mrbreakfast Messages: 2 Registered: June 2017 Location: Pittsburgh PA
Junior Member
I recently bought a kustom kombo organ from a junk shop for 200 dollars. It was working when I bought it but when I got it home I plugged my guitar into the aux input and poof it blew a fuse. Upon opening it up to replace the fuse I found that there were squirrels living in it at some point, literally acorns and all. I replaced the burnt fuse and then the next one in line in the loudspeaker circuit blew when I turned it on again so then I replaced that one and it blew again. At that point I decided to try to have a professional repair it but I've had a hell of a time finding someone to do it and so have decided to try to take it on. I'm a handy guy but not experienced with electronics much and very intimidated by this behemoth so just looking for some advice on where to start.
stevem Messages: 4739 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
The first rule of thumb for electronics is that fuses never every blow for no reason!
The second rule is that replacing a fuse before finding out what caused such and rectify it only causes more electronic damage!
I think your plugging your guitar in and having the first fuse go was just coincidence and the fuse would have blown at that point in time even if you where just playing the Organ section.
There could be a bunch wrong with the amp starting off with chewed wires and this type of repair could get deep into trouble shotting.
Bill and myself can try to help but I really think you need to yank out that section of the Organ and have a tech repair it.
mrbreakfast Messages: 2 Registered: June 2017 Location: Pittsburgh PA
Junior Member
Thanks for the advice guess I'll keep searching for a tech, unfortunately all the organ repair folks on my area dont want to mess with it because its not a very common organ. Tried amp techs too since it is just the amp circuit but same thing. I might have better luck if I pull the amp circuit out though and show up somewhere with it. People then to shut down when i say the phrase "200 lb organ."
Another option is to actually seperate the organ from the speaker cabinet. I'd like to be able to play out with this organ some day but I suppose hacking these up may be considered sacriledge. Does anyone have any info on how one would do this?
My recollection is that the power amp section is the same as that of a Frankie head. Well at least the chassis is the same.
There is a schematic in the tech section for that power amp. The first reason for blown fuses is a bad power transistor or a shorted power supply diode. If the amp has has been used as an apartment for some critters, then the problem could also be damage done by the animals. Some rodents like to eat wire insulation.
I'd start by inspecting all of the wiring to see if anything looks like it has been chewed on. Then test the output transistors and the diodes. If you have a multimeter with a diode test setting the tests will be easy.