It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:25 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:07 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:24 am
Posts: 4
Hi,

I am using a Mustang I (must be V1, the model type is listed as PR824) for 1,5 years now.

In the last months I experience a strange effect : the guitar sound got dull and flat
(hard to describe, my first impression was that I am listening to music with a defect bass box), it sounds like there is no real distortion and no depth.

I haven't changed the presets (using the same 2-3 presets every time) between playing,
my guitar is tuned, amp is set at vol 2-3, and this just started one day after switching on the amp.

To find the error I
-changed strings
-switched between pickups (neck / bridge),
-changed the instrument cable
-made a factory reset of the amp
-updated the firmware
-> no effect.

I picked up everything and went to the music shop where I bought my guitar and amp,
plugged everything in, tuned the guitar => everything is fine (I made a funny face).

At home everything is still fine .. and has been fine for 6 weeks.
Now this effect is back and starts to annoy me badly.

Of course I can pick up my gear, drive it around for a while and hope that whatever
magically heals it (weak soldering point ?) will happen again but honestly that
can't be it.

I tried my guitar at another amp and it sounds good, I am almost sure it is not the guitar.

Has anyone experienced the same ?
Any ideas ?

As an afterthought - I have almost the same effect at the headphone out.
It sounds like there is no cabinet simulation at all.
I tried 4 different headphones (from 4-120 Euro) and they all have the same dull sound, like a whole sound spectrum is missing.
Gave up on that eventually ...

Best regards
Docwaggon


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:26 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:37 am
Posts: 4099
Location: New York
if it's 1-5 years old, it might still be under warranty .... are you in the United States? Do you know anybody who has a different guitar they can plug in just to rule out your guitar for sure?

_________________
Please subscribe to my Image Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/user/b7567


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:38 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
For the main problem, if physically moving the amp around temporarily cures the dull sound, I wonder if something inside (eg cabinet baffle material) is intermittently pressing against the speaker cone and damping its movement?

It seems unlikely to be a software/DSP issue, and it doesn't sound the sort of symptom you'd get from a faulty electrical joint.

Can't comment on the headphones; not sure if you're saying they've changed too, or that you've only tested with those since the main problem started?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:57 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:24 am
Posts: 4
Sorry for the late reply.
I just noticed that my mail service classifies fender forum notices as spam so I did not check for replies because I relied on the "notice me when there is a reply" feature and thought no one answered.

strings10927 wrote:
if it's 1-5 years old, it might still be under warranty .... are you in the United States? Do you know anybody who has a different guitar they can plug in just to rule out your guitar for sure?

yes, it is only 1 1/2 years old, so I will be talking to my dealer again when the problem is there.
After trying around for 5 days the sound is ok again. Didn't do a thing except switching it on ..
Next time it's there I will take it to my dealer asap in hope that I can show them what I mean.

scott-uk wrote:
For the main problem, if physically moving the amp around temporarily cures the dull sound, I wonder if something inside (eg cabinet baffle material) is intermittently pressing against the speaker cone and damping its movement?

that's a good idea, it really sounds like the speaker can not work in the full range.

At what level is your speaker doing well ?
I can play only at volume 2-3 max and below 2 the speaker is just not working well.

scott-uk wrote:
Can't comment on the headphones; not sure if you're saying they've changed too, or that you've only tested with those since the main problem started?

I tried them when I got the amp and since I wasn't satisfied I never tried again.
So I don't know if the headphones got worse or not.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:35 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:15 am
Posts: 300
I'm hesitant to say my MIII does this.. but sometimes I really think it does.

I've wondered if it's due to playing on a preset one night with guitar tones just so ...
then playing the next night on a different preset, while still being on previous night's pickup selection and tone.

I've also wondered if the amp is faulty.
It's not that bad for me but when it happens it's like .. oh where's the sparkle gone..

I also wonder if it's my ears.. but I don't think it is.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:21 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2012 12:11 am
Posts: 299
I've noticed there's a significant difference in the sound you perceive coming from the Mustang III and IV based on where you might be standing in relation to the amp and where the amp is positioned. This is true of most amps to some degree, but I think because of the wide open back design of the Mustang it's more prominent than most.

To really hear the true tone of the amp you pretty much need to be at least 4 feet in front of the amp with the amp angled so your ears are in a direct line of sight with the speaker cone. What's behind the amp can be a factor as well. I try to position the amp so it's fairly close to a wall to better reflect the sound coming from the rear. None of this really affects what the audience hears as they're far enough away to not be affected by these differences, and mic'ing the amp properly overcomes these issues anyway.

I don't know if this is what you're hearing, but that's the only thing I can think of that might be having this type of affect.

_________________
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Gibson 335
Gretsch G5420T
Fender American Strat
Martin GPCPA1 Plus Grand Performer
Fender Mustang IV v.2


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:03 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:15 am
Posts: 300
No - certainly not how I'm sitting in relation to amp - it's always the same sitting pattern for me and moving makes no difference.
It could be my pickups at fault..


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:52 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:24 am
Posts: 4
the mustang I has a closed back (at least the housing is closed).

the position of my amp changes slightly but not that much and due to the smaller speaker it might have an effect of not directly sitting in the sound cone but testing it right now I don't hear that much of a difference.

At least not the effect that I mean.

I always play on the same pickup and tone is always fully open.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang I (PR824) - suddenly sounds dull
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 11:50 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:24 am
Posts: 4
and there it is again.

when it works it's great with all the sound I would like to have but right now it is always
a 'will it be ok today ?' experience when switching on the amp.

i don't like this amp any more.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

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: