Comments for aztechmusic http://aztechmusic.com how to repair guitar amps, synths and other music gear Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:17:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by Bob http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-167 Bob Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:45:15 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-167 Bob from question #5: Hi, thanks for the info. Since then I took my amp to a repair shop, they replaced the output transformer and the 2 6L6 power tubes. I asked what could have happened and he said it was probably a shorted tube that took out the transformer. That kinda stinks if a failed tube can take out the xformer (total repair charge = $140.00) - I would've thought a tube failure would typically be an open rather than a short. Plus I don't think trying to get 10+ years out of the tubes is out of line. The repair guy said I could've avoided it by replacing the tubes every couple of years. He gave me the bad parts if I wanted to test them myself. Anyway, thanks for your time. bob Bob from question #5: Hi, thanks for the info. Since then I took my amp to a repair shop, they replaced the output transformer and the 2 6L6 power tubes. I asked what could have happened and he said it was probably a shorted tube that took out the transformer. That kinda stinks if a failed tube can take out the xformer (total repair charge = $140.00) - I would’ve thought a tube failure would typically be an open rather than a short. Plus I don’t think trying to get 10+ years out of the tubes is out of line. The repair guy said I could’ve avoided it by replacing the tubes every couple of years. He gave me the bad parts if I wanted to test them myself.
Anyway, thanks for your time.
bob

]]> Comment on Fender Amp Power Supply Problem by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/32/fender-amp-power-supply-problem/#comment-163 Gary Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:58:31 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/?p=32#comment-163 Hi Andy, This one "could" get involved. You have 2 problems at this point I would say being an internet tech instead of having it on my bench. If it's a simple repair then both of your jacks are bad or need to be resoldered where they connect to the circuit board. (It's been awhile since I've been in a fender performer 1000 so I could be wrong if it's not pc mount or transistors for that matter). If you can get in there and eyeball where the jacks meet the circuit board you might see the problem. OR your jacks might need replacing, they could be bent up inside. OR you have a power supply problem for one and a bad jack for the other OR in the front end there is an IC or amp component that is bad. IF it's tube make sure they are lighting up if they are you might have lost your plate voltage, (open resistor or it's pulled away from the board). Without proper troubleshooting equipment, about the only thing you can do is eyeball the board and you may see the problem or replace the jacks if you can see that they are gimped up inside. This usually starts by the guitar cord jack not snapping in properly or you have to wiggle it to work. Hope this helps... Gary Hi Andy,
This one “could” get involved. You have 2 problems at this point I would say being an internet tech instead of having it on my bench.
If it’s a simple repair then both of your jacks are bad or need to be resoldered where they connect to the circuit board. (It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a fender performer 1000 so I could be wrong if it’s not pc mount or transistors for that matter).
If you can get in there and eyeball where the jacks meet the circuit board you might see the problem. OR
your jacks might need replacing, they could be bent up inside. OR you have a power supply problem for one and a bad jack for the other OR in the front end there is an IC or amp component that is bad. IF it’s tube make sure they are lighting up if they are you might have lost your plate voltage, (open resistor or it’s pulled away from the board).
Without proper troubleshooting equipment, about the only thing you can do is eyeball the board and you may see the problem or replace the jacks if you can see that they are gimped up inside. This usually starts by the guitar cord jack not snapping in properly or you have to wiggle it to work.

Hope this helps…
Gary

]]> Comment on Fender Amp Power Supply Problem by Andrew http://aztechmusic.com/32/fender-amp-power-supply-problem/#comment-161 Andrew Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:52:48 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/?p=32#comment-161 Hello, I love the site, you helped me through fixing one of the two problems with my fender performer 1000... sticky pots. It still has it's major problem however... When plugged in, the amp powers up just fine. Unfortunately, when you plug a guitar in to the input jack, you get almost no sound what-so-ever. Only when everything is cranked, and i mean on 11, do you hear a faint sound of the guitar playing. I used to get around this by plugging in through the return jack in the rear, but this no longer works. Any suggestions? Thanks, Andy Hello,
I love the site, you helped me through fixing one of the two problems with my fender performer 1000… sticky pots. It still has it’s major problem however…

When plugged in, the amp powers up just fine. Unfortunately, when you plug a guitar in to the input jack, you get almost no sound what-so-ever. Only when everything is cranked, and i mean on 11, do you hear a faint sound of the guitar playing. I used to get around this by plugging in through the return jack in the rear, but this no longer works.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Andy

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-134 Gary Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:20:42 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-134 Follow up... When you look inside the pan also look real carefully at the jack wires to the transducers, sometimes they pull away and have to be resoldered. Gary Follow up…

When you look inside the pan also look real carefully at the jack wires to the transducers, sometimes they pull away and have to be resoldered.

Gary

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-133 Gary Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:18:21 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-133 Hello, A lot of times if it's a simple repair the problem will be down at the pan in the bottom of the cabinet. The connections are male RCA plugs...sometimes just by twisting them back and forth on the female jack does the trick. If that doesn't do it, mark what color goes with what female jack and unhook them. Check inside the pan to make sure your springs are still connected. Sometimes the springs break off from the transducers (transformers) inside the pan. Also find out which tube is the reverb tube and make sure it's lit up with the rest of the tubes. If it still doesn't work, you got problems, take it to a tech. Hope this helps, Gary Hello,

A lot of times if it’s a simple repair the problem will be down at the pan in the bottom of the cabinet.
The connections are male RCA plugs…sometimes just by twisting them back and forth on the female jack does the trick. If that doesn’t do it, mark what color goes with what female jack and unhook them.
Check inside the pan to make sure your springs are still connected. Sometimes the springs break off from the transducers (transformers) inside the pan.

Also find out which tube is the reverb tube and make sure it’s lit up with the rest of the tubes.

If it still doesn’t work, you got problems, take it to a tech.

Hope this helps,
Gary

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by Eric Lee http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-132 Eric Lee Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:25:49 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-132 Hi; I have a Hot Rod Deluxe that the reverb doesn't work. When the amp was brand new it happened and the dealer said he found something loose and it worked again. Can you please tell me what might be loose? The dealer is out of business and I have no clue now. Thanks!! Hi;

I have a Hot Rod Deluxe that the reverb doesn’t work. When the amp was brand new it happened and the dealer said he found something loose and it worked again. Can you please tell me what might be loose? The dealer is out of business and I have no clue now.

Thanks!!

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by Gary http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-130 Gary Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:09:13 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-130 Hello, Well it could be the supply going bad or you have a bad output tube. Usually if something can blow a 3 amp it's going to be in the section that does all the work. The power supply rectifier or filter cap is where I would look. Even know your problem doesn't kick in till you throw the standby on, if the power supply is marginal, when you throw on the load of the output section if could blow the fuse. With that said, it could be an output tube has shorted, just stick in some used tubes and see if your problem goes away, if it does replace your outputs. I don't really like to use new tubes to test things before I know what the problem is... What kind of electronics work are you in? Gary Hello,

Well it could be the supply going bad or you have a bad output tube. Usually if something can blow a 3 amp it’s going to be in the section that does all the work. The power supply rectifier or filter cap is where I would look. Even know your problem doesn’t kick in till you throw the standby on, if the power supply is marginal, when you throw on the load of the output section if could blow the fuse.

With that said, it could be an output tube has shorted, just stick in some used tubes and see if your problem goes away, if it does replace your outputs. I don’t really like to use new tubes to test things before I know what the problem is…

What kind of electronics work are you in?

Gary

]]> 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-129 Gary Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:02:57 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-129 Hello, Sorry I missed your questions. I "sounds" like you have a loose component in the preamp section somewhere. On those units it could be near the tube, like say a resistor that feeds the plate voltage on an input tube. They are famous for pulling away from the circuit board over time because of heat. Could be anything really. I'm not sure where you are on the tech chops. Finding the problem may not be that hard, getting the board out to resolder the component correctly takes a bit of skill. On the pots, it doesn't hurt to spray into the shaft, I just spray the jack and then work the jack back and forth to scrape/clean the connections. Also use top of the line cleaner especially for this type of work. Gary Hello,
Sorry I missed your questions. I “sounds” like you have a loose component in the preamp section somewhere. On those units it could be near the tube, like say a resistor that feeds the plate voltage on an input tube. They are famous for pulling away from the circuit board over time because of heat. Could be anything really. I’m not sure where you are on the tech chops. Finding the problem may not be that hard, getting the board out to resolder the component correctly takes a bit of skill.

On the pots, it doesn’t hurt to spray into the shaft, I just spray the jack and then work the jack back and forth to scrape/clean the connections. Also use top of the line cleaner especially for this type of work.

Gary

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Repair Video by bob http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-128 bob Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:43:04 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/18/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-repair-video/#comment-128 Hi Gary, I have a Hot Rod Deluxe, I bought it new 10 years ago and have taken good care of it. However, it just blew a fuse the other day and it blows every new fuse I put in. After I switch power on then standby on, it hums for a second then the 3Amp fuse blows. I'd like to try to fix it myself. I'm experienced in electronics just not tube amps. Any recommendations? Literature/troubleshooting step-by-step? I appreciate any info, thanks, Bob Hi Gary, I have a Hot Rod Deluxe, I bought it new 10 years ago and have taken good care of it. However, it just blew a fuse the other day and it blows every new fuse I put in. After I switch power on then standby on, it hums for a second then the 3Amp fuse blows. I’d like to try to fix it myself. I’m experienced in electronics just not tube amps. Any recommendations? Literature/troubleshooting step-by-step?
I appreciate any info,
thanks,
Bob

]]> Comment on Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amp Repair Video Part 2 by jeansen http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-122 jeansen Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:13:35 +0000 http://aztechmusic.com/20/fender-hot-rod-deluxe-amp-repair-video-part-2/#comment-122 oh ya, some people suggest me to clean the input and the pots with the contact cleaner..but how should i apply the contact cleaner to the input?in your video, i realize that u are applying the contact cleaner by spraying the jack..but some website, told me to spray the input socket n jiggling it with the jack..is it ok to do that? and also, should i always open my amp's case for cleaning the pots like you do in that video? thx u oh ya, some people suggest me to clean the input and the pots with the contact cleaner..but how should i apply the contact cleaner to the input?in your video, i realize that u are applying the contact cleaner by spraying the jack..but some website, told me to spray the input socket n jiggling it with the jack..is it ok to do that?
and also, should i always open my amp’s case for cleaning the pots like you do in that video?

thx u

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