I have a delema. Should I Replace by PCB?

[matttornado]

I have a 1974 1959 Superlread that been played very hard for over twenty years & will continue to be for many more to come.

This is the first year they made the amps with the printed PCB. Resistors are starting to blow & it seems I'm doing more & more repairs these days as it becoming less & less reliable. Plus, I butchered parts of the circuit doing all kinds of Mods. Not pretty in some areas!

So I'm thinking it's time to rebuild the circuit board so it's more reliable (new caps & resistors). The big question is this: Should I replace all together with a new Point to Point board or re-populate the existing Printed PCB board already in my amp?

Should I leave as many mustard caps as possible alone if they have never been touched ore resoldered?

With a new PTP board it'll be easier to modifiy & repair but a lot more work involved. If I use the the one I already have, I save money, it'll be easier & less work.

Lets hear your thoughts! I'm reluctant to also ask at the Marshall Amp Forum.....Most of time I'm treated like I'm an idiot or I get responses from people who claim to be amp scientists but never answer questions & instead post nothing but stupid comments. There are some very helpful & nice people there though, just saying.

Thanks!

[Carbia]

Put off the original board and keep it as original as you can. Then install a PTP board and adjust the amp to your taste.

If you want to sell the amp someday, you can restore ir with the original board o keep amps' value

[matttornado]

Thanks! FYI: I do not plan to sell this amp so I'm not worried about its value to be honest.

[Strat78]

Unless you are super meticulous about soldering to the traces, it sounds like by the time you swap in everything you want, the whole thing will only get more precarious. Grab a 1959 board from ValveStorm and let the fun begin! Save the other board for reference or as something to include if you do need to sell it someday. I hate to encourage parting out old gear, but you could probably get a fare amount of cash for that old board on eBay. The red lemco ceramic tubes sound pretty good, maybe migrate them to the new board. Sounds like a great project!

[matttornado]

I'm thinking about replacing the whole board now. Even though I am a skilled solderer (electronic/engineer tech.), I still would feel better having all of the components soldered on top at the posts. Plus it looks so freakin cool!

I have that circuit dialed in perfectly right now after years of trial & error. I just hope the new PTP board doesn't change the Mojo. I guess if I use the exact same component values on the new board, it should be damn close, right

Thanks for the replies.

[awangotango]

I'd say go for it. but you say you've got it dialed in. No way you're gonna keep it the same if you redo it. There is just too many places that will change. I guarentee it will be different. Build another if you want a PTP.

Still The point to point is the shit. you can then easily tweek components a bit and that is how you get a marshall to sound good most of the time as youve found with the '74, its just easier and more reliable with ptp

[matttornado]

Yeah man I agree. After the holidays & after my care gets fixed , I'll order the parts & get to work. Hopefully I'll figure out how to post pictures so I can report on my progress & get help when or if needed.

Matt

[matttornado]

Thanks for not replying with a comment like, "Well first of all, you have to know what your doing before you do something like that." like i would get at the other forum I mentioned.

[Roe]

I'd keep the PCB

[matttornado]

I'd keep the PCB

Interesting..... please explain you reason? Thanks!

[Joshabr1]

Listen to Roe. Keep the pcb fix it and play the shit out of it. He sorda knows a thing or 7.

[Ferrari-Dude]

Sounds like you like to mod your amps and you intend to keep this thing for a while. If that is the case, put in a P-T-P board and be done with it.