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Post subject: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 8:10 am
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Hi guys I have a problem with a newly acquired amp. It's a fudge brownie DRRI made in 2014. The amp is like brand new but it has two problems wich seems frequent on these amp.

1- The amp make a constant noise, even when no guitar is plugged in. The noise increase has I turn the volume up (barely any noise at 1 but getting annoying at 3-4).

2- The tremolo makes noise as well. It's a ''ticking'' noise that follows the speed of the trem. It makes noise when the footswitch is engaged, even if speed and depth are down to 1 but increase when turning them up. When I switch it off (via footswitch) it disapears as it should.

Any advice or opinions on these problems ? It kinda sucks that such high price amps have problems like that.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:35 am
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I might be able to address one of the problems and forgive me if I insult your intelligence. The DRRI is a good amp. I bought a 2014 Twin Reverb brand new. Right out of the box, it had an idle hiss noise with nothing plugged in and all controls at zero. After putting up with this well past the return date, I discovered from this forum to check the preamp tubes. I began pulling each tube out (amp off, 1 at a time), then with tube out, turn amp back on and listen for hiss. Re-insert tube. Continue this until you no longer hear the noise (hiss). Maybe you'll get lucky. I found the 4th (V4) tube when pulled out, the hiss was gone. I switched the 4th with the 1st and the amp is absolutely quiet. If I turn it to the 8-10 range, I begin to hear a little noise. With a Twin, that's normal and enough volume to blow your house apart.

I believe the trem tick is something common to DRRI amps. I'm sure someone here can chime in on what to do there. V5 is the tube for trem I think. If you're still in the "return window", don't let that pass.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:48 am
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Thanks for the reply, and don't worry about insulting my intelligence. (It's my first tube amp).
I bought used but it has a fender 5-year warranty (2014 amp) but i'm not sure if they would take it back. Also the store in wich the previous guy bought it is like a 40min ride and I have no car so it would be a real pain in the arse to get it there.
I guess I will try the tube removing trick.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:39 am
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Tremolo ticking problem is well known issue with the DRRI. Fender supposedly went to separate board with digital device mid 2000s, to replace the opto-bug circuit, which was on the main board. This got rid of the problem.

Maybe, your amp still has the opto-bug? You should be able to return the amp.

The noise you hear sounds like a bad tube. Or bad contact between the tube and socket. Maybe, worth trying contact cleaner on sockets and tube pins.

Good luck with the amp (or its replacement). :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 11:11 am
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I've just replaced the 4 preamp tubes on by one and tried the amp without each and it did the same sound all the time. The only difference was when I removed the second one, the vibrato channel didn't make any noise but I guess it wouldn't have worked if I had plugged my guitar in? The normal channel still made noise. The fourth tube one did the same with the normal channel.
I just want to specify that the noise is a kinda ''hissss'' or ''shhhhhhh'' sound. I now have no clue what to do :P :cry:


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 11:16 am
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Perhaps your "newly acquired" amp should be newly returned......?

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 11:32 am
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I too have a 2014 Fudge Brownie that I bought new in March 2015. It is an amazing amp but the "problems" you have sound familiar to me.

The vibrato ticking I can live with because it is really quite quiet and does not get noticeably louder as the volume is increased.

The main problem I had was with the stock tubes. I tried out the amp in a music shop where there was other noise but when I got it home I immediately noticed a tinkling noise. I identified the tube in V4 was microphonic which the shop did not hesitate in replacing for me. However, over the next 3-4 months the tubes in V1, V2 and one of the power tubes became noisy or microphonic. At that point I decided to replace all of the stock tubes (all labelled Groove Tubes but they were JJ in V1, V2 and V4, Shugang in V3 and V6, Sovtek in V5. The power tubes were JJ and the rectifier was labelled Fender so not sure of the origin.

Having replaced all of the tubes the tone is now superb. My current tube line-up is:

V1 & V2 - TAD 7025WA Highgrade (RT080)
V3 - NOS JAN Philips ECC81/12AT7WC
V4 - TAD 7025/ECC83 Highgrade Premium Selected (RT030)
V5 - TAD ECC83 WA (RT008)
V6 - NOS Mullard ECC81/CV4024
V7 & V8 - TAD 6V6GT-STR (RT83)
V9 - Tung-Sol 5AR4

I have also had good results with Tung-Sol 12AX7 V1 and V2 and Tung-Sol 6V6GT in the power section but I prefer the TAD tubes for my taste.

My only unresolved issue is the reverb that is noisy when the dial is set to 3 and above and gets louder as the reverb is increased but does not increase as volume is increased. But as I never use the reverb higher than 2 it is not a problem for me.


Last edited by fifty4 on Wed Oct 05, 2016 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 11:52 am
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fifty4 wrote:
I too have a 2014 Fudge Brownie that I bought new in March 2015. It is an amazing amp but the "problems" you have sound familiar to me.

The vibrato ticking I can live with because it is really quite quiet and does not get noticeably louder as the volume is increased.

The main problem I had was with the stock tubes. I tried out the amp in a music shop where there was other noise but when I got it home I immediately noticed a tinkling noise. I identified the tube in V4 was microphonic which the shop did not hesitate in replacing for me. However, over the next 3-4 months the tubes in V1, V2 and one of the power tubes became noisy or microphonic. At that point I decided to replace all of the stock tubes (all labelled Groove Tubes but they were JJ in V1, V2 and V4, Shugang in V3 and V6, Sovtek in V5. The power tubes were JJ and the rectifier was labelled Fender so not sure of the origin.

Having replaced all of the tubes the tone is now superb. My current tube line-up is:

V1 & V2 - TAD 7025WA Highgrade (RT080)
V3 - NOS JAN Philips ECC81/12AT7WC
V4 - TAD 7025/ECC83 Highgrade Premium Selected (RT030)
V5 - ECC83 WA (RT008)
V6 - NOS Mullard ECC81/CV4024
V7 & V8 - TAD 6V6GT-STR (RT83)
V9 - Tung-Sol 5AR4

I have also had good results with Tung-Sol 12AX7 V1 and V2 and Tung-Sol 6V6GT in the power section but I prefer the TAD tubes for my taste.

My only unresolved issue is the reverb that is noisy when the dial is set to 3 and above and gets louder as the reverb is increased but does not increase as volume is increased. But as I never use the reverb higher than 2 it is not a problem for me.


Thanks, has I said I've just tried every tube and none of them seems microphonic, not working well or anything.
I don't hear it when I play but it's kind of annoying. Also replacing every tubes without just because I can't find the problem is not really an option. I've just spent a lot of money on it (to buy it) and i'm still in school (not living with my parents and not working) so I don't have much money.
For the tremolo I've read about lead dress problems or something like that but english is not my first language I don't really understand what it means.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 12:00 pm
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I know all this can sound a little frustrating and it is. My only other experience with tube amps was in the 60's with my 1966 Super Reverb. It was superb. My current TRRI is superb as well, but had to do a couple of things. I replaced V2 and V4 with Tung-Sols. This $30 expense changed the amp considerably. I don't feel the need to change the other preamps or power tubes. As was stated, Fender puts in GT's AKA JJ's. These cost the same as better tubes and there are better tubes. My only requirements are no noise, everything works like it should and sounds great to my ears. This has been accomplished with 2 preamp tubes. I don't play the normal channel, but it sounds good anyway. Even though I was past the return window, I still asked about it. Doesn't hurt.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 12:38 pm
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I've just contacted the store and the guy said I just have to bring it there and they will look for the problem and fix it for free. Pretty stoked :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:01 pm
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Jturbide wrote:
I've just contacted the store and the guy said I just have to bring it there and they will look for the problem and fix it for free. Pretty stoked :)

Please post an update when you get the amp back. I will be interested to know if the ticking vibrato if resolved.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 3:41 pm
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Hey guys, I've tried my amp on 2 other power outlet and it's now almost dead quiet :D
The trem still ''tick'' a little but the noise is almost gone :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 8:42 pm
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Jturbide wrote:
Hey guys, I've tried my amp on 2 other power outlet and it's now almost dead quiet :D
The trem still ''tick'' a little but the noise is almost gone :)
That's great news. There's usually a simple fix to most of these new amp problems. There may be a fix for the tick problem since it's so common for some of the DRRI's. Did you buy from a local dealer and if so, are they authorized by Fender to do warranty work? If you decide you want that checked out, be sure the work is done by an authorized Fender repair service. I'm glad you got the other thing worked out. These are great amps when they work like they're supposed to.


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Post subject: Re: Fender FSR DRRI (P12Q) Problems
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 8:51 am
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LawFlow wrote:
Jturbide wrote:
Hey guys, I've tried my amp on 2 other power outlet and it's now almost dead quiet :D
The trem still ''tick'' a little but the noise is almost gone :)
That's great news. There's usually a simple fix to most of these new amp problems. There may be a fix for the tick problem since it's so common for some of the DRRI's. Did you buy from a local dealer and if so, are they authorized by Fender to do warranty work? If you decide you want that checked out, be sure the work is done by an authorized Fender repair service. I'm glad you got the other thing worked out. These are great amps when they work like they're supposed to.


Yeah bought it from Long & Mcquade wich I suppose is like the guitar center of Canada. I'll bring it there for the trem problem, and at the same time ask them what they think of the little noise it's producing and if it's fixable.


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