Comments for AZtechmusic -A to Z on Music Gear http://aztechmusic.com Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:09:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/comment-page-3/#comment-6950 Gary Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:09:51 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-6950 Hi, Sweet amp you got there. Please don't let anyone hack on it...LOL Basically what I would do is change anything that has looked at high voltage over the years, resistors, caps in the supply and output section. The 100k plate resistors on the preamps at least. As for kits, I haven't kept up with that but would imagine there are some that touch the bases I mentioned and then some. Cheers! Gary Hi,

Sweet amp you got there. Please don’t let anyone hack on it…LOL
Basically what I would do is change anything that has looked at high voltage over the years, resistors, caps in the supply and output section. The 100k plate resistors on the preamps at least.
As for kits, I haven’t kept up with that but would imagine there are some that touch the bases I mentioned and then some.

Cheers!
Gary

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by Mark Cate http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/comment-page-3/#comment-6938 Mark Cate Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:32:58 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-6938 Gary, I have a 1994 Super 4x10 Combo, amp # PR 244 that has started making the "bacon frying" noices intermittantly. Is it due for all new capacitors and resistors? The tubes all check out good, pots have been cleaned, sockets are good. I've heard many Fender amps get this problem. Can you recommend a good cap/resistor replacement kit? Thanks, Mark Cate Gary,

I have a 1994 Super 4×10 Combo, amp # PR 244 that has started making the “bacon frying” noices intermittantly. Is it due for all new capacitors and resistors? The tubes all check out good, pots have been cleaned, sockets are good. I’ve heard many Fender amps get this problem. Can you recommend a good cap/resistor replacement kit?

Thanks,
Mark Cate

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/comment-page-3/#comment-5929 Gary Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:42:32 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-5929 Hi, NO it's not normal for a tube amp to do that. I would say it's time the amp went to the shop, could be anything from bad jacks, speaker, component failure, a combination of two of these like the loud hum with the flap noise for example. G Hi,

NO it’s not normal for a tube amp to do that. I would say it’s time the amp went to the shop, could be anything from bad jacks, speaker, component failure, a combination of two of these like the loud hum with the flap noise for example.

G

]]> Comment on Yamaha P85 (P-95) Review – Digital Piano – VS Casio PX330 by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/154/yamaha-p85-review-digital-piano-vs-casio/comment-page-1/#comment-5928 Gary Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:39:58 +0000 http://www.aztechmusic.com/?p=154#comment-5928 The key action on the casio is one of the reasons I don't get one. I do like their electric piano sounds better than the yamaha. I wish the yamaha had a split keyboard sound with bass on the low end. The key action on the casio is one of the reasons I don’t get one. I do like their electric piano sounds better than the yamaha.
I wish the yamaha had a split keyboard sound with bass on the low end.

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by Jimmy http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/comment-page-3/#comment-5921 Jimmy Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:04:30 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-5921 A friend gave me a one year old HotRod Deluxe. With no guitar plugged in, if I select the drive channel and put the master and gain up around 10 there is a very loud roar. Is this normal for a tube amp? I'd like to use this for more blues oriented gigs, but I mostly use very clean solid state amps for my much more frequent jazz work. One one gig, however, even using the clean channel I heard a few sudden loud nasty "blap" sounding distortion events which tended not to happen if I avoided low notes/chords. A friend gave me a one year old HotRod Deluxe. With no guitar plugged in, if I select the drive channel and put the master and gain up around 10 there is a very loud roar. Is this normal for a tube amp? I’d like to use this for more blues oriented gigs, but I mostly use very clean solid state amps for my much more frequent jazz work. One one gig, however, even using the clean channel I heard a few sudden loud nasty “blap” sounding distortion events which tended not to happen if I avoided low notes/chords.

]]> Comment on Yamaha P85 (P-95) Review – Digital Piano – VS Casio PX330 by jim http://aztechmusic.com/154/yamaha-p85-review-digital-piano-vs-casio/comment-page-1/#comment-5625 jim Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:51:05 +0000 http://www.aztechmusic.com/?p=154#comment-5625 Thanks for all the reviews. I have had the P-95 for almost a year now. It has some wear in the keybed on several of the keys. I am in no hurry to fix it (if it was the any of the Casio's I would be a a big hurry !) Also, spent allot of time testing the action on the Casios verses the P95. (Even with the tri level recorded layers on the casio it was not enough to overcome the over weighted feel vs the P95. Of course, no DP is going to feel like my acoustic U3......at least not near that price point. Finally, I did some research on getting the warranty work on the Yamaha and a manager at Yami customer service actually returned my calls & gave me the resources for the repair. Why am i not in a big hurry ? 3 year warranty repair (parts & labor) on the P95. Casio has a 1 year warranty repair (P&L). Thanks for all the reviews. I have had the P-95 for almost a year now. It has some wear in the keybed on several of the keys. I am in no hurry to fix it (if it was the any of the Casio’s I would be a a big hurry !) Also, spent allot of time testing the action on the Casios verses the P95. (Even with the tri level recorded layers on the casio it was not enough to overcome the over weighted feel vs the P95. Of course, no DP is going to feel like my acoustic U3……at least not near that price point.
Finally,
I did some research on getting the warranty work on the Yamaha and a manager at Yami customer service actually returned my calls & gave me the resources for the repair. Why am i not in a big hurry ? 3 year warranty repair (parts & labor) on the P95. Casio has a 1 year warranty repair (P&L).

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 3 by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/19/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-5549 Gary Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:12:18 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/19/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-3/#comment-5549 HI, the tube is a good place to start since it's easy to get to. Other than that could be component failure like a switching FET. HI,
the tube is a good place to start since it’s easy to get to. Other than that could be component failure like a switching FET.

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 3 by Jack Ryan http://aztechmusic.com/19/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-5548 Jack Ryan Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:35:19 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/19/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-3/#comment-5548 The onboard distortion on my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe no longer works - the channel has good (loud) volume, but no distortion. Could this be a tube problem? The onboard distortion on my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe no longer works – the channel has good (loud) volume, but no distortion. Could this be a tube problem?

]]> Comment on Yamaha P85 (P-95) Review – Digital Piano – VS Casio PX330 by DC http://aztechmusic.com/154/yamaha-p85-review-digital-piano-vs-casio/comment-page-1/#comment-5447 DC Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:08:07 +0000 http://www.aztechmusic.com/?p=154#comment-5447 I've studied/played nothing but classical piano for more than 20 years and use keyboard for a few things in my Irish/Celtic band. Although Casio has come a LONG way, I'm still not a big Casio fan. I've played the px330 and yes, it has tons of features with better ep sounds than the P-95, but for my needs, all the extra sounds are useless. I have a P-95 and after playing mostly Steinway grands, the key weighting feels more like a real piano than the Casios I've played. I also prefer the grand piano sampling on the P-95, especially through good headphones and I'm using Sony MDR5706. To me, the Casio sounds a bit more digitized than the Yamaha. But for me, it's mostly the feel of the keyboard since I also use a couple virtual pianos via my computer that sound like I'm actually playing a Steinway D 9' concert grand. I'm considering replacing the onboard speakers for better sound when playing only through the onboards that sound a bit too mid-rangy to me due to the small size. I higher quality, more effective speaker may help. I tried a special TRS 1/4" to dual 1/4" cable with the band's sound system since the P-95 uses stereo sampling but it didn't sound good. So I ended up doing the same as Gary, using a standard 1/4" instrument cable direct from a headphone jack to a mono input and it sounds much better, though still not as good as using dedicated outputs, as with my Kurzweil. Overall, the P-95 is a great deal... grand piano sounds are great, great keyboard feel, and easy to lug around at only 26 lbs. Great price if your main interest is grand piano sounds, keyboard feel, and weight. Negatives: The matte finish of the black keys, which felt great when it was new, has begun to wear off into a more typical shiny plastic look and feel. But that's to be expected with plastic. Not a huge deal. And the P-95 is pretty much all plastic, so not exactly indestructible. But it's light! I’ve studied/played nothing but classical piano for more than 20 years and use keyboard for a few things in my Irish/Celtic band. Although Casio has come a LONG way, I’m still not a big Casio fan. I’ve played the px330 and yes, it has tons of features with better ep sounds than the P-95, but for my needs, all the extra sounds are useless. I have a P-95 and after playing mostly Steinway grands, the key weighting feels more like a real piano than the Casios I’ve played. I also prefer the grand piano sampling on the P-95, especially through good headphones and I’m using Sony MDR5706. To me, the Casio sounds a bit more digitized than the Yamaha. But for me, it’s mostly the feel of the keyboard since I also use a couple virtual pianos via my computer that sound like I’m actually playing a Steinway D 9′ concert grand. I’m considering replacing the onboard speakers for better sound when playing only through the onboards that sound a bit too mid-rangy to me due to the small size. I higher quality, more effective speaker may help.

I tried a special TRS 1/4″ to dual 1/4″ cable with the band’s sound system since the P-95 uses stereo sampling but it didn’t sound good. So I ended up doing the same as Gary, using a standard 1/4″ instrument cable direct from a headphone jack to a mono input and it sounds much better, though still not as good as using dedicated outputs, as with my Kurzweil.

Overall, the P-95 is a great deal… grand piano sounds are great, great keyboard feel, and easy to lug around at only 26 lbs. Great price if your main interest is grand piano sounds, keyboard feel, and weight.

Negatives: The matte finish of the black keys, which felt great when it was new, has begun to wear off into a more typical shiny plastic look and feel. But that’s to be expected with plastic. Not a huge deal. And the P-95 is pretty much all plastic, so not exactly indestructible. But it’s light!

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/comment-page-3/#comment-5122 Gary Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:40:55 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-5122 Hi, Not sure what you mean by "lead", I guess you're saying cable? Anyway it's hard to say. The easiest thing to do is run a guitar cable from the effects send to effects in and see if that is it. Sometimes those jacks need cleaning. If not, could be something inside needs resoldering and it doesn't separate until the amp is vibrating from playing. Unless it's something simple like a jack cleaning, probably time to take it to a shop. Shouldn't be too bad, repairs like this are "usually" not that involved. G Hi,
Not sure what you mean by “lead”, I guess you’re saying cable? Anyway it’s hard to say. The easiest thing to do is run a guitar cable from the effects send to effects in and see if that is it.
Sometimes those jacks need cleaning. If not, could be something inside needs resoldering and it doesn’t separate until the amp is vibrating from playing.

Unless it’s something simple like a jack cleaning, probably time to take it to a shop. Shouldn’t be too bad, repairs like this are “usually” not that involved.

G

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