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Post subject: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:06 pm
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Just 8 days ago I acquired a brand new '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue. A few days ago I noticed that I was getting a constant crackle from the reverb channel, as I increase the reverb setting the crackling increases in volume. If I turn the reverb setting all the way down, or if I disengage the reverb with the footswitch, it goes away entirely.

Here's where it gets a little weird... if I unplug the reverb/vibrato footswitch from the amp, this crackling is completely absent. I can crank the volume and reverb to the moon and I get absolutely no crackling or abnormality whatsoever (other than feedback if I push the reverb setting past 8 or so, but I hear that's pretty normal). Could this be a bad footswitch? Is there any way to troubleshoot or solve this without having to ship this heavy beast back to the retailer for a replacement? The closest authorized Fender service shop is around 100 miles away from me.

Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:14 pm
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Get some Dexoit D5 (or GN5) contact cleaner. Remove the rubber cover at the bottom of the footswitch & spray a little of the cleaner onto the switch contacts. Work the switches with the thing not connected to the amp. Replace cover.

Now, plug the footswitch back into amp and see what happens. Hopefully, this will clean the contacts. If not... you prolly need a need footswitch.

One other thing, be sure you have the correct wires going into the vibrato and reverb plugs. The Reverb usually has the metal-shielded wire.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:00 pm
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Thanks I'll try the contact cleaner. I'm not sure what you're talking about on the second part there though.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 12:12 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
One other thing, be sure you have the correct wires going into the vibrato and reverb plugs. The Reverb usually has the metal-shielded wire.


Steve, the re-issue amps use a single 3-conductor (stereo) phone plug and jack arrangement for the footswitch in lieu of the original dual RCA phono jacks.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:42 am
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Roger,

Thanks! Guess that eliminates that problem. :lol:

When did they start that? As the last DRRI (1997 edition) has the old style plugs--- as far as my fading mind remembers, at least. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:47 am
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My '91 TRRI and my '93 DRRI both have the 3-conductor phone plug/jack arrangement. I've never seen the re-issues any other way.

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: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:33 am
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Arjay, Ain't getting old a beetch. Time to start those anti-dementia meds. :shock:

My 1997 TRRI:

Image


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:22 am
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LMAO, Steve.

Art Linkletter said it best......

"Gettin' old ain't for sissies."

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:38 am
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Haha. Thanks guys. Good to know I'm not crazy or blind.

Ok so here's an update. I took the amp to church this morning where I play guitar weekly. Plugged in the footswitch, cranked up the reverb... no crackle at all.

Is it possible there's some kind of interference or dirty power at my apartment that the footswitch or footswitch cable may be picking up? I'm slightly baffled by this.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:59 am
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My money's on an intermittent problem with the footswitch itself. Not too long ago, a significant number of blackface re-issues all suffered from the same problem as you've described.

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: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:12 am
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Good to know. Maybe I got old backstock. I'd hate to send the whole shebang back just for a footswitch problem, plus be without a decent amp for a week, but it may be necessary.


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:19 am
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Since there is no issue with the footswitch disconnected I'd guess that you've isolated the problem. Try another footswitch to confirm the diagnosis.

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: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 4:03 pm
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i have one of these new DRRI's. had to replace the V1 tube (see my 0ther thread) and now both channels work.

but, i have an issue with turning on REV via the footswitch, i hear, click-click-click...click through the speaker. that isn't supposed to be happening, right? any fixes?


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:43 pm
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update: i unplugged the footswitch, and the annoying click-click... is gone. certainly looks to be the footswitch. i'll just leave the footswitch unplugged for now.

i contacted american musical about it. they replaced the one bad V1 tube so maybe they have a fix for this. i'll probably replace all the tubes anyways in a few months.

i haven't had much luck with footswitches from fender. the GDEC-30 footswitch won't power up without wiggling the cable. the 1/4" input jack is defective from what meter returns when probing it. soldering fixes that. now this footswitch. gee


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Post subject: Re: New DRRI reverb channel crackle with footswitch
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:36 pm
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acelement: it sounds like it's probably the footswitch, nothing more serious. My DRRI came with a footswitch that was fine for a few months, then started playing up. It was obviously dodgy contacts - but it was the connections in the jack plug that were loose, not in the footswitch unit, so it might be worth your while opening the plug up for a look. I had to resolder the connections. Everything's been fine since then.


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