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Johnny Winter amp goes Chernobyl (video)

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Tom Novack (uponamouse)
Username: uponamouse

Registered: 07-2010
Posted on Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 03:43 pm:   

I didn't find it posted here, but you may have seen this already... Johnny Winter's 410 catches fire 11/09. Two videos, one overview from the start to near the end, and a shorter, clearer one from the floor that shows more of the crew follow-through:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvo1oxVpu ic
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXi0o5RiZ g8
This occurred in Vienna. I speculate that the 12AX7 caught fire: Note how the heaviest blaze is on the left side of the amp, same side as the inverter tube; and the lower left speaker is burning the most---as if sparks or molten material dropped from the tube onto the cone. I wonder if this occurred either because:
(a) Per his website, he runs channel AND master at 10 (don't know if he's on HI or LO, which would affect this factor IMHO);
(b) He was in Europe, perhaps with a different voltage input?

Regardless, one may see why MM changed to a solid state inverter. Imagine starting a fire in a crowded club (a la Great White in R.I.)

p.s.: In the Vienna video, I can't get over how he's sitting right in front of that amp with both volumes cranked at 10 and 10---wonder if he suffers any hi-end hearing loss and that's why the treble's at 10 and the rest are at zero?
p.p.s: More recently, you can find pictures at Premier Guitar's website of his 212 HD-130 at the 2010 Crossroads Festival (with Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi et al.), photo 17 (and a few after) of 30:
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Is sue/2010/Jul/GALLERY_Crossroads_Guitar_F estival_2010.aspx?Page=17&#gallery
And here he is, nos. 35-37 of 76 at the Crossroads Festival website:
http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com/ index.php/photo-galleries/main-stage-pho tos
T.E. Price (uposb4)
Username: uposb4

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 08:52 pm:   

Man that was painful to watch.
Mike Kaus (mm210)
Username: mm210

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2010 - 12:56 pm:   

Hate to see an amp munch itself but it was funny watching him be so oblivious to the whole thing. He just sat there!
Brian M. Watson (mrroundel)
Username: mrroundel

Registered: 06-2007
Posted on Sunday, October 03, 2010 - 11:54 am:   

I just spoke to a buddy of mine who hung out with Johnny Winter last weekend, prior to an Agoura Hills, CA., USA gig. He said he wished he'd seen that video sooner, as he could have asked Johnny about it. That was a bad amp fire. That roadie deserves a medal for wheeling that thing off stage and getting it put out.
I guess I'll be changing out my 12AX7 PI's soon as a preventative measure. That's scary.