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Post subject: Quality control problems
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:19 pm
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I'm not slamming Fender but nevertheless, quality control needs a kick start. I am on my THIRD Hot Rod Deluxe III amp. The first one had a non functional reverb right out of the box. Connectors in the tank were broken. Dealer ordered a new amp and swapped out with me. No charge other than 140 miles of driving on my dime, to drop off and later pick up the replacement. (An aside... literally ALL the fasteners, phillips screw heads used in the cabinet construction were ALL loose. They required up to FIFTEEN TURNS to get them snug.) So, along comes amp #2. Same issues with fasteners. All were loose... one was stripped. Loading in at a gig. going up a stairway, the handle broke for the fourth time with a little kid right behind me...thank God, I got the amp in a frantic bear hug and kept it from tumbling down the stairs and injuring this little kid.... I received several handle replacements over the history of ownership of amp 1 and 2 with all of them breaking again. Finally I got fed up and wrote Fender a complaint letter. They stepped up to the plate, a customer service guy contacted me and apologized repeatedly. They promised to send me yet another amp with an improved handle, number THREE which, in his words was coming directly from the factory (in Mexico) to his office for his personal "go-through" before releasing it to be shipped to me. Another 140 miles later I dropped off my old amp and took delivery of #3. By this time, I've already got it listed for sale...just wanna be done with it. No serious inquiries, so just today, I decided to power it up for the FIRST TIME. The amp sounds WONDERFUL...but in spite of the customer service guys "go through with a fine tooth comb"... it was the same old issues with the construction...all the screws in the cabinet weren't even CLOSE to being finger tight. I just can't believe that Fender puts up with this crap from their Mexico factory, on an amp that is priced near the bottom end of the "boutique" price point . So, I made the "rounds" and tightened all of the fasteners that I could get my hands on. Fingers are crossed hoping this amp stands up better than the previous two. So far my construction and quality control score for Fender stands at a bottom reading of "1". HOWEVER, since the amp IS working, I can rate the sound and tone at a perfect 10.
Kevin


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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:35 pm
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Lonegigger wrote:
Fingers are crossed hoping this amp stands up better than the previous two.


Don't hold your breath......

:roll:

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: Quality control problems
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:45 am
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I haven't ever seen a handle problem with the HRDX, but lots of loose screws. It's the first maintenance I do to all the Deluxes.
We always swore that the Japanese hired Sumo wrestlers to assemble the stereos and TVs I used to work on. There it was the opposite problem, too tight to get them apart without stripping the heads.

Since tightening screws is an assemblers basic job, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they know how to tighten a screw.
And at the end of every assembly line is a QC worker that inspects the units as they are finished. Besides looking for defects, about the only thing they can check is that the screws are tight

I chalked it up to two possibilities for such a widespread issue.
1 It's from using torque limiting screwdrivers that aren't adjusted properly. Or they're adjusted to prevent hand injuries.
2 The screws are tightened properly at the factory, but they sit in a hot warehouse in Mexico that expands the metal screws and loosens them. Or the wood has too much moisture and it shrinks, leaving the screws loose.

TL screwdrivers are used for critical parts or to limit hand injuries from overtorquing. I don't imagine either is more important to the factory than the extra cost of the tools.
So I'm leaning to hot storage as the cause of the loose screws.

I hope your amp holds together. BTW, it should be resoldered with lead solder for good reliability


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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:06 am
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TimsAudio wrote:
I haven't ever seen a handle problem with the HRDX...


I've seen it countless times and a potentially-catastrophic failure occurred to my rhythm guitarist's 4 x 10 DeVille about fifteen years ago while unloading for a gig. The rubber dogbone handle is inherently flimsy which is why Leo abandoned the design in favor of the steel-reinforced strap handle.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 3:27 pm
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I am almost amazed when a new Fender amp doesn't have a problem! Leo must be turning over in his grave at the level of poor QC that is going on in his namesake company.

This website has documented so many issues with amp QC you would think they know they have a problem and set about fixing them. I guess Fender is ok with poor amp QC and how their reputation is suffering from it.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 3:31 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
This website has documented so many issues with amp QC you would think they know they have a problem and set about fixing them.


It's easier and more profitable to design new T-shirts, sneakers, and keychain fobs for Fender's "Lifestyles" store instead.

:roll:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 3:58 am
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I've bought a few Fenders over the last few years and they have been solid accept one did have a handle that broke, I just bought a brand new 2015 Blues Junior III last week and it also looks very good. All screws were tight its got the new and improved handle, looks like they changed the circuit board and put stronger Reverb cable in it, I've been pleased with Fenders quality but I'm sure a lot of the Issues are from shipping abuse.


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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:36 am
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This is not a good testimonial.. I've been thinking about scouping up a princeton or a DRRI,,, now I wonder..


My only RECENT experience are my two Mustangs (MIII and an MIV),... despite all the things that can go wrong with an amp like this, these have been rock solid.

I've got a 4x10 HR Deville that I bought new sometime around 1999/2000... it's been a work horse, I've retubed it once.. Guess I'm (for a change) lucky??


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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 1:39 pm
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You couldn't give me a new or old production HRD anything. Been there, done that. How they got to be their so called "best selling amp" is beyond me. Fender has some real serious issues with QC and have for quite some time.

I've got three words for everyone. "Build Your Own"! If you can't, try to go vintage. Silverface Fenders haven't gotten too bad yet in the price department.

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 1:45 pm
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63supro wrote:
Silverface Fenders haven't gotten too bad yet in the price department.


+1

Still some bargains to be had for the careful shopper.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 5:25 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
TimsAudio wrote:
I haven't ever seen a handle problem with the HRDX...

I've seen it countless times and a potentially-catastrophic failure occurred to my rhythm guitarist's 4 x 10 DeVille about fifteen years ago while unloading for a gig. The rubber dogbone handle is inherently flimsy which is why Leo abandoned the design in favor of the steel-reinforced strap handle. Arjay
:shock: I've got two of those dogbones: one on my HRD and another on the BJr. ... Do I need to worry?

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 7:01 pm
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Take a screwdriver and tighten up the handles to make sure they aren't stripped. Then don't worry


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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 5:04 am
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I had mine tear, but not break completely. It was close though. My HRDlx was the most cheaply made amp I ever owned and I've owned quite a few. Just keep an eye on it. Don't get crazy and over-tighten those screws.

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 6:30 am
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63supro wrote:
I had mine tear, but not break completely. It was close though. My HRDlx was the most cheaply made amp I ever owned and I've owned quite a few. Just keep an eye on it. Don't get crazy and over-tighten those screws.
The first thing I did after reading this thread was to tighten the screws. The ones on my BJr. required about 12 turns for "snug" whiles those on the HRD only required a couple. I'm not worried about the screws coming loose but more about the rubber disintegrating or tearing as was the case with your HRD.

What's the alternative to the rubber dog bone?

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Quality control problems
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 6:53 am
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I'm not sure if a standard strap from a Deluxe Reverb would fit. I don't remember if there was enough room to drill through the cabinet without hitting the chassis. That's a good bit of weight for such a lightweight setup. The only thing that's worse is the cheap leather handle on my Egnater Rebel 20 head, but at least that came with a padded bag. :lol:

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