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Post subject: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:23 pm
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A few months ago, I started having problems with the drive/more drive channel on my Frontman 212R. I was going to bring the amplifier to a shop to have it repaired, but thanks to Obamacare :roll: I was forced to find a new job that pays me significantly less than what I was making. This combined with upcoming moving expenses has put amp repair on the back burner, so I'm going to attempt to fix it myself. This is why I am turning to the Fender Community for help.

/rant

At any rate, whenever I select the drive channel on the amp, I have no control over the volume. It is constantly at full blast, and moving the volume knob has little to no effect on the output. The drive knob doesn't appear to change anything either, so I assume that's stuck at 11 as well. The amplifier has been well taken care of, it really doesn't move from where it is and all this just started happening one day. I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of anything like this... I haven't had any luck finding a solution using search engines. I am not keen on the fact that I'm going to have dismantle the amp to fix it, but at this point I really don't give a flying **** whether or not it's junk after I'm through with it because it's really not serving any purpose as it sits right now. Any insight on this matter is greatly appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:39 pm
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Hi TheMusicalMind222,

Just to cover the obvious, you are aware that there are two volume controls, one volume control for drive/more drive channel, and one volume control for the clean channel, right?

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:57 pm
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Yeah, I know that. The clean channel works fine with no problems. I should also mention that I have four electric guitars and what I previously wrote applies to every one of them. I get some seriously nasty feedback with drive channel, regardless of proximity to the amplifier.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:05 pm
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Also, let me state that I am aware that the first post has some very angry underlying tones to it. I probably should have posted on another day when I am in a better space. Not trying to start the pity party, but the last couple of weeks have been absolutely ridiculous and completely demoralizing for me... dealt with more bs than most people probably deal with in a decade. I've used Fender products for many years and have never had any issues with my other amplifiers. I'm just real disappointed that I barely bought this brand new a year ago and already have a severe problem with it. Companies don't make things like that used to, that's for damn sure.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:14 pm
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TheMusicalMind222 wrote:
Also, let me state that I am aware that the first post has some very angry underlying tones to it. I probably should have posted on another day when I am in a better space. Not trying to start the pity party, but the last couple of weeks have been absolutely ridiculous and completely demoralizing for me... dealt with more bs than most people probably deal with in a decade. I've used Fender products for many years and have never had any issues with my other amplifiers. I'm just real disappointed that I barely bought this brand new a year ago and already have a severe problem with it. Companies don't make things like that used to, that's for damn sure.


Is the amp still under warranty? If so, take to a Fender Service Center and you have a pleasant surprise.

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:28 pm
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Not sure if the amplifier is still under warranty... I doubt it would matter anyway because I haven't the slightest idea where the receipt is.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:32 pm
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TheMusicalMind222 wrote:
Not sure if the amplifier is still under warranty... I doubt it would matter anyway because I haven't the slightest idea where the receipt is.


Too bad. I had my Frontman 212R replaced under warranty last October with my choice of a couple newer solid state models: it was about 22 months old. I kept the receipt taped inside the cabinet.

Fender's warranty is what sets them apart from any other make.

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:22 pm
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Archtop Bill wrote:
Fender's warranty is what sets them apart from any other make.


+1

The warranty should be afforded the same status as any included amp accessory like a footswitch or a cover.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:44 pm
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TheMusicalMind222 wrote:
Not sure if the amplifier is still under warranty... I doubt it would matter anyway because I haven't the slightest idea where the receipt is.


An internal electrical problem like you describe is covered under warranty for 5 years (some parts like speakers and footswitches are only covered for 1 year, but electrical faults have full 5 year coverage).

Businesses keep copies of receipts for 7~10 years for tax purposes (either hard copies or on their computers). Call or visit the store where you bought it, explain the situation, and ask them to replace the receipt.

Don't try to fix it yourself and void the warranty until after you contact the store. There's always the chance that the store is poorly run and has lost the receipt, or is staffed by a-holes who don't want to bother helping you. But cross that bridge after you get to it, and if something disappointing like that happens don't give up all hope.

I haven't a clue as to the cause of the problem. Could be something simple like a solder joint that's gone bad, could be something like a failed component. But if worse comes to worst and you can't get it fixed under warranty, then you can't find the problem, and no one can help you fix it over the web, it's still not a total loss. The clean channel on that amp is very good and takes pedals well. Your economic situation will likely improve someday and you can get an overdrive/distortion pedal that sounds at least as good as the amp's drive channel.

I've been through long stretches of hard times, and during those times it seems like things just keep getting worse and worse, bad things piling on top of other bad things. And during those times when people try to cheer me up by telling me that things always turn around it just pisses me off. But it always turns out that they're right and sooner or later things do get better.

(Of course the opposite is also true -- when things are going great, bad times are coming, and someday after things take a turn for the better they're going to turn again for the worse.)


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:40 pm
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strayedstrater wrote:
But if worse comes to worst and you can't get it fixed under warranty, then you can't find the problem, and no one can help you fix it over the web, it's still not a total loss. The clean channel on that amp is very good and takes pedals well. Your economic situation will likely improve someday and you can get an overdrive/distortion pedal that sounds at least as good as the amp's drive channel.


Fender does not repair these amps nor do they make any parts available for DIY'ers. If the product remains under warranty the customer is given a brand new replacement (or equivalent) and the malfunctioning unit is destroyed and disposed of. This is contingent on the customer presenting a legitimate receipt or bill of sale from an authorized dealer with the date of sale clearly legible at the time such a warranty claim is submitted.

Replacement components periodically show up on Ebay but usually they're listed by someone parting out an amp because they're in the same boat (no possibility of warranty service). Thus, I'd be dubious of buying a used part that was only designed to last a couple of years in the first place.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:30 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
strayedstrater wrote:
But if worse comes to worst and you can't get it fixed under warranty, then you can't find the problem, and no one can help you fix it over the web, it's still not a total loss. The clean channel on that amp is very good and takes pedals well. Your economic situation will likely improve someday and you can get an overdrive/distortion pedal that sounds at least as good as the amp's drive channel.


Fender does not repair these amps nor do they make any parts available for DIY'ers. If the product remains under warranty the customer is given a brand new replacement (or equivalent) and the malfunctioning unit is destroyed and disposed of. This is contingent on the customer presenting a legitimate receipt or bill of sale from an authorized dealer with the date of sale clearly legible at the time such a warranty claim is submitted.

Replacement components periodically show up on Ebay but usually they're listed by someone parting out an amp because they're in the same boat (no possibility of warranty service). Thus, I'd be dubious of buying a used part that was only designed to last a couple of years in the first place.

Arjay


Yes, of course you're right. I was sloppy with the use of the word "fixed" -- I meant it in terms of "problem fixed by them replacing it with an amp of equivalent value" (since the F212R is discontinued). Since the OP seems to like the sound of the drive channel and the drive channel on a different model may not sound the same, replacement with a different model might not be a satisfactory "fix".

But if he opens it up and starts poking around with a soldering iron the warranty replacement option goes away (unless his soldering matches the factory wave-soldering well enough to fool an Authorized Service Shop).

A duplicate of the receipt issued by the store that sold him the amp is a valid legitimate receipt, so at this point a warranty replacement is still an option. (If you make a photocopy of your receipt yourself, that isn't a valid duplicate -- if the store only has a carbon-copy of the original and has to make a photocopy of that, they'd need to endorse the photocopy and be willing to verify it by phone if the Authorized Service Center calls them -- but if their original receipts are computer printed, all they have to do is look it up and re-print it.)

If the store won't or can't provide him with a replacement receipt, or if he doesn't want a different model of equal value, then it's time to consider DIY repair.


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:35 am
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If he locates the receipt or can secure a bonafide copy, he's home safe.

If not......he's S-O-L. Unless he can fix it himself.

That's the dirty little secret about amps that cost less than a new iPhone.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:01 am
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Depending on when you bought it, and where, you may be able to get a "duplicate" receipt. If it was a local GC and the manager is cool, they can pull up that receipt in seconds. Local Mom and Pop dealers may not be able to pull it up that easily. Other online retailers sometimes allow you to pull up the old invoice online, sometimes you need to work with their customer service line. A little sugar can go a long way with these people when trying to get to someone with the power to get your duplicate receipt for you.

Start with your retailer and be nice to them. Let them know that you are NOT faulting them for the amps problems.

JMO

Art


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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:51 am
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Art1 wrote:
Start with your retailer and be nice to them. Let them know that you are NOT faulting them for the amps problems.


+1

An imperative for certain.

A small purchase in conjunction with the request may help "lube" the bureaucratic process and engender some entente.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Frontman 212R Drive Channel
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:48 pm
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Thank you all for the responses. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about getting a duplicate receipt because like some other small music shops around my state, the local shop I bought it at went out of business sometime in the last few months. Maybe if small shops didn't charge 150% over list price, they may be able to compete with internet sites like Sweetwater or Musician's Friend. I'm all about supporting local businesses, but it's hard to do so when a set of Ernie Ball strings cost 9 or 10 dollars but on Amazon I can almost buy three sets for that price.


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