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Post subject: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:50 pm
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I purchased a new Hot Rod IV at Guitar Center (Natick, MA) two weeks ago. My band played a gig Friday night, and amp died in middle of our set. Got it home, and it plays at an extremely low volume - unresponsive to volume control. Could be tube blow, but I'm not sure.

It's still w/in both Fender warranty period and GC 45 day return period.

What should I do? I'd rather just return it to GC and buy another one, rather than have GC ship it to some Fender repair shop. If I do the later, it will take who-knows-how-long to repair, even if it's only a tube replace. This GC does not do amp repairs, so I doubt they can fix it on site. But: will GC even accept return, since the amp is now defective? Or will they insist I go through warranty process?

What's my best course of action? Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:26 pm
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You are still within the store return period, I would return it as defective.
Every manufacturer has products that suffer "infantile" failure due to some issue with production quality. It's generally a small percentage, but even if the "acceptable" failure rate is 2-3%, it sucks to be one of those 2 or 3 people out of 100 who got the bad one.

I would suspect that, while you may have a bad tube, it's more likely a bad solder joint that vibrated and opened during the set. It could be something as simple as an interconnecting wire/ribbon cable that wasn't plugged in securely and fell out.
One is a simple repair that will take 30 seconds to find and fix, the other could take hours.

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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:52 pm
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"Infantile failure" - good term. I purchased this amp the week after Fender announced it at NAMM. I figured it was one of the first in the country put on the floor of a GC, and the thought that I might experience infantile failure did cross my mind. Thanks, hoping GC will take it back without a problem - I suppose they could say, "hey, you must have dropped this off the truck, that's why it's busted. We're not taking it back, but we'll send it in under warranty for repair." Then I'll lose it for, who knows how long.


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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:19 pm
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gesmer wrote:
I purchased a new Hot Rod IV at Guitar Center (Natick, MA) two weeks ago. My band played a gig Friday night, and amp died in middle of our set. Got it home, and it plays at an extremely low volume - unresponsive to volume control. Could be tube blow, but I'm not sure.

It's still w/in both Fender warranty period and GC 45 day return period.

What should I do? I'd rather just return it to GC and buy another one, rather than have GC ship it to some Fender repair shop. If I do the later, it will take who-knows-how-long to repair, even if it's only a tube replace. This GC does not do amp repairs, so I doubt they can fix it on site. But: will GC even accept return, since the amp is now defective? Or will they insist I go through warranty process?

What's my best course of action? Thanks!



Call (508) 655-6525 and speak to the manager. Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:52 pm
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You have probably made your decision, but on the chance you haven’t yet I’ll say both CB91710 and Miami Mike have steered you in the right direction. I’ll add the following.

Not that you should, but if you do get a repair whether on your terms or theirs, perhaps, you can get a loaner to hold you over.

Funny how things work. You spend tens of thousands of dollars for a car and, as I have been through the process, returning a lemon for even an exchange can be dicey. Now that’s an experience that's usually unsatisfactory.

Also, keep the faith because these things can happen to any amp regardless of the cost or build. Some are more prone than others history shows, but even the best can have an issue. Repetitive failures are another matter, however.

Let us know how you make out and best of luck.

FSB

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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:04 pm
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I did return this amp to GC back in February. I've been using another in since then, but I'm prepared to go back to GC and try again. But, I'm wondering whether people on this forum have seen/heard of similar problems with the new Hotrod IV. I don't want a repeat experience, and if the word is that this amp is not well manufactured, I'll just go with a different amp. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:18 am
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Personally, I would return it for a cash or debit refund and count the experience as a lesson learned.
My own opinion about amplifiers is not a popular one on these pages.
I have little or no use for many of the popular amplifiers being sold today.
If I had my way, everyone not playing a vintage Fender amp would be using a Tone Master or a Dual Professional or a VibroKing or a '63 VibroVerbRI.

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Post subject: Re: New Hot Rod IV Died After 2 Weeks - What To Do?
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:40 am
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based on some of what I've read these days about new Fender amps, I'd see how an equivalent (the new re-voiced) Marshall DSL would work out.


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