Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

HI,FIRST POST.
JUST AQUIRED AN OLD POLYTONE MINI BRUTE 3.
THE AMP IS EXTREMELY DISTORTED WITH NOT MUCH VOLUME.
CHECKED THE 4 OHM SPEAKER WITH ANOTHER AMP AND IS GOOD.
WIRED AN 8 OHM SPEAKER TO THE AMP(ALL I HAD)AND THE DISTORTION IS GONE,BUT STILL NOT MUCH VOLUME.
I AM GUESSING!!!THAT ONE OF THE OUTPUT TRANSISTORS(ON ONE OF THE HEATSINKS)
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AMP HAS GONE,AND THAT I AM GETTING ONLY HALF OF THE WAVE,HALF OF THE POWER.
AM I IN THE BALLPARK OR DILERIOUS ?
I'VE ONLY RECENTLY GOT INTO AMPS,VALVES,AND ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT I'M DOING.
IF RIGHT!!.COULD SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO TEST THE TRANSISTOR AND WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.MANY THANKS.

Quote from: ballinvillon on October 30, 2011, 04:28:45 PM
HI,FIRST POST.
JUST AQUIRED AN OLD POLYTONE MINI BRUTE 3.
THE AMP IS EXTREMELY DISTORTED WITH NOT MUCH VOLUME.
CHECKED THE 4 OHM SPEAKER WITH ANOTHER AMP AND IS GOOD.
WIRED AN 8 OHM SPEAKER TO THE AMP(ALL I HAD)AND THE DISTORTION IS GONE,BUT STILL NOT MUCH VOLUME.
I AM GUESSING!!!THAT ONE OF THE OUTPUT TRANSISTORS(ON ONE OF THE HEATSINKS)
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AMP HAS GONE,AND THAT I AM GETTING ONLY HALF OF THE WAVE,HALF OF THE POWER.
AM I IN THE BALLPARK OR DILERIOUS ?
I'VE ONLY RECENTLY GOT INTO AMPS,VALVES,AND ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT I'M DOING.
IF RIGHT!!.COULD SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO TEST THE TRANSISTOR AND WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.MANY THANKS.

First, there is no need to speak in all caps.  We don't like being "yelled" at here.

Secondly, have you opened up the amp and looked for any visual clues of something burning up or being disconnected?