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Post subject: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back on.
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:09 pm
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I got a pretty sweet Fender Hot Rod Deluxe in the 60's Brown Vinyl the other day..

it sounded really good until last night, I started noticing it breaking up a little earlier than usual. I didn't think much of it then Bam power OFF.. i tried turning it on and off several times. when I turned the amp around the two power tubes were GLOWING orange. not just a little the whole tube..

now i'm no amp doctor but im pretty sure that means something is up..

I've checked the fuse but it looks to be in tact.

I would check the power tubes but i'm lacking the funds for a set of new tubes at the moment and don't really want to buy them unless it IS the tubes..

just wondering what could it be, and what to check for

Also there are no burn marks on the Boards or anything else.. I'm at a loss for words.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:42 pm
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If it is new, it is under warranty. Take it back where you bought it and tell them you want a new one or to fix this one.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:46 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
If it is new, it is under warranty. Take it back where you bought it and tell them you want a new one or to fix this one.


+1!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:49 pm
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I actually got it out of a trade.

I called the guy I traded, and he said if I wanted we could trade back and he would see what the problem was, So i'm assuming he didn't know anything was wrong with the amp.

He also said that the tubes were about 7 months old and that he played EVERY day for a few hours. So i'm assuming that its just a power tube failure

I don't really want to part with the amp seeing as how it sounds just plain amazing when it works..

I think I might just suck it up and buy a set of new Power tubes and see if that works out..


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:57 pm
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Don't be a sap -- something else failed catastrophically to cause those tubes to red-plate!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:05 pm
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Is there anything I can look at in the amp and try to diagnose the problem?

like I said I don't really have much knowledge with tube amp workings, however I know what to look for with shorts and things, any "specific" components of the amp that I need to take a look at..

Also, I've read a few forums where the power transformer itself had a short, most people debunk that as a Tech trying to screw them out of a few bucks, But i'm really open to any possibility at the moment?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:10 pm
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Also, when I looked in the amp after the tubes had cooled down and one of the Power tubes was not pushed all the way in the socket..( it was about halfway out) I'm assuming that could cause some problems with bad connection and all..


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:20 am
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The tubes glow orange because they are at the end of there life and bias was too hot. If the previous owner change tubes without a bias check , he shortened tubes life.

Too bad for you. You need some news tubes WITH a bias check.

Without seeing the amp , it is not easy to tell for sure what 's wrong but most of the time is that.

Aso very little chance is your speaker or your output transformer are short. IMO this a tubes problem.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:22 am
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I just read your last post; For sure tubes must be seat well in their socket WITH good socket contacts.
Tightened socket contacts could be usefull too.

There are a lot of thing a good tech can check with the amp on is bench.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:17 am
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Considering a possible tube newbie, he said that the tubes were glowing "orange" not "red". I am just wondering if the OP knows what he is looking at as the tubes are normally lit up with bright orange from the filament glow. :?: Even if the tubes were "red-plating", the amp wouldn't just shut off like that with no sound out. And I doubt if just replacing the tubes will cure the ills, but it is possible. :idea:

Just a thought, but I would definitely check the bias as suggested, before replacing tubes. And check bias if tubes are replaced.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:34 am
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+1 shimmilou,

daxsaturday could see the color generate by the heater, which is normal. That's why I wrote ...without seeing the amp is not easy.....


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:20 am
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Thanks for the replies.

I am a tube newbie when it comes to tube amp problems.
however, I've had tube amps for the past 2 years.

I understand that tubes glow regularly, this however was a totally different situation.

There is a certified tech in my area that I emailed yesterday, Says he charges a $45 an hour bench fee, that if I bring in the amp and he takes a look he would try his best to diagnose the problem. I could also have him check the bias and all..

Would it be more beneficial to have him look at it, or just buy a set of power tubes, if that is what it might need anyway..

The only thing i'm not sure of is the biasing, I know it could only take a few minutes, But i'm not sure how this guy operates. I might just call around and get some more rates.

I know this whole scenario is not usual with a simple Power tube failure.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:37 am
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Not easy to say the least. :!:

Maybe some pics will help. These 6L6 tubes (first pic from a Carvin amp) are operating normally, some blue glow also appears when switched off standby into play. The blue is sometimes difficult to see and the orange is usually immediately visible even in the light. You can see the orange glow from the filament (heater), which is normal, and the darker part in the middle of the tube (the Plate) is not glowing at all. The Plate will turn a cherry red if too much current is running through it, sometimes in a small area of the Plate, sometimes if very high current the whole Plate will glow red. The second pic is from the HRDlx with 6V6 output tubes, operating normally, but this time the blue glow is more prominent. Note in both pics, the middle part of the tube, the Plate, is not glowing.

Just saw your reply when I clicked preview, hopefully your tech will help you out. It's a good idea to have a spare set of tubes anyway, and maybe the tech can suggest some good ones.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:10 am
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I will probably end up taking it to the tech sometime after Christmas.
he is taking the Holidays off and will be back around the first of the year.

Also, I went back to the amp a few minutes ago and noticed that on one of the tubes, the Groove Tubes logo was a little browned (possibly burnt)

Image

also there might be a slight crack in the same tube..

Image

Sorry for the bad quality of the pictures.. But there they are..

is the browned logo, or slight scratch/crack anything to be alarmed about?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Powered Off, will not power back
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:21 am
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I think the look is normal, black/ brown spot look to be some kind of dirt cooked on glass. If tube is bias hot it come very hot.

A good tech will know to do with that


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