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[EOengineer]

I don't actually live there; just visit inlaws from time to time and can't resist popping into Atomic. Sadly, I've dragged the amp all the way back to CT with me already. Otherwise, I'd bring it into the store and make them listen to Ch. 3 Bright until they started throwing tubes and/or cash at me to make me stop.

I’d grab a known good 12ax7 (new or from another properly functioning amp) and rotate it first into V4, and then V5 if needed. A power tube issue would likely be apparent on all channels. If it persists through that it probably needs service.

Mesa support used to be great too, may still be. Calling them might be worthwhile. I’d expect then to start with rotating preamp tubes.

At a bare minimum I’d take everything possible out of the signal path.

 

[laxu]

You could just grab V2 out of the amp and try it in V4/V5. V2 is only used by channel 2, and half of that tube is completely unused in the amp.

 

[mbenigni]

You could just grab V2 out of the amp and try it in V4/V5. V2 is only used by channel 2, and half of that tube is completely unused in the amp.

This is what I was planning on doing. I'm too lazy to be taking two amps apart.

 

[Dez]

I've dragged the amp all the way back to CT

New England is the best England

 

[mbenigni]

New England is the best England

I'm fond of both, but I've spent far less time in the old one. :)

 

[EOengineer]

I'm fond of both, but I've spent far less time in the old one. :)

Both talk funny.

 

[mbenigni]

if that were me I’d probably try removing the grille and reinstalling it, paying attention to that piping/push it in as you reinstall the grille. I’m not sure messing with the faceplate will help much - you could also try pushing the piping in with a small tool?

You were right on the money with this advice, Dez. I pulled the grille, and then all I had to do was reinsert it while angling the top under the control panel first, and it looks perfect.

Now, back to finding that tube... Do you guys recommend I pull the amp out of the cabinet before I start swapping tubes? It's pretty close quarters in there.

 

[Dez]

Now, back to finding that tube... Do you guys recommend I pull the amp out of the cabinet before I start swapping tubes? It's pretty close quarters in there.

I wouldn’t but I’m lazy lol - hopefully a tube swap fixes it and you can just order a new one to replace.

 

[Dez]

Both talk funny.

 

[mbenigni]

I wouldn’t but I’m lazy lol - hopefully a tube swap fixes it and you can just order a new one to replace.

Once I pulled a couple of power tubes and removed the jackets from the preamp tubes things got easier. I think I'm going to stick with my usual "lazy" as well.

So far swapping V2 and V5 has had no effect. Checking V4 now.

And while I was rooting around in back of the amp, I finally noticed a couple of stickers indicating a "MARK V MOD by JENS KRUSE" and an ad for Kruse Kontrol Amplification. Doh! I'd have been less likely to grab this amp if I'd known it isn't stock. It looks brand new! Has anybody here heard of this guy? I'm going to try to email him and see if he has any records of what he did with this amp.

 

[Dez]

Once I pulled a couple of power tubes and removed the jackets from the preamp tubes things got easier. I think I'm going to stick with my usual "lazy" as well.

So far swapping V2 and V5 has had no effect. Checking V4 now.

And while I was rooting around in back of the amp, I finally noticed a couple of stickers indicating that "MARK V MOD by JENS KRUSE" and an ad for Kruse Kontrol Amplification. Doh! I'd have been less likely to grab this amp if I'd known it isn't stock. It looks brand new! Has anybody here heard of this guy? I'm going to try to email him and see if he has any records of what he did with this amp.

MARK V – Kruse Kontrol

I wonder if you get that lifetime warranty?

 

[mbenigni]

MARK V – Kruse Kontrol

I wonder if you get that lifetime warranty?

I just noticed that warranty myself. But I never put much stock in a blank check like that.

I sent them an email, and hopefully they can provide more information than the "mo betta" as indicated on the web page. Amp looks great, so if they did anything substantial, they kept it clean.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I wonder what mod was done? I hate to say this but I might be inclined to contact Kruse and see what he says. Drive the thing back would be the more nuclear option. Depending on how far; it might be the better option. Ugh.

 

[Genghis]

I have a friend who digs Kruse mods, but I have talked to techs who say his mods are really sloppy and should be avoided. I had my friends Marshall DSL for several months before trading it back to him. Sounded fine, but after my experience of buying a head switcher that squealed like a mofo from him, I realized I didn’t want any of his stuff.

 

[mbenigni]

I wonder what mod was done? I hate to say this but I might be inclined to contact Kruse and see what he says. Drive the thing back would be the more nuclear option. Depending on how far; it might be the better option. Ugh.

Already wrote him. But yes, at this point my spidey sense has me wondering more about Atomic's return policy than Kruse's warranty.

Meanwhile, neither a V4 nor a V5 swap improved matters any. Going from Triode to Pentode on Ch. 3 may have made matters worse?

Fucking tube amps - why do we put ourselves through this?

 

[JiveTurkey]

Already wrote him. But yes, at this point my spidey sense has me wondering more about Atomic's return policy than Kruse's warranty.

Meanwhile, neither a V4 nor a V5 swap improved matters any. Going from Triode to Pentode on Ch. 3 may have made matters worse?

Fucking tube amps - why do we put ourselves through this?

What if he says the mod compromised the bright switch and it is expected behavior to act this way? Who sends a Mark to ANYONE other than Mesa to be modded? Ugh.

 

[Dez]

 

[Dez]

Does it at least give you the warm and fuzzy to return it and go after another Mark?

 

[mbenigni]

What if he says the mod compromised the bright switch and it is expected behavior to act this way? Who sends a Mark to ANYONE other than Mesa to be modded? Ugh.

Jens Kruse got back to me very quickly, which I genuinely appreciate. Unfortunately, he has no database of serial numbers of the amps he's worked on. And since I bought from a dealer, I don't have the previous owner's name. Nor do I expect that dealer to provide that name.

Meanwhile, said dealer is a 6 hour drive away, and I think they only offer store credit on returns.

Love the amp, and yet... here comes that sinking feeling.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Jens Kruse got back to me very quickly, which I genuinely appreciate. Unfortunately, he has no database of serial numbers of the amps he's worked on. And since I bought from a dealer, I don't have the previous owner's name. Nor do I expect that dealer to provide that name.

Meanwhile, said dealer is a 6 hour drive away, and I think they only offer store credit on returns.

Love the amp, and yet... here comes that sinking feeling.

Call. Them. Now.