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Post subject: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:55 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Well,...not sure how to say this,but I have lost audio in my HRD III amp. This occurred yesterday when I was getting ready for a practice session. Per owner manual instructions,I powered the amp up in "standby" so the tubes have a gentle warm up cycle for at least thirty seconds,...again as the manual suggests while getting my sheet music ready. When I was ready to play,...I took the amp off "standby" and then strummed a chord,...hmmmmm,...no audio,...the volume at both the guitar and amp were at 4. The amp worked fine just the other day without any problem. I glanced around the back of the amp and noticed something quite odd,...gassy power tubes! Now,...I did not go and remove the back panel in case you may be wondering if I done that or not. Up until now,she has performed flawlessly for me. She's sick,...what has happened to her? :(

Before I involve Fender Customer support,...I have talked with my sales rep at Sweetwater and he has created a Tech Support case for me at the dealer level
so hopefully this can be solved at the dealer level first. I am waiting for an email from Sweetwater Tech support to see what steps need to be taken first at their level before we involve Fender Customer Support. It is possible the amp may have to go in the shop. But before I do that,I am wondering if any of you guys,...mainly bluesky636 and shimmilou,...might have an idea of what might possibly be going on here. I did turn the volume up all the way on the "clean" channel and noticed a low volume hissing sound. Any ideas other than the gassy tubes? Just saying,...if it is the fault of my power tubes,...why would they fail so soon?

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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 III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:35 pm
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"Gassy power tubes! "

Like white gas floating inside the tube? If so, this is a sign of loss of vacuum. Tube(s) is no good and must be replaced.

Like this? Good one on left. Bad on right:

Image


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Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:46 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
"Gassy power tubes! "

Like white gas floating inside the tube? If so, this is a sign of loss of vacuum. Tube(s) is no good and must be replaced.

Like this? Good one on left. Bad on right:

Image


What I was seeing was a bluish haze inside the tubes aside from the normal orange glow,...my mistake for not pointing that out! Anyway,...I have no audio!

_________________
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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Profile
Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:49 pm
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Blue haze when amp is on, correct? This is normal. So, output tubes are prolly ok.

Try pulling all the tubes and applying contact cleaner. Work the cleaner into the sockets, by removing and replacing the tubes a couple of times. You prolly already checked all connecting wires and tried another patch cord. And another guitar.

Hope the contact cleaner works.


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Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:01 pm
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Blue haze when amp is on, correct? This is normal. So, output tubes are prolly ok.

Try pulling all the tubes and applying contact cleaner. Work the cleaner into the sockets, by removing and replacing the tubes a couple of times. You prolly already checked all connecting wires and tried another patch cord. And another guitar.

Hope the contact cleaner works.


The blue haze goes away when the amp is placed on "standby",...comes back when in "on/play" mode. One thing I have not yet tried,and glad you mentioned it,...another cord/cable. I don't have a spare one and should have one,...shame on me for that! I only have one guitar,so I can't try another one unless I haul the amp to the dealer and try one. I am starting to suspect the cable now as a possibility for the audio problem but won't know for sure until I can get access to a spare one. The cable I have now is one where you can unscrew the end to view the connections(I assume they're all that way)for repairs. Something to check and consider!

_________________
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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:07 pm
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Rock Star
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" The blue haze goes away when the amp is placed on "standby",...comes back when in "on/play" mode. "

This is normal. The "haze" is due to contaminates burning off the anode plate and internal grids. Would only be seen when tubes are seeing B+.

I hope the problem is patch cord. Easy fix. Keep us informed!

:mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:10 pm
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Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
Posts: 366
BMW2002Ti wrote:
" The blue haze goes away when the amp is placed on "standby",...comes back when in "on/play" mode. "

This is normal. The "haze" is due to contaminates burning off the anode plate and internal grids. Would only be seen when tubes are seeing B+.

I hope the problem is patch cord. Easy fix. Keep us informed!

:mrgreen:


That may eliminate the tubes,then! Looks like a check of the cable is next in line,...will keep you informed,so stay tuned!

_________________
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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 4:03 pm
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Surely you have a multimeter on your radio bench......?

That will instantly reveal a bad patch cable.

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: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:09 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:44 pm
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Found the problem of why I had no audio,...cable went bad,...so it was not a fault of the amp. I tried my cable on an amp at Sweetwater yesterday evening prior to my guitar lesson,and there was no audio with my cable. Tried the store's cable,and had audio. I was suspecting the cable as a possibility other than having a tube go bad,...but it wasn't a tube,...it was the cable. Problem solved,...back in action! :D

_________________
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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:14 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Good news, a nice, uncomplicated ending!


Enjoy! :) :D :)


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Post subject: Re: HRD III audio problem
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:22 am
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Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
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Location: Tombstone Territory
KEWL!

8)

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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