The Golden Tube Audio SE-40 is a world class performer. It was and is unmatched for its price range! The SE-40 was definitely the cherry in the GTA lineup. However, this unit notoriously suffers reliability issues. If you own a SE-40 which has performed flawlessly, you are in a minority.
We have re-engineered the SE-40. This kit was designed to address all the possible needs of your GTA SE-40. WARNING, If you are not an avid soldering hobbyist or require more instruction than those contained in your kit, leave the upgrade to Sonic Craft or your local repair technician! Sonic Craft offers installation, maintenance, and repairs for your SE-40. Labor is quoted on an individual basis.
NOTE - Before purchasing your kit, you must email us a detailed picture of the bottom side of your amp. This will allow us to email you the proper supplemental instructions for your particular amp. These kits are only applicable to the rev.2 & rev.3, however, those two designations cover 11 different circuit board situations (that we know of).
The SE40REL+2 kit contains 46 high-grade components along with a generous supply of Cardas solder, solder wick, solder bulb, and instructions. This upgrade kit encompasses all the fixes GTA never had the chance/budget to address. Several resistors in the SE-40 are operating at or near their power limit. Some are experiencing voltage exceeding their max design limit. In many cases, the SE-40 comes with low quality electrolytics. Some caps are exposed to voltages which exceed their rating. Either way, your old electrolytics are well past their half life. The factory cathode resistors are a recipe for disaster. One of the rectifiers is a ticking time bomb. We included a half dozen precision multi-turn bias pots that make biasing much easier. Aged power switches are known to introduce noise. Thus, this kit will repair 99% of the SE-40s that are in disrepair. The SE40REL+2 will greatly increase the life of your amp and 6SN7/6SL7s. After installation you will be able to use a variety of 6L6/KT66 types that would not previously bias. While many of the addressed issues above will improve your sound, there is a part of this kit purely dedicated to improved sound. This is addressed with Mundorf Mcap Supreme Silver/Oils in the interstage coupling and a pair of premium Polystyrene film and foils bypassing the B+ near the OTs.
NOTE - DO NOT buy the SE40REL+2 kit with the intention of upgrading to the SE40SCX2 at a later date. The SCX would require you to remove many of the parts supplied in the REL+ kit. The parts retained by the SCX kit are under $100. So, if a leveling kit were available, it would probably cost ~$500.
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