GT Brick problem...cuts out and gain VERY low

Probably a cold solder point but it sounds like there might be something else. A capacitor going? How old is this preamp? At any rate the fortunate thing is that the Brick is made with decent components and they aren't micro sized so, it's easy to work with. IE: it's repairable. If you know of a decent electronics repair shop I bet they could fix it for you without a lot of trouble.

That's a capacitor somewhere in there getting ready to go. Open it up and look for the one or two that are swollen.

I have been having the same problem with my Brick. I just gave up and stuck it in a corner. I have a Hamptone HVTP2 tube pre now and I am much happier......plus if something goes wrong it is infinitely easier to trouble shoot. I much prefer the sound of my Hamptone plus it has a lot more gain than the brick. It is more expensive but on a per channel basis it is not that much more expensive.



David B

if you want to mail it, send it my way.

And Huesph through hole !=(does not equal) easy to repair.

I like SMT better ;)

Link will fix it. He builds all kinds of things with squiggly little parts in em...... ;]

squiggly I like that...yep I can take a look at it no problem. I am in Canada though...the shipping is always interesting these days. Next time I am in your neck the wood you'll owe me a beer and some surfing ;)

JLiRD808, post: 359033 wrote: LOL I have no idea what this means...was this meant for me? Also, u serious about me mailing it to u or u kidding? Im sorry Im kinda new around here...THX!!!

No. That was for me. Fortunately I'm not an electronic engineer or a hobbyist. I know how to build a distortion pedal that will blow up your amp though. If you're at all interested in that. Sounds great for about five minutes until the smell of smoke then the pop. After that there's no sound at all unfortunately. If I could only get an impulse model of those few minutes it would be awesome!





Yes. I'm kidding but no. I'm not kidding.

Not to deprive hueseph of any work, but there is bound to be someone in Honolulu that works on tube amps - consult your local music store - and it is in your interest to keep that person in business.

Ok the beer offer stills stands, but I am not surfing in Cincinnati

If you haven't yet, at least try swapping out the mic cable first. It may be the preamp as mentioned, but wouldn't you hate to find out later it was some stupid cable?

So, you took this to a qualified technician and they couldn't figure it out? I would bet that it's one of the capacitors going or gone.

Have you tried wiggling the input to see what happens?

Ok. That makes sense actually. A capacitor is supposed to hold a charge. If it's going, it may discharge too soon. So when you unplug the mic, it give the capacitor the time to charge up again. Even if it only takes a few milliseconds. When the mic is plugged in, there's a continuous draw so your volume drops. Somebody is probably going to come in and correct me soon. Hopefully they will if I am wrong. That makes a whole lot of sense to me though.

I've had a brick, i liked it. had to have it sent in once, i think they said it was a bad pot, but it was a few years back. they fixed it and worked better than before. I sold it though since it's not easily rackable and I'd rather have good solid state pres over tube stuff.

Solder? I thought it was mortar they used to hold those things together.

I hope you didn't pay him. If you did, get your money back. His job was not done. Did he bother to get his multi-tester out? I would dare risk shipping it to Link. I know he is a capable electrician. I've seen his work. He's meticulous. I realize it may seem like a risk but, I assure you it's better off in his hands than in the hands of some high school graduate who took a hobby shop class.