be able to supply these products. There is a small crack to the rear by the right hand hinge (see picture). The hinges are in good order. I polished the stainless steel top plate whilst the deck was stripped for service, but other metal components could be improved slightly. We’re looking at offers around £1,000 for this, it must be worth that!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Roksan Xerxes 20 Turntable / Tabriz ZI/ XPS7/MC2 Special</span></strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Literally as new, this <a href="http://www.roksan.co.uk/">Roksan</a> hasn't been used at all for over 6 months, it’s been packed away and in storage since before my house move in May. This is my ultimate ”dream machine” and it’s being sold on barely before I’ve had time to enjoy it. Personal circumstances and recession (thank you Mr. Brown) dictate that it must go. It is little used and in fabulous condition. It sounds superb - articulate, detail, bass, mid, top, it has it all. The <a href="http://www.vandenhul.com/p_A02EA.aspx">Van Den Hul MC2</a> Special cartridge is a high output moving coil, so will work straight into a moving magnet input if required. Although I have all of the packaging, it would be better to collect the deck to save dismantling and set-up. New price £4,750.00; selling at £3,750.00.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr4vpEz5jBa3S7UBbDWhpcPrnMb25Gn32ejZV0xvZFsW2XT_YNUTXvSbvhd3mhZXX3AMdMkDEdYeLrAusc7Tl2aFY-QrrwFUXw-PsGMjI5FL3JMkJ2gbT2Vx0OwTRMqS-7oNG5qiS56o/s1600-h/Roksan+multi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr4vpEz5jBa3S7UBbDWhpcPrnMb25Gn32ejZV0xvZFsW2XT_YNUTXvSbvhd3mhZXX3AMdMkDEdYeLrAusc7Tl2aFY-QrrwFUXw-PsGMjI5FL3JMkJ2gbT2Vx0OwTRMqS-7oNG5qiS56o/s400/Roksan+multi.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ortofon 'Kontrapunkt a' phono cartridge</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">SOLD!</span></strong><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The '<a href="http://www.ortofon.com/products/cartridges/moving-coil/mc-kontrapunkt-a">Kontrapunkt a</a>' is a low output <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_cartridge">moving coil</a> (MC) phono cartridge. This item is as new and in the original packaging. It’s been used for about 20 hours before discovering the delights of a Van Den Hul MC2 Special! Mind you, the VDH is more than twice the price! It’s the first in the Kontrapunkt series, ideal for vocals, choirs and the classics. My listening is more varied than this, so not greatly suitable for my “heavier” choices. New price £600.00; selling at £400.00. <strong><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">SOLD!</span></strong></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Philosophy - Nebrion digital interconnect</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A great high end 75 Ohm digital interconnect sporting the correct BNC connectors (RCA plugs are actually designed for 50 Ohm uses!). Still as new in it's box. I can supply new BNC to RCA adaptors with this if required, or alternatively 75 Ohm BNC sockets if you wish to convert your equipment (£5.00 additional please). The Nebrion has a silver core and provides fantastic detail and bass control, fast. Very musical. New price £350.00; selling at £200.00. Sorry no picture at this time, it’s in a box somewhere in the spare room!</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Chord Company - Signature interconnects</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">SOLD!</span></strong></span><br />
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<div align="justify" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsPN6SDtl3sPIRn4OX8pbJwOEKgFE3_0QnuhqtnV9xoKy1dl5XqZ5s_qyqi05iuV3NngZn-MXGROZOXyS4MWftvDfy7n9nHmZIsWXj1ACCd2brows1zEjMHdE9MiVEnjep3rP8T0m3Eg/s1600-h/Chord+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsPN6SDtl3sPIRn4OX8pbJwOEKgFE3_0QnuhqtnV9xoKy1dl5XqZ5s_qyqi05iuV3NngZn-MXGROZOXyS4MWftvDfy7n9nHmZIsWXj1ACCd2brows1zEjMHdE9MiVEnjep3rP8T0m3Eg/s200/Chord+Signature.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Signature used to be Chord’s flagship interconnect and uses two separate conductors per channel in order to minimise interaction between signal and earth. This makes it slightly stiff but presumably also accounts for its stunning sound. Images are huge and you hear more of the recording character than most of the competition, it also has a superb sense of timing thanks to great transient response. If you want to add precision and scale to your sound, it's a winner.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This has to be the next best cable I've ever listened with (see below for Chord Indigo!) - detail and noise floor is fabulous. Literally as new but no box. This is a 1 metre analogue (RCAs) pair. <strong><span style="color: magenta;">SOLD!</span></strong></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Chord Company - Indigo RCA interconnects</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">SOLD!</span></strong><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlcEvVUXZ8gaSF4nnpN378c1unbmMZWmQRxGwzWEt0MyTj-Vf_KjV0fNTuomPOPLPNGn66b7Rvz7tsa4OFQprYbJ2zsSy6pOTy09dYDC1HN7LWD6wfaMVYtXGIvBgYWp8vdlPGI2jg4Q/s1600-h/Chord+Indigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlcEvVUXZ8gaSF4nnpN378c1unbmMZWmQRxGwzWEt0MyTj-Vf_KjV0fNTuomPOPLPNGn66b7Rvz7tsa4OFQprYbJ2zsSy6pOTy09dYDC1HN7LWD6wfaMVYtXGIvBgYWp8vdlPGI2jg4Q/s320/Chord+Indigo.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Indigo is optimised for analogue signal transmission and has a low capacitance design with minimal high-frequency attenuation, which make it ideal for accurate wide-bandwidth signal transfer. The shielding system is similar to the award-winning Signature RCA cable but all components are silver-plated for improved conductivity. All signal path components are silver-plated and all the connections are made with a high silver content lead-free solder.</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This has to be the best cable I've ever listened with - detail is exquisite, Obviously you need to have the level of system to support this. Literally as new in the box. This is a 1 metre analogue (RCAs) pair. <strong><span style="color: magenta;">SOLD!</span></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Headphones</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With a lightweight honeycomb aluminium casing and magnesium frame structure, these open-air headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears, offering a completely natural listening experience. The sound is smooth and relaxed, with deep resonating bass and vocal projection. The self-adjusting wing support automatically adjusts to your head size for easy-wearing listening comfort. A straight cord at the left earpiece terminates to a mini plug with included ¼" adapter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The box is somewhat trashed, but the phones are in perfect condition and order—as new. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New price £139.00; selling at £85.00.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Type: Open-air Dynamic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Driver</span> Diameter: 53 mm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Magnet: Neodymium</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Voice Coil: Copper-clad aluminum wire</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Frequency Response: 5 – 30,000 Hz</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Maximum Input Power: 500 mW</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW at 1 kHz</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Impedance: 32 ohms</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Weight: 280 g</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cable: 3.0 m (Single/Hybrid-PCOCC)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Connector: 1/8" (3.5 mm) mini stereo, gold-plated</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Accessory Included: Detachable 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter</span></li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK8T7Ghp0m2A1tTBHU145eV2MVvIQ9hVfobEm3yhYETpRJaUGV4roFdHVdXxgE4douYHF_BPa33MECnE5IXHBsaZSwKlEKMRE15k35RPFONqzvFScNIcXorHqfBDhyNqcEMu0GLeA3bA/s1600-h/ATH-AD700+Phones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJK8T7Ghp0m2A1tTBHU145eV2MVvIQ9hVfobEm3yhYETpRJaUGV4roFdHVdXxgE4douYHF_BPa33MECnE5IXHBsaZSwKlEKMRE15k35RPFONqzvFScNIcXorHqfBDhyNqcEMu0GLeA3bA/s320/ATH-AD700+Phones.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Arcam Alpha 8 integrated amplifier (with phonostage)</strong></span><br />
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</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the amp from my “second” system. It’s In great condition and these seem to be sought after. No box or manual but still a bargain at £100.00.</span><br />
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</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>TEAC V-395 CHX cassette deck</strong></span><br />
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</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A very little used Teac single deck, bought “just in case”! No box, copy of manual included. £50.00 snip in tip top condition!</span><br />
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</div></div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-71779917914385261362009-10-17T23:10:00.000+01:002009-10-18T16:03:33.687+01:00New Beginings?<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZQ6KSvAFrSviTprDmnybjkoBphnNi3iPRhXYBwtMsuYwAkmW-7e-hAHpk3TPqheXaeaxBgRJNpzNLOWSbRAg9docBSJN5IhJnBiY_JVuMw8MrB-3ayio0fwuFDTrPCowiUnoJ8M5LI/s1600-h/phoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZQ6KSvAFrSviTprDmnybjkoBphnNi3iPRhXYBwtMsuYwAkmW-7e-hAHpk3TPqheXaeaxBgRJNpzNLOWSbRAg9docBSJN5IhJnBiY_JVuMw8MrB-3ayio0fwuFDTrPCowiUnoJ8M5LI/s200/phoenix.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The reason I am trying to create this blog and that I am addressing you personally, is quite simple - I need your help. It is my intention to get a new small business off the ground. I know and you know that I have a passion for music and I have the knowledge of what it takes to put a good system together and “make it sing”. And that goes for domestic hi-fi or commercial sound systems. I’ve also been known to repair the odd item or introduce astounding modifications: my knowledge and experience with electronics is fairly comprehensive. I have had numerous communications urging me to “carry on”, “pick myself up”, “get off the ground”, “do something with that knowledge”, “don’t just disappear”. Thank you, all of you, for the kind words that I have received.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">RJF Audio Visual had a great following of serious enthusiasts and happy commercial clients alike. I am RJF! I need that following to carry this new venture forward. Hopefully, you will be able to follow progress through this blog and decide that there may be something that I can help you with. So, with luck on our side (well, maybe a little more than that), we should see this turn from a personal crusade into a running business. I don’t even know what this new business is going to be called yet. I also know that it’s not going to happen overnight.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Too many people have said to me over the last few years that there is a major problem with the lack of good hi-fi/electronics stores. The fact is that our trade has very much become a niche market. The general public (non-enthusiasts and un-initiated) think that we charge outrageous prices for what we do and sell. They are brainwashed into buying low cost junk by the supermarkets and internet. You and I know better, you can’t buy a decent, working audio system - hi-fi or professional - in Tesco’s, or from RichardHeadOnline.com for tuppence ha’penny! This is one of the reasons that RJF A.V. has closed: lack of support from the mass market. I did (do?) have a reputation for dealing with quality products. Many will recall my slogan “The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would very much like to start over, but first I have to convince myself as well as my partner in life, Jan, (and the DSS!) that a new business is feasible. I know without a shadow of a doubt that it would not work in the current climate with a retail shop environment – witness the demise of my previous business. For this reason I’m now undertaking a “client based feasibility” study. Please message me if you have something - a repair or a project - that you think I can help with. I believe that I’m more likely to succeed if I run a new business as a consultancy style solo enterprise with an internet presence and a web-shop, rather than go into the high street.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At this time, I think we could say that it is probable that I will start again on a freelance self-employed basis. As people are making contact, I’m trying to do some market research and asking if we can keep in touch. From the information that’s being gathered, I should be able to gauge where the real strengths are going to be. No-one at this time knows what direction the new venture will take, there should be several. However, I do have a number of specialist areas to whet the imagination. I’ve put together the following thoughts and ideas:-</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K5H8hl57M_rXSFaU1JIk5QeBS4wsPsO3hTodTX-NWbcWv_VRAAsO0hLBwDND1yyngsVPb_nSsgVU9FKj_ltLcAKi-o4FAf40WAWcxysMOrVNkTevLCpUOTDJcfcfJwFylfF37n5BMkw/s1600-h/turntable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K5H8hl57M_rXSFaU1JIk5QeBS4wsPsO3hTodTX-NWbcWv_VRAAsO0hLBwDND1yyngsVPb_nSsgVU9FKj_ltLcAKi-o4FAf40WAWcxysMOrVNkTevLCpUOTDJcfcfJwFylfF37n5BMkw/s200/turntable.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I really want to do some work with turntables as they are one of my “pet” subjects and there’s hardly anyone around nowadays who knows about setting them up or which ones / component combinations are any good, etc. Cartridges, set-ups and servicing are obvious areas that I can be of use. I will probably be getting involved with some sales as well.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUFy1_EMtNce8yTfyiNmsSl8piRuQVu-pIL94FGVw-CzLRXcYUuo2Z8vIXL20ooPTJjEoM0zr_QMorN3gkgQWDgCjrc3EY-NCWmFflCvjX0pEkrkk9pV6ouUmpsGIkQiC84ssqQR7_TU/s1600-h/hifi+doc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUFy1_EMtNce8yTfyiNmsSl8piRuQVu-pIL94FGVw-CzLRXcYUuo2Z8vIXL20ooPTJjEoM0zr_QMorN3gkgQWDgCjrc3EY-NCWmFflCvjX0pEkrkk9pV6ouUmpsGIkQiC84ssqQR7_TU/s200/hifi+doc.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Hi-fi Doctor” is another area I certainly get into – demonstrating how such things as cables, stands, stabilisation, isolation, and filtration products can seriously improve a systems performance. This would obviously generate sales off the back.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8aV32uwr4NtmiESjdUoiLOlLbzFkCLzvccbwnTT3d9ATtMAVsByYRLf5TOQSypO2vp1S8IT1Khvq4U4YHP8YsCSdtv5D3N5vQ4LeBEy0sjgTTSzk-Hjz-TB8wExPZsFACgfWoGJuVI/s1600-h/Marshall+stack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8aV32uwr4NtmiESjdUoiLOlLbzFkCLzvccbwnTT3d9ATtMAVsByYRLf5TOQSypO2vp1S8IT1Khvq4U4YHP8YsCSdtv5D3N5vQ4LeBEy0sjgTTSzk-Hjz-TB8wExPZsFACgfWoGJuVI/s200/Marshall+stack.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The repair industry has all but shut down because of the high street attitude to selling products, but I can find work with serious hi-fi products and also PA gear (guitar amps, etc.) that require service or repair.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZuzFPJ52_1Y1v_Arbp0rh32QMwnLil6G-3UOg_LBdUMiEEDJs-FRBOnLgMPLPD7XMwshzJPx8pJ-ZDk2zr9yMjYl_qxt26r4CWa1RRtdyKSFaDFikIHXEn5G4xu2nRl9ZClcLDSy62g/s1600-h/A&H+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZuzFPJ52_1Y1v_Arbp0rh32QMwnLil6G-3UOg_LBdUMiEEDJs-FRBOnLgMPLPD7XMwshzJPx8pJ-ZDk2zr9yMjYl_qxt26r4CWa1RRtdyKSFaDFikIHXEn5G4xu2nRl9ZClcLDSy62g/s200/A&H+desk.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If I could get a workshop together with a bit of space I could even take on the servicing of live and recording consoles (mixers). There are very few people in the South West with a better knowledge and experience of this specialist area that I have.</span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLFMtPLORsO-uK7rvrJ0N8NmUU54gRWLPQ73_2ciwWOcOO9Zw2NopbArmHCliBqPxvbji1327RfRl5-zcJ9BNqw1NXjC7lU__aSx-JW13HNcKc4vagw8enAG8NsNdFVWR8ybt9KpEZGk/s1600-h/AR+speakers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLFMtPLORsO-uK7rvrJ0N8NmUU54gRWLPQ73_2ciwWOcOO9Zw2NopbArmHCliBqPxvbji1327RfRl5-zcJ9BNqw1NXjC7lU__aSx-JW13HNcKc4vagw8enAG8NsNdFVWR8ybt9KpEZGk/s200/AR+speakers.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have several potential customers expressing the need for a commission based resale / disposal (including eBay, etc!) service.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvdnvkrStDOubwHyDe8fKaPcUUmdVHlMXT5djACwVuzqgI7FOWrL_9cVJQyOcrGX6VuR2HWjSeKv0q2ztKBujf0kdVMHrQ46AyAjGq2CquAA5b7R4AEK2hnwY8ER-nRvgH-DvXbtjMK4/s1600-h/Picture1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvdnvkrStDOubwHyDe8fKaPcUUmdVHlMXT5djACwVuzqgI7FOWrL_9cVJQyOcrGX6VuR2HWjSeKv0q2ztKBujf0kdVMHrQ46AyAjGq2CquAA5b7R4AEK2hnwY8ER-nRvgH-DvXbtjMK4/s200/Picture1.gif" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Buying and selling vintage and high quality used hi-fi is another area I can look at. I already have a number of personal items that need to be cleared (and a friend has already suggested that I sell his LP12 Sondek for him. This I have already serviced.)</span><br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’m quite good at sourcing used products for individual requirements.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have already had a number of suppliers express a wish to help with whatever the future brings, so perhaps I can get into some new sales quite quickly.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpqmEnr-t9Qat1cpjKSoJgmmKLOGZPPlIqtZ1Qbxfv-pOkdOYPAztwC9rbxZ7GyYuv74fQvtdbbXXInBYts6FpCzpUmTc4lxUarjDFGa5PJeNjw1rIKppe0N1jTm7GjXCea7RHgg9524/s1600-h/PA+Horn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpqmEnr-t9Qat1cpjKSoJgmmKLOGZPPlIqtZ1Qbxfv-pOkdOYPAztwC9rbxZ7GyYuv74fQvtdbbXXInBYts6FpCzpUmTc4lxUarjDFGa5PJeNjw1rIKppe0N1jTm7GjXCea7RHgg9524/s200/PA+Horn.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’ve already had some requests from the commercial market to be available to service existing - and install new equipment - in their buildings. I should be able to kick start the installation business again. Conventional, 100v-line and AFILS (hearing loop) systems are all within my scope.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloP5uMUY2PO_adXeGhbLvetmlYlnUndQx6QwRTMdpNPTDHfcnw_7-QKwR-qeVDqdR3ryagBQn5qtuVRX_mFMBMjOZwoaN1Tu2HVWoDj9iMcFGZ-uUzBGULx5-y_6cI_vYqd-Qlx5IitE/s1600-h/projector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloP5uMUY2PO_adXeGhbLvetmlYlnUndQx6QwRTMdpNPTDHfcnw_7-QKwR-qeVDqdR3ryagBQn5qtuVRX_mFMBMjOZwoaN1Tu2HVWoDj9iMcFGZ-uUzBGULx5-y_6cI_vYqd-Qlx5IitE/s200/projector.jpg" vr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Also, I have a lot of experience in the visual market – projectors (home cinema and data) and LCD / Plasma screens.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If necessary, I could undertake PAT safety testing to “fill in” some time.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have a number of friends and associates in allied trades that need help from time to time.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Being self employed, I have some other interests that could be pursued under the same umbrella. I don’t have to stick with the above completely (or even within the field of electronics!).</span> <br />
<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZdh3ZG5XtnOFK_ck7Ocx53YCHv5Rq8NOEKeZoLVGEtvMfxJvJv8eEslhnusQYm6gthGY7LAHQSlLcYMgn9jxky1QovW9oBvtqP3tdP5qVM8N1KAAzZAkiw_JTxHaxV9tQfmijfb9dEU/s1600-h/Gemstone+on+blk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZdh3ZG5XtnOFK_ck7Ocx53YCHv5Rq8NOEKeZoLVGEtvMfxJvJv8eEslhnusQYm6gthGY7LAHQSlLcYMgn9jxky1QovW9oBvtqP3tdP5qVM8N1KAAzZAkiw_JTxHaxV9tQfmijfb9dEU/s200/Gemstone+on+blk.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup6s6LWu8NxF_p2zTBylXSwz1amjTGARxWZyO-8ApEckAj-Mnr6ZHwppnUDxFwR37vlvud52dn9T5UY-iYczkfOAYFLpQQzmaMRdrJ4kTtAKULQ_kE2t_DGVZ4hNxPV96c1ChfrpvGUg/s1600-h/Gemstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It seems that many are already missing the services that we provided at RJF Audio Visual and our enthusiasm for “real” kit. But, with the little list above for starters, I don’t think it will be long before something will emerge.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Please message me, I want to know if:– </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Any of the above interests you</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you have any further suggestions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you think I can service / repair something for you (or get this achieved)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you have an installation project that you think I will be able to help with</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you have any advice or support that you think may help!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you have any funding or grant money for the start-up of small businesses (!)</span></li>
</ul><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup6s6LWu8NxF_p2zTBylXSwz1amjTGARxWZyO-8ApEckAj-Mnr6ZHwppnUDxFwR37vlvud52dn9T5UY-iYczkfOAYFLpQQzmaMRdrJ4kTtAKULQ_kE2t_DGVZ4hNxPV96c1ChfrpvGUg/s1600/Gemstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup6s6LWu8NxF_p2zTBylXSwz1amjTGARxWZyO-8ApEckAj-Mnr6ZHwppnUDxFwR37vlvud52dn9T5UY-iYczkfOAYFLpQQzmaMRdrJ4kTtAKULQ_kE2t_DGVZ4hNxPV96c1ChfrpvGUg/s200/Gemstone.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 493px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2574px; visibility: hidden;" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you know someone else that may have an interest in this, please tell them and direct them to this blog site - friends family and neighbours are all needed for this to succeed! I’m going to be based in the Penzance area, but I also envisage a fair amount of travelling – my cut-off point will probably be Newquay – St. Austell. I’ve not got a workplace set up yet, but I’m working on it. Researching this new project is rapidly becoming a full time occupation in itself, so I hope something does come of it!</span><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8879402957116264715.post-23076392875532790662009-10-15T16:21:00.000+01:002009-10-30T17:04:25.586+00:00Did it become a dinosaur?<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2TDNLXzJ0uwlIhc95G13242jcFXfdAZgVpa72K971uXahaOnlwXge4cUF785vZktuD80xGw6B8jj6kEsXpnANEmugNKFT_IJPU0RYPJk7WzEVAZ9kDKjJltc5506Mq5GnRm5Hy1wcpY/s1600-h/dead+dinosaur.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392861249795540818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2TDNLXzJ0uwlIhc95G13242jcFXfdAZgVpa72K971uXahaOnlwXge4cUF785vZktuD80xGw6B8jj6kEsXpnANEmugNKFT_IJPU0RYPJk7WzEVAZ9kDKjJltc5506Mq5GnRm5Hy1wcpY/s200/dead+dinosaur.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 105px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 180px;" /></a><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Many of you that are visiting this blog will be doing so because you know me and have probably been invited to look or have been told about the site. Some of you will have happened upon this by pure accident whilst “surfing the net”. If you don’t know me, welcome. Hopefully you soon will. Most of you that do know me will also know by now that True Sound And Visual Presentation Limited, better known to yourselves as RJF Audio Visual has ceased to be. </span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Towards the end we had many problems trying to keep RJF A.V. going:-<br />
Unhealthy competition from the internet and supermarkets had been causing us a few problems for a long period </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wOx0XPC6-_ejNeM5wqm43QLZ_1bxJKUjwmpCx8t1eXBi8VDW-ckh_8gSEOXcv8uuuvxzAfTWfQSt1qsVcs_dl0_XjuDLaGtn09_e394jUE0LnCqG9cqko9Vlb2rKBisacz7_Pmpp89o/s1600-h/electronic+junk.jpg"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392860494382890882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wOx0XPC6-_ejNeM5wqm43QLZ_1bxJKUjwmpCx8t1eXBi8VDW-ckh_8gSEOXcv8uuuvxzAfTWfQSt1qsVcs_dl0_XjuDLaGtn09_e394jUE0LnCqG9cqko9Vlb2rKBisacz7_Pmpp89o/s200/electronic+junk.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 132px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">of time, which were gradually getting worse. Much of the product available from these people is just cheap and nasty (no wonder we have a landfill problem), but even when they do get hold of something worthwhile, all they seem to want to do is trash the price thus undermining the quality of the product. You will notice that a good many intern</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8FKydKIzEKXSC3JpmBD_X1el3kwgyxp9fQwX3NM8wKBxu-iiBeapSdEsVoscz3c3kxhcHmfpqfck3a3fw7BxG8BTEfyMAQ4rmuqfjoQ-WEmch2qjqjjho_bPiU91XRE6hnTHXUwtTNQ/s1600-h/cowboy+van+driver.jpg"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392859831168805602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8FKydKIzEKXSC3JpmBD_X1el3kwgyxp9fQwX3NM8wKBxu-iiBeapSdEsVoscz3c3kxhcHmfpqfck3a3fw7BxG8BTEfyMAQ4rmuqfjoQ-WEmch2qjqjjho_bPiU91XRE6hnTHXUwtTNQ/s200/cowboy+van+driver.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 142px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 150px;" /></span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">et companies come and go. This is because their operators seem to have no real business acumen and have no visible profit margin to be able to sustain their operation. We saw this sort of behaviour 10 or so years ago with, for example, mobile TV repair men – “No call out charge”; “No estimate fee”; “No repair, no charge”. All that happened at the end of the day was that as soon as the van needed a new MOT they went out of business, having made insufficient profit to pay for their own repairs!</span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The supermarkets and “sheds” are using electrical goods as “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_leader">loss leaders</a>”. All the supermarkets want to do is attract you through the door, they know once you’re inside, you’re going to fill a trolley with groceries. After all, why would you go somewhere else once you’re inside? The sheds, on the other hand, like to sell insurance – fear of high breakdown costs. Don’t forget that you are protected through the lifetime of the product by the <a href="http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html">Sale of Goods Act</a>. You should not have to buy a breakdown policy in order to resolve a potential high cost repair situation.</span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">All of the above gave us problems with customers who had bought from these sources. Repair of low cost items is often futile in the rare instances that it is actually possible. Often products are designed in such a way and with such cheap components that they will not last very long. These items will not stay repaired! Another major frustration in trying to repair these things is that most frequently they are sourced from a third world location at very low cost by the seller themselves. These sellers are not geared up for service: they don’t have repair workshops, so why on earth should they purchase un-necessary items such as repair manuals and spare parts? The truth of the matter is that well designed, good quality, higher priced items, very rarely go wrong (and the manufacturers are very often willing to issue much <a href="http://bryston.com/warranty.html">longer warranties </a>than their cheaper counterparts). Within a very short time span the number of worthwhile repairs coming into our workshops had been reduced by a crippling 90%! Ultimately we had to all but close this service as it was simply not paying its way.<br />
</span><br />
<div align="justify"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392857661012690866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrXEAp1Um6zF7BE25JbtE-ou_pX70CqPPgKsJfmr996C1rNHXjR9ktlBY0uJgf5k3kjVkVQgvjdDSq7yVRZP-tozNmtU4JZX0Xu-JiEkw4SDq321Hhrjh2_0aJiQuEkdGadAGb9YVCoY/s320/capacitors-faulty.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 269px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> </span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><em>Here's a typical problem caused by cheap components. The electrolytic capacitors (larger dark blue/grey items) on this PCB have become swollen and leaked corrosive electrolyte onto the board. Secondary failures will have occurred and there is much damage to the PCB itself, as well as other components. This unit is now a write-off. It cannot be repaired successfully. The worst-case scenario of this type of failure that I have encountered was a £1,000 Techwood Plasma TV. The control unit for this product was actually a separate item from the screen and yet it could not be </em>purchased<em> separately despite the fact that the screen was useless without it. The product was less than six months old and technically under warranty. In this instance the seller had a service department but the owner was fobbed off with the suggestion that his cat must have peed into the control box! My inspection revealed the true cause. The control unit was a large, complex piece of electronics with scores of capacitors, most of which were exhibiting this problem. </em></span><br />
<div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">However, in addition their non-provision of service, the main issue with these sellers is their lack of product knowledge, resulting in great numbers of the general public coming into my business wanting free information about the products they had bought elsewhere, cables and accessories that simply don’t exist (e.g. USB to HDMI adapters!) or that we couldn’t supply. I draw a veil over the mind boggling quantity of people blatantly coming in for free demos and information about products (and sometimes taking several hours of our time about it) that they fully intended to purchase elsewhere!</span><br />
<br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Th</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">e recession we have all been experiencing has certainly not helped in preventing the failure of RJF A.V. This has been beyond all of our control. Although we were able to continue with a number of commercial installations, we were frustrated by the reduction in takings over the retail counter – some 75% down, almost the instant recession was announced.</span><br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The last straw was a major robbery which took place in broad daylight on a busy Saturday afternoon. Strange as it seems, I can’t remember when we had so many people in the shop at the same time! The perpetrators got away with about £6,000 worth of hi-fi and left us with a further £6,000 worth which was useless without the related components that had been taken. Some quick thinking and fast action rendered the offenders behind bars within a couple of hours, hopefully soon to be away on holiday and under Her Majesty’s direction! Unfortunately, this did not recover the gear for us. </span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The net result of all this, after taking some (more) advice, was the conclusion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWrx55Gne9mKanGSfVAT6u80jRAmedvffSaZy3LXodH15aKqdP6mby2xVG3EGKvXAIqibQLS5WV3Z5tPEhch_YcyqGDTS3RWewTgH_wDd4lUh2Cv0zLA0nOM0FMlFvdGA3t8dR1p1alA/s1600-h/eletext.jpg"></a> that we should “throw in the towel”. The decision was not taken lightly, but we felt that the retail shop was a liability and was causing the demise of the total business. I think, maybe, we should have closed the retail side 12 months ago instead of waiting and hoping for things to improve. However, this was always the core business. Ultimately the company was put into Voluntary Administration.</span><br />
</div><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392854214479506514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TTvAsLxIYznPi7N_d8BsJUtbn4JEuo7tyRO1ypjVvoGad2KoGhkMBl8PFvGZq3f5-Cm7jAaA_wMoRPIjjcAg7L_4rjoFK8cgoT93jGgDgx70GD1v-BXQRf_oUuYvhZ_1k-zGY20FLX8/s320/eletext.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 230px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The task of shutting down a business of some 20 years standing and all the necessary meetings with DSS, CAB, etc. has been all-consuming. I’ve been using it as an excuse for keeping my head down, facing people these last few weeks (even friends, who I know want to help) has been somewhat nerve wracking! I am now being able to “come–out” a bit more. Though, I think there will be much more to come with the Administrator once we have to arrange creditor, bank and who knows what meetings. Watch this space!</span><br />
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</div>Russ Fletcher's HiFi, Audio and beyond...http://www.blogger.com/profile/10316836895207395282noreply@blogger.com5