It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:32 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:37 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 7
I've spent all day scouring the internet and I've found a lot of people with similar problems, but I haven't found a solution - so here I am. :D

I just got a new BDRI and I am getting some serious metallic rattling when I play the lower strings. Even at 1 to 2 on the volume it is present. I took some gloves and held onto the tubes when playing and holding the far right preamp tube subdues the rattle a lot. This is my first tube amp, so I don't know if it is just a bad tube or if it isn't correctly in place. I realize that these amps are going to rattle a bit, but this is way too much.

Also the volume knob crackles when I turn it, is there an easy fix?

I'm still under warranty so I'm wondering if I should try and get another amp if this one is a lemon.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, any advice is appreciated!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:44 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Hi thunderwood,

Sounds like the V1 preamp tube is bad (the far right one). Probably not a warranty issue, but you might ask the dealer to be sure. It is easy enough to replace a tube. If you have a dirty/crackling pot, and your warranty is still good, I would take it back for repair. The pot may be able to be cleaned by simply rotating it back and forth very quickly many times, until the scratchiness disappears. :idea:

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 2:19 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 7
shimmilou,

Thanks a lot for the advice, I am going to try your fix for the volume knob right now. If it doesn't work could it turn into a worse problem down the road or remain just an annoyance?

Although it would be a bummer to have to replace something on a brand new amp, do you have any suggestions for a higher quality tube to replace the bad one?

Thanks!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 2:49 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
Posts: 1389
I've got 2 issues on my BDRI (a couple of hours just after buying it) V1 was producing a huge noise (actually V2 but I swap V2 on V1) and some notes had a kind of distortion (bass). I bring it back to the dealer (before and thanks to Stratele52 I just tested a new V1 with a 12ax7 spare that I've, to make sure that the 12ax7 Groove Tube was failed and test on another speaker). The repair chop changed the valve and the speaker (almost 3 months waiting).

By the way, there is a test that you can do:
- Connect your guitar directly in Power In and play.

As "Power In" jack injects directly in the Phase inverter, you will know if the rattle is from the preamp (V1 and V2) No noise --> Preamp issue ; Noise --> Amp issue or speaker
:wink:

_________________
Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:05 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
No problem thunderwood,

First, make sure that you check with the dealer about the warranty, even for the tubes, there could be some length of time that they are covered.....?

A scratchy pot could be from just being a little dirty, or it could be a faulty pot. You won't hurt anything by trying to clean it by rotating it this way, as long as you don't twist the knob off by cranking too forcefully. :lol: Usually, any problem like this won't get better on it's own, you'll definitely hear it, if it gets worse.

Just look at the label (or labels) on the tubes to see which ones that you have. Better quality? I prefer the Groove Tubes myself, but there are also other brands of great quality tubes, and you'll get tons of opinions on which to use. Here are some sites that describe their tubes a little bit.

http://www.groovetubes.com/

http://www.eurotubes.com/

http://www.tubedepot.com/

Cool new feature! I saw your post Tis-san (sir), when I hit "preview" , great advice. I'll go ahead and throw mine in too. :)

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:35 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 7
tis-san - Great advice with the power amp in. I tried playing through that input and did not hear the noise. So it looks like it is definitely a preamp tube problem.

Shimmilou - The knob trick worked! It took a little bit, but it went away eventually. About the tube brands, I had read on other forums where people think that it is necessary to upgrade the tubes and speaker, but like you said, I'm perfectly happy with the stock set-up (when it doesn't rattle :wink: ). I moved the foam pad on the tubes a little bit and it slightly reduced the noise, but I think I'm just going to go ahead and replace the tube.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:58 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 12:00 pm
Posts: 1389
For valves 12ax7/ECC83, as Shimmilou sayd, they are many brands, let your ear make the difference.
If you like cristal sound, try "short plates" like JJ ECC83s (very similar to Telefunken, the reference) in V1. This V1 valve makes a huge part of the sound. :wink:

_________________
Tissan

*'52 Telecaster RI, '57 Stratocaster RI, Gibson ES175 RI, Washburn Hawk 1980, Epiphone Casino MIK 2000, 57' Deluxe Knotty Alder, BDRI ...*
https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzenfamille


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:33 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
If it's new, send it back. Why should you have to repair it or replace any tubes? If it needs to be repaired right out of the box, consider it an omen. :wink:

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:43 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 7
63supro wrote:
If it's new, send it back. Why should you have to repair it or replace any tubes? If it needs to be repaired right out of the box, consider it an omen. :wink:


That's what I thought at first, but after tapping the tubes the v1 is definitely bad. The site I bought it from is sending me a new tube and offered to replace the amp if that doesn't fix the problem.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:50 pm
Posts: 4
Location: Midlands, UK
This was my first big all valve amp and I was not ready for the emotional wringer it's put me through with all its rattles and foibles.

On certain frequencies the plate on the back with the serial number and "Blues Deluxe" written on it buzzes. I've come to accept this. Don't want to pry it off cos it looks important and I can live with a bit of case fizz (unless anyone's got a home solution to this?).

Mine arrived faulty, after a while it sparked and smoked and scared the Bejebus out of me. On its return from a repair the V3 valve was rattling on certain frequencies. I swapped it with V2 and the problem has been less noticeable but at high volumes there's what sounds like a filament rattle coming through sometimes. It's a tiny noise compared to the amount of volume the amp is kicking out, and I hope a preamp tube change and possible re-biasing and power tube change will fix this eventually.

When the warranty's up the gloves are off, I'll be changing the speaker too because it's so damn bassy! The quality of the clean sound has outweighed these negatives so far, I'm hoping when it becomes more customised - valves, speakers etc - I'll be more comfy with owning it but really it's almost more like owning a pet than a machine. It seems prone to moods and doesn't always behave the same.

After about 20 minutes play I can smell a warm...gassy smell. That's normal isn't it?

_________________
1987 Japanese Stratocaster w/ Bridge Humbucker and coil tap, TBX tone control and Kahler 2520 tremolo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:18 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
TheDeadlyMrMoo wrote:
After about 20 minutes play I can smell a warm...gassy smell. That's normal isn't it?


If this were a military situation we'd call it a "MOPP level IV" issue.

:lol:

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:00 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:10 am
Posts: 286
Location: Houston, TX
I had the same problem, the cause: BROKEN RIBBON CABLE ON THE PREAMP BOARD. It give the illusion of a faulty preamp tube, but those cables are prone to snapping. I had it fixed and was lucky to trade it for a 78 FENDER STUDIO BASS...200 WATTS of point to point power!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:08 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Those Studio Bass Amps were awesome!

FMIC should seriously consider a re-issue.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:17 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 7
Its a bummer that so many people seem to have problems with this amp. I got a free replacement tube from the people that I bought it from... but that only solved part of the problem. I took a look inside the amp and there were several screws sitting in the bottom behind the reverb tank. So much for quality control Fender. So I sent that amp back and hopefully the replacement will be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: New Blues Deluxe RI Problems
Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:51 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:50 pm
Posts: 4
Location: Midlands, UK
BOBROX24 wrote:
I had the same problem, the cause: BROKEN RIBBON CABLE ON THE PREAMP BOARD. It give the illusion of a faulty preamp tube, but those cables are prone to snapping.



Mine came with that broken ribbon cable first time round...a lot of zapping noises and a burning smell accompanied it!

_________________
1987 Japanese Stratocaster w/ Bridge Humbucker and coil tap, TBX tone control and Kahler 2520 tremolo


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: