VG-99 DISCONTINUED by Roland

Started by Gatormike, November 01, 2009, 09:41:57 AM

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mbenigni


Autana

#101
QuoteAvoiding direct high impact blows , like dropping on concrete floor from tall heights is important too

Quote
Also non use,
Caps dry out and become unformed.
I try and fire stuff up to exercise the the capacitors every so often.
Not 100% sure it helps, but it can hurt.

Heartfelt thanks for the tips guys!
I suspect someone in Roland would be liable for the writing and warnings on some consumer manuals during last 70 years.



It read: DO NOT PUT any person in this washer
Should add:
Do not use to wash VG devices, you could void the warranty.
GR-55, GP-10, GI-20, Godin xtSA, GodinNylon MultiAc, Giannini classical, 3 GK-3'd gtrs, Cube 80XL, Primova GKFX-21 (x2)

Fear just pulls you out of being true to music, which is coming from a place of love. Love is the opposite of fear. I stay away from anything fear-related.
- Tal Wilkenfeld -

Now_And_Then

Quote from: Bill Ruppert on April 13, 2016, 11:21:43 AM
Also non use, Caps dry out and become unformed. I try and fire stuff up to exercise the the capacitors every so often. Not 100% sure it helps, but it can't hurt (typo corrected).


You've mentioned in other threads that you do this and I actually started a thread to get a more general opinion about such a practice, since there are some people on this forum with electrical engineering experience.

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=12586.msg91582#msg91582


To sum up what was a brief discussion: The opinion seems to be that capacitor life is designed into the capacitor and so can't be extended; that decent (not "super cheap") caps have a lifespan of 15-20 years; that powering up your gear will not increase a cap's lifespan; and the main enemy of caps is heat (and, I assume, humidity).

 


gumtown

Regular firing up of equipment will at least let you know when it has finally stopped working (knowing sooner than latter).

Keeping you gear stored in a vessel of inert gas at a constant 20 degrees Celsius might extend the equipment's life time, but not all that practical.

I think if your gear lasts a well used 15~20 years, then it may be worthy of the cost of electrolytic capacitor replacement.
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Bill Ruppert


"Now And Then" Sorry don't know your name.
I have been a ham operator for 45 years and hold an extra class license here in the US asW9WCR
75% of my ham gear is high voltage gear using electrolytic capacitors.
It appears the life can be shortened.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/the-life-and-death-of-an-electrolytic-cap-1
http://www.qsl.net/g3oou/reform.html
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/archive/index.php/t-491454.html
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Restore_cap.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/51492-reforming-electrolytic-capacitors.html

There is WAY more info that swings either way.

That said no one lives forever and there is a shelf life to these parts.






Bill Ruppert

#105
Quote from: gumtown on April 13, 2016, 07:56:22 PM
Regular firing up of equipment will at least let you know when it has finally stopped working (knowing sooner than latter).

Keeping you gear stored in a vessel of inert gas at a constant 20 degrees Celsius might extend the equipment's life time, but not all that practical.

I think if your gear lasts a well used 15~20 years, then it may be worthy of the cost of electrolytic capacitor replacement.

Ha if only I last 15-20 years more!!
At that point i wont know if it on or off:-)
I have to look now...

I do have a lot of vintage US radio gear here from the 1950's and 60's with original EL caps still working great.


I dont know, if I have a choice I rather have the gear on every so often rather that let the caps (EL) sit.
Think about a flat unformed cap getting hit with its working voltage after 10 years in storage.
Maybe its different in the high voltage world?
The variac is on every test bench I know.

chrish

Quote from: Bill Ruppert on April 13, 2016, 08:53:12 PM
"Now And Then" Sorry don't know your name.
I have been a ham operator for 45 years and hold an extra class license here in the US asW9WCR
75% of my ham gear is high voltage gear using electrolytic capacitors.
It appears the life can be shortened.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/the-life-and-death-of-an-electrolytic-cap-1
http://www.qsl.net/g3oou/reform.html
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/archive/index.php/t-491454.html
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Restore_cap.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/51492-reforming-electrolytic-capacitors.html
! No longer available
There is WAY more info that swings either way.

That said no one lives forever and there is a shelf life to these parts.
Thanks for the link, good article. Sounds like good venting of the rack, for that type of gear, is also important to keep the caps from a melt down. Time to open 'em up and check for leaks.

kurttttt

Regarding the life span discussion of VG-99 - I couldn't find a specific release date but guess is around 2007-2008, which means early adopters have had it for 12-13 years, approaching the lower end (15 years) of the life span as said above. I'd appreciate if you guys can let people know when your VG-99 stops working for you. I hope VG-99 will last much longer than 15-20 years.

chrish

My GR300 released in 1980 is still working as is, my two GR50s released in 1988, and my VG8 released in 1995. So these machines can last a while  especially if they're not abused such as storing them in a hot shed.

gumbo

Quote from: chrish on May 09, 2020, 02:43:19 PM
My GR300 released in 1980 is still working as is, my two GR50s released in 1988, and my VG8 released in 1995. So these machines can last a while  especially if they're not abused such as storing them in a hot shed.

I was released in 1948 and I'm still working in spite of being often stored in a hot shed....   ;D 8)
Read slower!!!   ....I'm typing as fast as I can...

chrish

Quote from: gumbo on May 09, 2020, 06:26:26 PM
I was released in 1948 and I'm still working in spite of being often stored in a hot shed....   ;D 8)
yea, as long as you can keep the capacitors charged up it should work out  ok ;D

gumbo

Quote from: chrish on May 09, 2020, 07:50:39 PM
yea, as long as you can keep the capacitors charged up it should work out  ok ;D

I find the occasional immersion in whiskey has a beneficial effect... ;)
Read slower!!!   ....I'm typing as fast as I can...