Victory Amplification Super Duchess V140
Now I have said it one and ill say it again. Victory amplification make some good equipment, the V140 Super Duchess is a typical example. Well constructed, good quality components and decent transformers.
This one came in reported as being dead. Looking through the rear cover everything was tilted. Both transformers had bent mountings and leaning to one side. The valves had been knocked out of their sockets, even with the spring retainers. It must have been dropped from a great height on it’s side. I reckon it was at a gig with the WHO.
Mains fuse was open circuit so out with the chassis and a quick visual inspection. All seemed to be okay. New fuse fitted and powered it up with a current limiter. Only about 15 Watts being taken, no heater activity around the valves. But, HT was present. A 6.3 amp fuse feeds the heaters and this was open circuit. The fuse holder had melted and damaged the main board. This had to be cleaned up and repaired. New fuse fitted and we had a nice working amplifier. Thankfully all the 4 x EL34 valves had survived. Bias was spot on. Reassembled and soak tested for an hour. Great clean sound. Even the short phono cables to the reverb tank are high quality types, not your Chinese rubbish.
