Cleaning up an echoplex...

[Mapleneck]

I have an early 70's EP-3 that is all original (even the tape). It is working fine and is very clean, but it has a lot of 30+ year old electrolytics in it and I was thinking about a light overhaul. Any reason why I wouldn't just replace these aging old e-caps before they fail? Also I was thinking a 3-prong cord. Any insight garnered from experience with these gyms is appreciated. BTW, I have new tapes on the way. Thanks.

[SatelliteAmps]

Changing the caps is probably a good idea, so is a three prong chord.

[Mapleneck]

Changing the caps is probably a good idea, so is a three prong chord.

I thought so too. Unless someone tells me a good reason not too I haven't thought of, it is my next project.

[JJman]

I overhauled a friend's unit. One diode was shorted and the PT was blown. This could have been the result of a shorted main filter AFAIK. A reason to change them.

[doctorx]

If it has those orange wrapped elecs and doesn't hum, theres no need to replace them, but go ahead if you want to. I replaced mine and it made no difference. If they elecs are the paper wrapped variety, then replace them. A grounded cord is a good idea, and a new belt. You can get the pinch roller rebuilt too, see my Echoplex page for links. (http://www.regiscoyne.com/echoplex/)

It's a good idea to align and bias the plex to the new tape; formulations have changed a lot over the last 30 years.

Good Luck.

[Mapleneck]

If it has those orange wrapped elecs and doesn't hum, theres no need to replace them, but go ahead if you want to. I replaced mine and it made no difference. If they elecs are the paper wrapped variety, then replace them. A grounded cord is a good idea, and a new belt. You can get the pinch roller rebuilt too, see my Echoplex page for links. (http://www.regiscoyne.com/echoplex/)

It's a good idea to align and bias the plex to the new tape; formulations have changed a lot over the last 30 years.

Good Luck.

Doctorx, been to your excellent site many times. On behalf of all the echoplex lovers in the world, thank you.

My Echoplex is essentially identical to the one in your pics. I have #11487. It has the orange drop coupling caps, orange Sprague TVA Atom filters, etc. The 2-prong cord will be a snap to change. The filters are right there where they are easy to get too. The belt is easy to replace. But I really don't want to replace all the lilttle electrolytics on the circuit boards. I just don't have time right now to disassemble the whole dang thing. Most of these caps are the little white Mallorys that Fender used in the 70's for preamp bypass caps. Any history with those? Do they have an acceptible track record? I personally think all e-caps should be replaced after a certain amount of time, and for all the caps in this EP-3, that time has passed. By my life is hectic right now and I would like to wait til later to change them (the week after my funeral looks wide open at this point). Unless someone gives me good reason to change them, with some horror story experience, I think I will keep them for a while anyway.

Also I put a Fulltone replacement tape in yesterday. I let that machine run and run last night, and at the end of the night, it was still spotless! I could use the old tape for half an hour, without it shedding so much I had to do a complete scrub down on the pinch roller, capstan, heads, etc. The Fulltone tape is a HUGE improvement. But I will say, I didn't bias or adjust anything. Just put the new tape on and played. I really didn't hear a difference. What does out of bias sound like? I expected the highs to be rolled off or exaggerated - one way or the other. But the thing sounded great. What went in came out, several times. Just like it is supposed to. I will eventually check the bias, just because I want to learn how. And who knows, my machine might have been out of bias for the old tape and now it is correct by coincidence. No tellin'. One thing is for sure. I could NOT stop playing through it. It just sounds so stinking good!

So new filters (3 x 500u 50v), a new belt, new 3-prong cord, and a new nifty heavy-duty carry bag (like Tuki, Studio Slips, etc). And i think I am done for now. Sound right?

[doctorx]

Doctorx, been to your excellent site many times. On behalf of all the echoplex lovers in the world, thank you.Thanks!!

So new filters (3 x 500u 50v), a new belt, new 3-prong cord, and a new nifty heavy-duty carry bag (like Tuki, Studio Slips, etc). And i think I am done for now. Sound right?This sounds ok to me. Like I said, those orange spragues are good caps, and so are the white Mallorys. They have a much longer life than the old paper electrolytics. I've moved to a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude about mods, and if you are not experiencing problems then you don't need to change those caps.

About the tape, yes modern formulations are much better than what was used 30 years ago. If it sounds good then fine, but a bias and head adjustment will get it tweaked to perfection. Any repair shop that does amp repair will have the tools to do it, for probably about $30. If you don't have a manual, pm me and I will send you a link where you can download it.

Here is a cleaning technique I sent to another guy who saw my plex page, you might find it useful:
The things to clean are:
The pinch roller, pinch roller capstan, both heads, the tape guides for the heads, and the plastic idler wheel. Basically anywhere the tape touches. Use Isopropyl alcohol for everything except the idler wheel, use rubber cleaner there. Also use q-tips designed for cleaning tape heads, not the ones you stole from your girlfriends makeup table.

To clean, dip the qtip into the rubber cleaner liquid, hold it against the pinch roller, and spin it around while holding the qtip against it. If you see brown stuff keep cleaning until it goes away. Some black will come off too, that's normal.

To clean the pinch roller capstan you need three hands, so this is what I do: wedge a small screwdriver in the hole by the pinch roller arm to hold it away from the capstan. Then power the Plex on, and hold a wet qtip against the capstan while it spins. Don't be afraid to press, and turn the qtip as you clean. Depending on how dirty it is, it might take a couple of qtips. Leave the screwdriver in place until both the pinch roller and capstan are dry, about 5 minutes.

To clean the heads, just wet the qtip and scrub hard. Most old Echoplexes have a lot of ingrained tape residue on the heads and your first cleaning will take some elbow grease. Just don't push so hard you push the head out of alignment.

Take a pair of scissors and snip the sides off a qtip to get between and around the tape guides. I also use unwaxed dental floss to get into the tight spots, and they make little brushes for cleaning teeth that work good too.

Clean the idler wheel like the pinch roller: Wet the qtip and hold it against it as you spin.

Change the qtips often, they are cheap and as they get dirty while cleaning use a fresh one.

Something else to do is go over it lightly with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to pick up any loose tape residue.

When you are finished, lightly go over every thing with a dry qtip. Wait about 10 minutes for all the cleaning fluid to evaporate, and reinstall the cartridge.