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Unknown Kustom [message #16183]

Fri, 07 October 2011 10:43

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

I am working on a T@R PA amp either a K200A-5 or K200B-5. I'm not absolutely sure because of a damaged model sticker. My problem is with the PC802 reverb/summing board. The schematic(s) I was able to find from other posts are not the same as this PC802. This rascal has 12 transistors and +/- 25 volt rails. I'm going bonkers trying to signal trace this thing and I hope someone who has the schematic can verbally walk me through it.
I've had good success with Fender, Gibson, Peavey etc. but this is my first Kustom. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Incidentally, I'm happy to be the newest member to the forum.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16184 is a reply to message #16183]

Fri, 07 October 2011 10:56

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

Welcome to the place. The A-series heads have the +&-25vdc preamp boards, so I would think that yours is an 200A version. I don't think that I have seen a schematic for an A-series reverb mixer board. Maybe one of the other guys here has one.

In any case, what is wrong with your amp?

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16185 is a reply to message #16184]

Fri, 07 October 2011 12:59

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

Thanks for the welcome. The amp has three good preamps (I'll tackle the fourth later) and a good power amp. Just no, or very little, signal getting through the PC802. I first tried signal tracing and hit dead ends. I then used my Fluke meter to test all the transistors with nothing conclusive. Since posting this morning I have drug out my old B&K in-circuit transistor tester and, so far, have found one open FSE4002. I don't know why the Fluke didn't catch it other than it's much better for detecting leaky or shorted semi's. I'm completely out of NTE199's and there's not one to be found for 100 miles so I'll have to wait until I can get an order in. Just gotta love being a tech in a backwater.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16186 is a reply to message #16183]

Fri, 07 October 2011 14:29

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

Sometimes being in a big city, it doesn't get any better.

The SE4002 is pretty generic, so almost any transistor will work as a replacement.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16189 is a reply to message #16183]

Fri, 07 October 2011 19:26

stevem
Messages: 4748
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Most radio shacks still carry low signal npn types that will work just fine.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16190 is a reply to message #16189]

Sat, 08 October 2011 13:21

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

I decided to go with the NTE199 because of the high gain. I figure this old codger needs all the help it can get. Hope it doesn't have so much gain that it overdrives the next stage (wherever that is). I really appreciate the replies.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16194 is a reply to message #16183]

Sun, 09 October 2011 10:46

stevem
Messages: 4748
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

No, you will not have too much gain just less hiss as the noise to signal ratio of those early transistors was not so great.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16196 is a reply to message #16194]

Sun, 09 October 2011 19:37

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

Actually, I was surprised at the specs on that old SE4002. I didn't remember those old transistors performing that well. Hfe of 200 min to 800 max ain't bad. We'll see what happens, and the preamp shouldn't be too bad considering I at least have a schematic (Even though it's for +/- 8 volts). I've been at this since before the transistor(at least commercially). I remember thinking, what the hell am I going to do with these things. Then I thought the same about IC's. With the advent of microprocessors I'm about ready to pack it in because there's no way to tell what's going on inside those buggars. I'm really happy to get one of these old amps(even though it's Uggh! solid state) because it brings me back to the days when stuff was actually repaired instead of replaced. Ahhhh. nostalgia.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16199 is a reply to message #16183]

Mon, 10 October 2011 06:43

stevem
Messages: 4748
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

You and me both with the new micro stuff brother! but not even that stuff so much,heres one for ya, the other day I had a 2 year old fender amp that I had to fix as it needed its input jack to board connection resoldered.
I got the amp all apart and then thought that all I had to do is get the main board out flip it over and touch up the solder connections, the amp is made so that you need to remove the power transformer to get the board out.Well dont you know I was WRONG! It turns out you can not even after that get the board out as they must fold up the front and rear section of the chassis once the dam main board is in, or they have a spreader that gives you than last 3/8s inch you need to loop the board up and out!!!
I COULD NOT BELIVE IT!!! I had to tell the customer I could fix it if I could only get it apart all the way, which is something I never had to do in all my 45 years of repairing gear!
Just unreal!!

[Updated on: Mon, 10 October 2011 06:45]

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16202 is a reply to message #16199]

Mon, 10 October 2011 11:00

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

The current trend by most manufacturers is to replace it if it's in warranty (provided you can prove it's a defect). Once it's out of warranty it's your baby. I recently had a major brand 36" TV/VCR/DVD combo that was 18 months old with a bad flyback transformer. Not only could I not get the flyback, I couldn't get a service manual. This thing cost big bucks and had to be junked. Apparently the Feds are more concerned with where Gibson buys it's rosewood than standing up for the consumer. Just had to rave a little.

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16208 is a reply to message #16183]

Tue, 11 October 2011 07:28

stevem
Messages: 4748
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I could not agree more with your that last statement more!!!
I have as of late here in the summer I have to deal with near brown out conditions with the power grid here due to governments energy plans, or lack their of, but yet they spend and freely waste more of yours and my tax dollars on not letting me or you have a Gibson guitar to play in the dark of a brown out.

ALOT more people better wake up to all this over the limits government on both the federal and local levels or in about 3 to 4 years where going to be just another 3rd would nation in decline!

[Updated on: Tue, 11 October 2011 07:31]

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Re: Unknown Kustom [message #16214 is a reply to message #16208]

Tue, 11 October 2011 17:09

oletom
Messages: 7
Registered: October 2011
Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana

Junior Member

With the upcoming elections I have some hope that it will start to change for the better. If it doesn't, you may be overly optimistic about the 3 to 4 years. I see 2 years at most.
We kinda got off subject, didn't we. Chuckle, chuckle.

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