Issues [resolved]

[kgoss]

In the picture you labeled "B" the black wire in the bottom right going to a terminal strip does not look soldered.  It has not been crimped to make the mechanical connection.  Also it looks like the wire has been pushed so far the insulation is in the terminal rather than the wire.  If that is true there is a very poor or no electrical connection.

[Markkr]

"nearly impossible" is my middle. name 

I disconnected 19 and 20... voltage on 3 & 4 on both sides is 6.5v AC

FWIW, the 6AQ5's glow now that 19 and 20 are removed

[Markkr]

In the picture you labeled "B" the black wire in the bottom right going to a terminal strip does not look soldered.  It has not been crimped to make the mechanical connection.  Also it looks like the wire has been pushed so far the insulation is in the terminal rather than the wire.  If that is true there is a very poor or no electrical connection.

I re-heated and secured that black wire just in case. Thanks for the feedback

[Paul Birkeland]

I disconnected 19 and 20... voltage on 3 & 4 on both sides is 6.5v AC

FWIW, the 6AQ5's glow now that 19 and 20 are removed

Disconnecting 19 and 20 does not make the 6AQ5s glow.  If you had 6+V AC on the transformer where the STP connects (I had you measure this), your 6AQ5s will glow.

There's a loose connection in the STP wiring from the transformers to pins 3/4 on the 7 pin sockets.  You'll need to find that before proceeding. 

[Markkr]

Disconnecting 19 and 20 does not make the 6AQ5s glow.  If you had 6+V AC on the transformer where the STP connects (I had you measure this), your 6AQ5s will glow.

There's a loose connection in the STP wiring from the transformers to pins 3/4 on the 7 pin sockets.  You'll need to find that before proceeding.

Will do, just so happens that I ordered a spare wiring kit for this amp, so I will just replace that STP with new pieces.

[Markkr]

okie dokie!! That fixed that problem! The voltage tests all pass WHOO HOO

haha, my hopes were quickly dashed when I tried headphones and only sound coming from the left channel. (man I suck at this)

I found errors in my wiring of the potentiometers... corrected them... still no sound in the right channel.

ALL RESOLVED

@Paul, THANK YOU again. Your help was very much appreciated

[Paul Birkeland]

What exactly ended up being the issue?

[Markkr]

I had miswired the pots, confusing the “front” and “rear” in the directions. I pulled it all apart and rewired correctly.

[Paul Birkeland]

That made the 6AQ5s not glow?

[Markkr]

That made the 6AQ5s not glow?

The 6aq5’s started behaving after replacing the STP cables with new ones.

The channels began behaving once I corrected the pot miswire.

[Paul Birkeland]

Ah, excellent, I'm glad you got it all sorted out.

[Markkr]

Thank you again!

[Doc B.]

My hunch is that the root problem in this one was nicking the wires when they were stripped, which lead to some wire breaks just inside the insulator where they were not easy to spot. Generally this is caused by using something other than a wire stripper that is sized exactly for the wire gauge being stripped.

[Markkr]

My hunch is that the root problem in this one was nicking the wires when they were stripped, which lead to some wire breaks just inside the insulator where they were not easy to spot. Generally this is caused by using something other than a wire stripper that is sized exactly for the wire gauge being stripped.

Can you confirm the gauge of the wire included in the kit? I was using Hakko strippers in the 24ga spot.

[Markkr]

Also, new question.

The 7 pin sockets are VERY loose when tubes are inserted, the pins grab the tube just fine but the pins are "floppy" in the ceramic base. I contacted Eileen and she sent me 2 new sockets but they are exactly the same way. Is this expected?

The socket is 2 ceramic pieces, and that's where the "play" is coming from. Should I simply epoxy them together?