ESS Preamp + Amp Repairs Question?

[PeteBleyer]

Greetings,
I am new to DIYaudio + would like to connect with anybody who has had any experience repairing the ESS Preamp + matching ESS 200 + 500 Watt Amps which have the champagne colored faceplates. I have a couple of questions I'm anxious to get answered. Only folks who have actually worked on these exact units are likely to be able to help me, as my questions are very specific to only these models. Thank you + hope to hear from you soon.
Best,
Pete

[djk]

They're simple designs, what could you possibly need to know?

[PeteBleyer]

Greetings + thanx 4 Ur speedy reply. I'm not an audio repair tech, just an enthusiast who's qualified 2 do no more than blow the dust out of a unit with a can of air or spray a little Caig on switches or pots. I so love ESS's speakers that I was curious about their electronics + eventually found 2 very clean examples of these pieces. As they sneak up to being 40 years old, most are so beaten + look like hell. I take my gear to an ace vintage audio expert who's been doing this for 30 years. He benched + cleaned both units + both are working perfectly. So my question is an odd one, only because I care that my gear looks good, too. ESS has a backlit logo on the faceplate of these units, behind which sat a little colored piece of gel to make the logo blue. On my amp it is missing altogether + on the preamp it is all disintegrated into tiny cracked + missing flaked off pieces. It just looks so shabby. My repair tech showed me the preamp opened up. It appeared where the gel belongs is inaccessible. Also that the faceplate of the unit strangely appeared 2 B permanently attached 2 the unit possibly with adhesive, instead of an expected couple of screws. He showed me why he did not want 2 try 2 pry it off because he felt positive he'd crack the plexi. I work as a photographer, have giant rolls of that blue gel material @ my studio. I'd expect a 3 minute job 2 replaced a 1 or 2 inch piece of gel. Is there some deep secret 2 doing so? This little detail, especially on my otherwise pristine looking + sounding preamp looks like crap. Those of us interested enough in collecting such old gear also care that it looks nice, too. Not surprising that age, heat, humidity, etc. ruined an old, thin, 5ç piece of plastic. But 2 not be able 2 replace it + permanently adhere this together (w/glue)???) Sounds too nuts 4 the company clever enough 2 make the Heil Tweeter. Looking @ both units closely, I was told that both units inside looked fine + that neither appeared 2 have been molested by somebody having no biz poking around inside there. Any hot tips on how 2 fix this oddball problem would be much appreciated. Thank U again. Best, Pete

[djk]

I can't really help with your cosmetic issue, I just use Roscolene theater gels when I need them. Any sign shop can cut you new plex if needed, mask and spray the logo.

[PeteBleyer]

Thanks for your reply. I have voluminous amounts of Roscoe material at my studio already, so the gel is not the issue. I need 2 get at just removing the thrashed piece of gel + replacing it. 2 cut new plexi, create a logo, mask it off + spray it is a giant project. Just sounds 2 idiotic 4 this 2 have been assembled in a way 2 B inaccessible. Is the plexi indeed permanently adhered to the unit or does it just seem like it? If so, I've never seen anything designed that strangely. it's just annoying 2 have 2 otherwise mint pieces of gear looking so shitty. Thanx again.

[pdul]

The problem is that the backlight is a hot lightbulb, and over time the plastic will crack from the heat exposure. You could replace it with an aray of blue LEDS.

[pdul]

I had one of those preamps back in time

[PeteBleyer]

Hi,
Yes, that is why the blue gel deteriorates, I know. But my question is how the hell do U get it open, removed the cracked + ruined piece of gel to clean it out + replace it???
My ace repair guy who can + has fixed just about anything we've ever heard of in the last 30 years showed me what he though appeared 2 B a plexi fascial glued 2 the front of the unit. He showed my why he was afraid 2 pry it off, not wanting 2 risk breaking the plastic. I expected an easy, 5 minutes job just taping a tiny piece of blue gel with scotch tape, but not the case. Please advise, how 2 do this, which should, by all accounts, B nothing more than a minor task? Thank U,

Best,

Pete Bleyer