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Post subject: Trouble with my Acoustasonic SFXII
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:46 pm
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My AS SFXII has been going quiet for brief moments lately and then the sounds comes right back. It usually lasts 4-7 seconds and then the sound returns. It happens in the loop and through the regular inputs.

Also, sometimes I lose control of the ability to foot switch the built in effects. They will either be stuck in the on or off position and then eventually everything will work normal again.

Has anyone else had trouble with these? I'm going to call Fender since the warranty is still good, but I would like to hear some first hand experience with this amp causing trouble for any of you. I don't know anyone else who has one to ask.

Right now I am using it in Stereo with my Boogie Lonestar. I play a 06 Deluxe Ash Strat through them. I would like to have another great tube amp to run in stereo with the Boogie, but since I already had the Acoustasonic I thought I'd give it a try and the results were way better than expected. I let the Boogie carry the bulk of the load and have the Fender just filling in space and stretching out my sound. I split the signal at the stereo outputs of a Boss RE-20 and go into the instrument channel loop of the AS.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:52 pm
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Hi , I've got a similar problem with my SFX in that the volume dips , cuts out and is replaced by a kind of "chug,chug" background noise.This "chugging" speeds up and slows down and then morphs into a low level hum.
Amazingly , I can usually cure the problem by lifting the amp on one side and allowing it to drop back onto the floor!
I have the option of returning the product to the retailer for repair , but I don't believe they would really try to get to the bottom of things.Searching through the web gave me the impression there are a few Acoustasonic amps with these kind of problems and there seemed to be concern over how hot they run.
Personally, I'm going to get in touch with a local tech. who should be able to diagnose things .
I love how the amp sounds when it's behaving , but can't help thinking there is a design or quality control issue at play here and so a D.I.Y. approach might be quickest.


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:01 pm
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I took my amp to the closest (it's not close at all) Fender repair station to get the problem fixed. You're assumptions were right about what might happen if you were to do the same. They opened it up and resoldered the speaker connections. I don't even think they attempted to look at the PCB. Once I got it home the problem was worse. I wrote Fender and asked them to let me exchange it at the GC where I bought it for another Fender amp. I'm still waiting for a reply. Has anyone ever heard of them doing such a thing or am I stuck with a lemon of an amp?

I like it when it is working, but the thing cuts out so much that it would be impossible to trust in a live setting.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:39 pm
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Just found this on the web - http://music-electronics-forum.com/arch ... -3453.html
It seems the amps can suffer from "thermiling" , all that heat can't seem to get away quickly enough.
I'm not going to attempt a repair , but I might be able to ask the right questions if I leave it in.
Eitherway , I feel better knowing the problem.
Hope we get things sorted , a nice amp , but a no go for live.


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:00 pm
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Thanks for posting that link. We are not alone in our troubles. I wonder if JoeC was able to fix his by putting heatsink compound on everything. He never replied to the thread again since July.

I'm still waiting for a response from Fender. I'll let you know what they have to say.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:46 pm
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Fender never responded to my email, so I contacted them by phone this evening and they told me that I have to return the amp to Audio Visions in Richmond which is the place that gave it back broke after my first attempt at having it serviced.

The Customer Rep I spoke with said to have them contact Fender when I get the amp up there and they will aid them in T/S the problem. It's a PITA to pack up the family and drive up there from Virginia Beach but I have no other choice.

I'll post the results of round two when there is something worth posting.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Profile
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:50 pm
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I finally got my amp delivered to the repair shop for the second time today. I'll post the results when they come in.

_________________
06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Profile
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:48 pm
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Still nothing from the repair shop. The last time I took it there for the same symptoms I got the call to pick the amp up in just a few days. They've had it almost 3 weeks this time. I wonder if they are stumped or if my amp has just been sitting in the shop this whole time.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Profile
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:05 pm
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It's been a long time since I came to this thread, but I wanted to update it in case someone else has the same problem some day and finds this thread. The repair shop was not able to recreate the problem the second time and after a long while I went back and picked it up. After a week or so the volume fading problem happened again. I was very frustrated at this point, but since I had recently bought a can of DeoxIT to loosen the pots in my Strat I figured I would try it on the amp and it worked. I sprayed it on the end of a guitar cable and worked it in and out of the jacks. The volume has never faded since and has been months.

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06 Amer Dlx Ash Strat
Warren Haynes Les Paul R8
1980 Guild D-25
Hagstrom Viking Deluxe
07 Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic
05 Acoustasonic SFX II


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Profile
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