My dad finally got an amp:)

Mr. Sharpe

He finally got a serious power amp, an adcom GFA-545ii. He’s been threatening for a long time to get one and recently got onto some extra cabbage and pulled the trigger. He’s only got four pairs of speakers and will be adding a switch for all of them hahaha

The last couple of years he’s been collecting super cheap electronics and I’ve been trying to make some money for him to get one, glad that’s over, now I need to talk him into a functioning preamp:-( the two gfp 1’s he has are so scratchy the one I hooked up today cut out completely. Idk why it bothers me so much but it does. A good used preamp hardly costs anything, maybe he’s too stubborn to get one.

codycatalist

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

He finally got a serious power amp, an adcom GFA-545ii. He’s been threatening for a long time to get one and recently got onto some extra cabbage and pulled the trigger. He’s only got four pairs of speakers and will be adding a switch for all of them hahaha

The last couple of years he’s been collecting super cheap electronics and I’ve been trying to make some money for him to get one, glad that’s over, now I need to talk him into a functioning preamp:-( the two gfp 1’s he has are so scratchy the one I hooked up today cut out completely. Idk why it bothers me so much but it does. A good used preamp hardly costs anything, maybe he’s too stubborn to get one.

Just clean it out with deoxit and it'll be fine I'm sure. My Denon put out no sound, a couple of cleanings with deoxit and it was singing.

Mr. Sharpe

A couple? Okay because I already have done it twice on both, it’s just discouraging

codycatalist

Yeah I had to do maybe 3 or so cleanings before I'd get sound output.

Are you using deoxit red and then lubing it back up?

Mr. Sharpe

Just some electrical contact cleaner but I’ve deoxit and thought the instructions just say to spray them, turn the knob so it’ll get spread out and let dry? I must’ve missed it

codycatalist

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

Just some electrical contact cleaner but I’ve deoxit and thought the instructions just say to spray them, turn the knob so it’ll get spread out and let dry? I must’ve missed it

I used the nozzle spray and you have to spray it in the pots, turn the pots maybe 20-30 times to break up all the gunk, I spray one more time to clean it out. After that I usually put in some Deoxit yellow to re-lube the pots so they don't get worn out over time. Do the same for switches and connections (RCA, binding posts)

Sometimes you may need to get a qtip or pipe cleaner and use that to help scrape off the gunk. It can REALLY build up sometimes.

Please do report back if you get it working!

Mr. Sharpe

Ok honestly I’ll turn the knobs a dozen or so times let it dry then fire it up and usually have not-so wonderful results.

I plugged in the original gfa1 he had before and it worked but we’ll probably do it again anyway and maybe I can sell the spare because I dont need it. The one that didn’t work had a push-type power switch which I prefer instead of a paddle type. Maybe I could get enough out of the two for him a new preamp all together! That’s make me 😊

I appreciate you advice with the contact cleaner, I guess I’m a little impatient lol

codycatalist

My pleasure! It can be a tedious process for sure but better than buying new gear!

Mr. Sharpe

No joke!

learner

Replace the 12C with B&W. I have both. You will hear a big different.

Mr. Sharpe

Send me a pair

learner

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

Send me a pair

You can find them used for anywhere between $400 to $600, lol.

Mr. Sharpe

Lol I know they're pretty expensive. My wife would either kill me or leave me unless I had a sure thing selling my rtas

learner

I was lucky. I bought my DM603 S3 $375 off Cl after months of searching. Start looking for deals.

Mr. Sharpe

Dang that’s dirt cheap for a pair of those!

Mr. Sharpe

codycatalist wrote: »

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

Just some electrical contact cleaner but I’ve deoxit and thought the instructions just say to spray them, turn the knob so it’ll get spread out and let dry? I must’ve missed it

I used the nozzle spray and you have to spray it in the pots, turn the pots maybe 20-30 times to break up all the gunk, I spray one more time to clean it out. After that I usually put in some Deoxit yellow to re-lube the pots so they don't get worn out over time. Do the same for switches and connections (RCA, binding posts)

Sometimes you may need to get a qtip or pipe cleaner and use that to help scrape off the gunk. It can REALLY build up sometimes.

Please do report back if you get it working!

Hey I toom your advice on this, I cleaned it one more time and it cleared up A LOT! Volume is still scratchy at the low end of the knob and so is the input selector between AUX and tuner. I’m letting what should be my final cleaning dry right now:-) the one dads still has is a little scratchy so I’ll probably just switch them out tomorrow.