H&K TM36 makes me nervous

Last summer I saw live band up close. It was a 2 gtr, bass and drums combo band. Both guitarists were playing Strats, one had a Mesa Boogie and one had a Hughes and Kettner GM 36. I was in new amp search mode and was excited to get to hear a Boogie up close and personal. However, song after song I was drawn to the Hughes and Kettner side of the stage. It sounded fantastic. Hughes and Kettner was not even on my list let alone my short list (Mesa Boogie was at the top).

Fast forward I now own a new TM36, my second one. Second one??? Yeah the first arrived completely dead. Nothing, no lights no sound. The seller immediately shipped a new one and that one worked fine. One strike.

I immediately replaced the tubes with a JJ retube kit. The original tubes were OK, but there was a pronounced fizz with gain up on the lead channel. Strike Two! (one shouldn't have to replace the tubes day one on a $1,100 amp)

The thing sounds just great and is super versatile with simple push of a footswitch. I love it. The band loves it too. But, every time I play it I smell that smell you get when you've let the smoke out of an electronic device - you know the smell. So, far it has not failed...

But I fear Strike Three is imminent.

Thoughts?

I've never noticed any smell in mine. Can everyone else smell it, or is it maybe something in your mind? I gigged the shit out of my TM36 before getting my GM36. It fell off out a car when the hatch was opened...worked fine. Played multiple gigs out in the sun in 90+ degree heat...worked fine through all of them.

I realize the tube things suck, but that seems to be common these days. Cheap tubes come in a lot of amps, and we all run out and put our favorites in. I put JJ's in as well, but I don't think the stock tubes are that bad at all.

Good to hear that your TM36 never failed. I really only smelled the burning odor in my tiny home office -

I've used the amp for hours at time in rehearsal with no issues. I'm starting to think it just may be the manufacturing process chemicals burning off???

Fingers crossed.

static wrote: But, every time I play it I smell that smell you get when you've let the smoke out of an electronic device - you know the smell. So, far it has not failed...

But I fear Strike Three is imminent.

Thoughts?

I have recently bought a TM1812 and I also get a faint smell, not of anything burning but of the new equipment smell. It is quite natural for new equipment to give out a faint smell. This is quite normal (I am an electronics engineer, I can give more details if you are interested).

However what I observe in TM1812 is that when the amp is switched on from cold, one of the 12AX7 shines very bright momentarily. I saw from another forum/post that this was observed on TM36 also. Seems to be design issue where this valve heater is not protected for inrush current.