It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:07 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 25 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:47 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Count me as once being one of the "dumb" ones (although it's been a while). Sometimes you can get a little careless. I remember many years ago, working on an old radio, replaced some parts and powered it up while still apart. It worked but had some crackling noise that I tracked down to poor solder joints on an output transistor. I grabbed my soldering iron and all I had to do was touch up the joints and done. As soon as I touched the joint with the iron, BOOM! Apparently I forgot to unplug the electricity to the radio before soldering. :oops:

Yeah, I would say that sometimes when troubleshooting the power has to be on, so watch what the heck you are doing inside an amp! And, as pointed out, the tube amps can even get you after they are unplugged from the electrical outlet. :shock:

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:02 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:46 pm
Posts: 453
shimmilou wrote:
A fuse almost always blows because something is wrong, and mainly to prevent a potential fire. It is a safe bet that if a fuse blows, there is something that needs repaired. :wink:


Many times, but not all the time. I still wish they were accessible just to allow easy confirmation that there is a blown fuse.

_________________
Archtop Bill aka Alder Statesman

Check out my finger-style guitar tracks at www.soundcloud.com/billmcmannis


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:23 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Well, you know what would happen then? Someone would replace the fuse, then after that one blows, they would decide to try a higher amp fuse........ :shock:

I am surprised by the number of amps that I see that have a higher rated fuse than the amp is supposed to have. So, this indicates that people just don't realize what a dumb idea it is to keep replacing fuses that blow without investigating why. I don't understand why people can't accept the fact that fuses blow for a reason, and rarely will replacing the fuse be the end of it, particularly in a solid-state amp.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:52 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 7:11 am
Posts: 318
[quote="shimmilou"]Well, you know what would happen then? Someone would replace the fuse, then after that one blows, they would decide to try a higher amp fuse........ :shock:

Or worse - put a jumper!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:23 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
That is the third type of fuse. There is 1) the fast-acting, or fast blow, 2) the slow blow, and 3) the no blow. :lol:

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:09 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Retroverbial wrote:
Sure.

Everybody I know completely buttons up an amp after troubleshooting and repair but before performing an operational test to see if the problem has been resolved. Every screw, every nut, every panel. Tight as a drum.

Sure......

:roll:

Arjay


I don't know why you have your shorts in such a wad but if you really read my post, I was responding to this and only this:

Retroverbial wrote:
Note that an exposed chassis may contain lethal voltages though the unit might be switched off and unplugged -- exercise extreme caution when working inside. Use only the fuse specified for your amp model as will be marked on the existing fuse.

Arjay


I'm reasonably certain that 117 VAC is NOT present under those conditions.

I'm done with this thread. :roll:

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 4:12 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:56 pm
Posts: 5
Hello,

Well, I found and removed the fuse. A 500mA/250volt slow burn type. I went to the local RS and bought a pack of 4, it's the only place to buy such a thing in this small coastal town. I replaced the fuse, plugged it in and turned it on and got a low HUMMMMMM........then quiet. I turned the switch on and off again and got NOTHING.. Removed the back once again and there was that fuse burnt out again!

So, as I was previously advised there must be some other greater underlying problem. The fuse is doing it's job just fine! The board and components look to the un-learned eye to be very basic and nothing is visible in regard to a failed component. One that may have gotten hot or shorted against another, that type of thing. So...........

I've made various inquiries around town today, the local radio station, Radio Shack and such looking for an electric geek so some such person that may take an interest enough anyway to help me out. I'll continue to pursue this avenue or approach to see if I can't find someone in town to help me out. There has to be a radio club or a high school electronics club or something along those lines right? One would think anyway.

I have time and my spare amp to continue on with. I don't feel it's time yet to give up on it so I'll keep on looking and who knows, one day I may find the help I need. Until then thanks again for all the input and help I received on this forum, completely unexpected and welcomed indeed. Arjay....dbm....Bill, thanks a lot! Really.

So from the Northern California Coast, I'll back out for a while and just watch and learn.

PS - I spent some time this morning watching again on YouTube Cream clips from the RAH performance in '05 or '07 was it? Gosh what a treat to see those guys play together again and look like they really enjoyed it. I wish I could have actually been able to afford being there. They seemed to play better than they did back in "the day". It just goes to show you how much some things really do get better with age. I wonder if the day would have come when those other four guys would have really played together again if it were not for that night in December of 1980 and we were robbed of if not a great then at least a truly wonderful individual leaving a lot of us with only the thought of "what if".

Ramble, Ramble, Ramble. Thanks one more time.

-------------------------------------
Like Neil says, "It's all one song".

Ok, I'm rambling....Thanks again from Crescent City, Ca.

KS


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 4:52 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
You might try Skip's Music on Auburn Blvd in North Sacramento. They're an authorized Fender dealer and they have a relatively competent repair shop.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:15 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:56 pm
Posts: 5
Thank you, my thought on that though is it may cost more to ship than to buy another amp. Which is probably what I'll end up doing in the long run all things considered. I live quite a way from Sacramento. I think I'm actually closer to Portland than to Sacramento. I don't know, maybe one day I'll call a place up there and take an over night drive if I can find someone that will help me out on the cheep. Again, I'll just set the 15R aside for the time being and use my 25R which is still working great. I'm going to put a small add in the local paper, The Triplicate, and ask if there is a maybe an electronic geek who may be a musician or something like that. Who knows, I may get lucky.

Regards Arjay,

KS
Crescent City, CA


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Frontman 15R Quit Today
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:12 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
You might try your local C/L as well, KS. See if anyone is advertising for electronic repairs.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 25 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: