Hi, I currently have a Fender Pro 185 Solid State red knob amp bought used a year ago. I am very impressed with it's sound & flexibility (controls + channel mix, etc.). For playing rhythm with my new Stat and old Lead 2 guitars, it is great especially with its thick lows and bounce very similar to a tube amp about 70%. I have played other tube Fenders like Twin, Vibrolux & Super Reverbs and loved their sound.

It seems to me that solid state amps are way too sensitve to any electrical outlet problems like surges, spikes, line noise, bad grounding, short circuits in an old building's wiring, etc. I often am very frustrated when my amp many times sounds so crappy, thin, no highs, lifeless & nastily distorted, even sounding like half the amp is working against me!!!

Even worse sounding when a bass amp is played nearby, seems that the bass amp sucks whatever current going to my amp. I also have a Peavey Bandit transtube with the same problems. I would just leave the amp unplugged from outlet for a day and would notice an improvement.

Is it me going crazy? Has anyone else gone through this? Is there a way to remedy this problem?
Should I buy an equipment to fix the electrical problem?

How old is the service panel at your house? Did you have a room addition
put in?

Sounds like a house wiring problem to me.

Hmmm its a cast iron fact mains supply is an issue for hi fi stuff

like amps and dacs but although guitar amps should be less affected

it sounds like a wiring check may be in order. Conditioners may help

but there are loads of other things to look at first.

Have you tried it plugged into other outlets in the house?

If it is plugged into the same circuit as major appliances (TV's, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, etc.) you will have those issues.

I had a dedicated circuit put into my house just for my amps/guitar gear.

_________________
Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.