Improving and Allen and Heath GS3000 recording console

[lukejs]

Hello.. I have an Allen and Heath GS3000 console, kinda like a soundcraft ghost in terms of quality, and would like to know what can be done to improve the sound. I´ve heard that the soundcraft ghost can be modded to sound like a $ 50,000 console ( at least that´s what the guy says who does the mod....) . If I just replace all the capacitors, would that make a noticable improvement ? Normally, in mods like this....what is done to the console ? Newer opamps... etc ??? This console has sat around in storage for 5 years, and I´ve noticed a peculiar smell eminating from it...wondering if that´s the smell of leaking capacitors...... any tips would be greatly appreciated !!! thanks, Luke

[Matt Syson]

Hi
A recap, possibly upping some values would be a first thing to do.
The caps rarely leak significantly and won't really smell that much, you probably had mice or rats nesting in it.
Once it works as it did when new you can mess with it, there is no point swapping other bits until it is back to 'original' spec.
Matt S

[lukejs]

I know "that" smell.... hahaha... This is an "electrical" type smell... It would be nice to be able to email a smell, so you could smell it... It has a valve section with two tube pre´s in it... with ventilation ducts over the top of it... seems like the smell comes from that area.... I opened the back panel and looked inside the console, and it was as clean as a whistle... no pests shacking up in there ! If I were to recap it...it´s a 24 channel console... can you give me an idea of about how much approximately, it would cost for just the capacitors ? If I went with Nichicon... or whatever the best brand is.... would it cost significantly more ? Any tips on which brand to get ? Thanks, LUke

[Matt Syson]

Hi
The cost of the components is quite small compared to the time and effort to change them.
Probably a couple of hundred Dollars for the bits but about 2 or 3 days to change them PLUS retesting the whole thing to make sure you have not damaged any tracks on the circuit boards.
This is what costs the money.
To estimate the component cost you could count up the different values needed either from pulling a strip or reading the schematic then calculate it out.
Since you will be talking many hundreds of some values you should 'shop around'.
Matt S

[lukejs]

Wow...only 2 to 300 bucks for a 24 channel console, you think ? I don´t mind the time.... What would be your choice for the best capacitors I can buy ? What types... ? I´ve heard of Soho, and Nichicon, and panasonic...so far.... as being good brands... what´s the best, and won´t break the bank ?

[Matt Syson]

Hi
I often use Panasonic as they are a decent price in the UK and widely stocked but really it is quite difficult to say what to get as the suppliers in your area may not have particular types.
The basic component cost is relatively cheap and if you are doing it yourself and are good at desoldering then not too serious an excercise but when you get into lifting tracks then you can spend hours fault finding.
Matt S