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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 4:22 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
I was set to take the amp in for servicing then just for grins and giggles I decided to swap out the 12AX7 in V2 and for a brand new 5751.

As I was removing the 12AX7 I got the impression that the tube was not seated properly because it seemed a little higher than the 5751 in V1. Anyhow I made sure that the replacement 5751 was seated nice and snugly, turned on the amp, and voilà, the Drive and More Drive channels were back to normal.

This suggested a faulty 12AX7 in V2 but the seating issue was gnawing at me so I put back the same 12AX7 in V2 and everything with the drive channels was normal.

I don't think this rules out Arjay's suggestion about a problem with the channel-switching circuit but is it possible that a badly seated tube in V2 can have this kind of effect on the Drive channel?

Cheers!
BM


I'm going to keep this thread and these suggestions in mind if I ever experience this problem out of my HRD III amp that I am picking up today with my Strat! I am assuming your amp is also an HRD III amp. (I highly doubt I will ever use "more drive" channel on my amp,if at all,..maybe just "drive" channel at most. With the music I'll be playing,I'll be on "clean" channel 97% of the time). Anyway,I hope reseating the tube helped! I may check my amp over when I get it home to be sure those tubes in particular are seated properly.

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If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 5:09 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
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KC9SYJ wrote:
I'm going to keep this thread and these suggestions in mind if I ever experience this problem out of my HRD III amp that I am picking up today with my Strat! I am assuming your amp is also an HRD III amp. ...
    Actually I have the older version Fender® - Hot Rod Deluxe™ with the chrome face plate. The HRD III has a black face plate, chicken knobs, and a more gradual taper on the volume pot. Apart from this, I think the two models are the same.

    Re-seating the tube in V2 resulted in a temporary fix. (see my previous post). The amp has gone in for servicing and I'll post back when I hear the official diagnosis.

    BTW, congrats on your new Strat / HRD III combo!

    Cheers!
    BM


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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 11:14 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
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Got a call from the Fender certified amp tech yesterday and I'm afraid the diagnosis is the dreaded CRP: Cannot Reproduce Problem. :shock:

The tech told me he "tried swapping tubes, new tubes, flexed pcb's, harnesses, twist + stress sockets, etc, etc." and the fault did not occur. I went into the shop this morning and played through the amp for the better part of an hour and all was normal with the Drive and More Drive channels.

As for possible issues with the solder joints and the R78, R79 resistors, I had passed along these comments to the technician. He told me that this indeed is a known issue but that it applies to older HRDs, not to mine. In spite of this he told me that he checked the solder joints, tapped/pushed on the resistors while strumming the guitar, and that he left the amp on for over an hour hoping to recreate the problem, all to no avail.

At this point I have an amp that's working but as also one which is not totally reliable. I seem to recall reading something is someone's signature about amps and reliability ... 8)

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 11:42 am
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
...he told me that he checked the solder joints, tapped/pushed on the resistors while strumming the guitar, and that he left the amp on for over an hour hoping to recreate the problem, all to no avail...


I'm afraid that he didn't actually check the solder joints, the circuit board has to be removed and the solder joints actually looked at. If the guy knows that it is a common problem, he should also know that you have to remove the board and inspect the joints. Whenever I have an amp to inspect, for any reason, I almost always pull the circuit board(s) and check for poor solder joints. On modern amps, I find them quite often, and many times it is before there is a perceived problem with them.

You definitely have a problem, not your imagination, that's my approach and that means that I will find a problem and not give a half-assed few pokes at it. To tell you that this problem doesn't apply to your amp is pure BS! In fact, the amps made from 2005 until the newest version III in about 2010, are the worst because of the crap solder used (RoHS compliant).

I would look for someone who is willing to take the amp apart and fix it. I realize that Fender doesn't pay well for a warranty repair, but to me it is just the cost of doing business and the amp should be fixed even if it takes a little more time than is paid for.

Sorry, but this kind of crap pisses me off! I have the feeling that he billed Fender for this anyway, even though he did nothing. :x

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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 1:31 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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shimmilou wrote:
... Whenever I have an amp to inspect, for any reason, I almost always pull the circuit board(s) and check for poor solder joints. On modern amps, I find them quite often, and many times it is before there is a perceived problem with them. ...
    I guess my problem is that I'm some 800 miles from Indiana. :lol:

    Kidding aside, I think you may be spot on with your comment about Fender not paying well for a warranty repair. In fairness to the amp tech, who seemed like a knowledgeable and kindly fellow, he did not charge me for the time he spent working on my amp so I don't think Fender was billed either. Still, and in spite of the good will, I have an amp which I feel is unreliable. If the issue returns, I will certainly take it up with the Fender Customer Relations Department.

    Cheers!
    BM


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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 2:45 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
... Whenever I have an amp to inspect, for any reason, I almost always pull the circuit board(s) and check for poor solder joints. On modern amps, I find them quite often, and many times it is before there is a perceived problem with them. ...
    I guess my problem is that I'm some 800 miles from Indiana. :lol:

    Kidding aside, I think you may be spot on with your comment about Fender not paying well for a warranty repair. In fairness to the amp tech, who seemed like a knowledgeable and kindly fellow, he did not charge me for the time he spent working on my amp so I don't think Fender was billed either. Still, and in spite of the good will, I have an amp which I feel is unreliable. If the issue returns, I will certainly take it up with the Fender Customer Relations Department.

    Cheers!
    BM



How long have you had the amp? If the issue returns,I would definitely call Fender's Customer Relations Dept. Is the amp still under warranty? If worse came to worse
for any reason,would you be able to exchange it for another one as long as you kept your original bill of sale? I would hope that Fender will do their level best and make things right,...after all,their name and reputation would be on the line if they didn't.
No company is perfect,but for a company like Fender who has been in operation since 1946 or so,I sure hope,...again,...they make things right with you and either have your amp fixed right or issue you another one in return,...one you can rely on! I would give them a fair chance to make things right before going with another brand of amp,if that is what you may possibly intend to do,...but I don't know that for sure. It was mighty nice of your amp tech to not charge you for the repair and he had a fair chance to make it right. Should that problem re-occur,I would then give Fender a chance to make things right.

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If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


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Post subject: Re: HRD has lost its Drive and More Drive
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:15 pm
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Mine did a bunch of stuff and died three times on stage in a little more than six months. I sent it to the closet for time out and sold it a couple years later. I have a feeling that the problem will rear it's ugly head again. Mine had power supply caps replaced, screen resistor, the 5 watt cement resistor, solder joints repaired twice and a faulty foot switch replaced. Got it all fixed and shoved it back in the closet till I finally sold it. I had a76 Twin for over 30 years with no problems at all. There's something to be said for those old amps.

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