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Post subject: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 11:55 am
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I have a major problem with my Mustang 3 amp. I was having hum problems with my Glen Burton Les Paul copy guitar buzzing/humming loudly with the Mustang 3. First, I turned the amp volume all the way off. The buzzing/humming continued and got real super loud and screaming. Then, I turned off the off switch on the back of the amp, but the amp would not turn off! The amp continued to stay on and make the same noises. I finally had to unplug the amp from the wall. I tried the whole thing over again, and the same problem occurred. Now, when I first turn on the amp, everything seems normal. However, after several minutes of being on, every preset has a similar distorted, fuzz type sound. It's as if there is a spring reverb vibrating type sound on each and every preset, also. When I bought the amp, I did not send in the warranty card, and I eventually disposed of the packaging materials, so I don't know if I could ship the amp back to the company for repairs. I'm really concerned and discouraged with the problems that I am having with this amp. What's wrong? What can be done to fix it? Help, please!


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:27 pm
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In the USA, Fender has a 5 year warranty on the amp. If you are within that time limit, they should repair it even without mailing in the warranty.

Have you tried reloading the firmware?


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 4:53 am
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Quote:
I turned off the off switch on the back of the amp, but the amp would not turn off! The amp continued to stay on and make the same noises. I finally had to unplug the amp from the wall

Clarify what you mean by "the amp continued to stay on" - do the panel lights and LCD stay illuminated, or do they turn off? Does the amp continue to generate sound indefinitely, or does it fade out within a few seconds? If you turn the amp off at the wall (or unplug at the wall) while leaving the amp power-switch on, does that do anything different to turning off the amp power switch?

Quote:
I turned the amp volume all the way off

There are several different volume controls on Mustang amps. Please clarify exactly which one you mean.

Apart from your guitar, is there anything else plugged into the amp - eg the AUX socket, fx-loop sockets, XLR sockets, headphones socket? If so unplug everything and repeat tests.

Quote:
guitar buzzing/humming loudly with the Mustang 3

Does the same thing happen if you plug a different guitar into the Mustang? What if you plug your guitar into a different amp? Does your guitar have active pickups?

Quote:
every preset has a similar distorted, fuzz type sound

Select (or create) a preset with no effects at all, and with a clean amp model (eg Twin Reverb) on low gain setting and with preset volume at 5. Adjust master volume for 'home practice' level. Does the problem occur?

Assuming we can rule out everything else (which is the purpose of the above questions), it sounds to me as though there may be an issue with the power supply and/or power amp in your Mustang. That will be a job for a Fender service centre - who, if your amp is still under warranty, will probably swap the whole amp for a replacement.


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 8:24 am
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Thank you for responding to my questions. The event described occurred twice during the same afternoon, but did not occur again after that time. When the amp started screaming loudly, I tried to turn the amplifier off with the off switch to stop the noise before it would possibly damage the speaker. When I turned the switch off, the noise continued. All the lights, etc. were still on. It was as if I hadn't turned the switch at all. The only thing I could think of doing was to unplug the amp from the wall outlet. After a few minutes, I decided to plug the amp in once again, turn it on, and see what would happen. The same scenario occurred once again. So, I unplugged it and left it off.
Concerning the volume setting, the gain switch was turned low, the volume nob was max, and the master volume setting was at four.
Since these two events have occurred, I have not had this problem again. However, I am concerned that something was damaged when this event occurred. Subsequent to this time, every time I turn on the amp, it initially starts out normal. After a few minutes, however, things start to go bad. I start hearing a sound which is reminiscent of a spring-type reverb vibrato or echo, with each and every preset. Then, when I turn to the distortion-type presets, I get a muddy fuzz type sound, and this sound can be heard on each of the presets.
I bought this amp brand new off ebay last year. I have not abused it in any way and have never played it above the #5 setting on the master volume.
Someone suggested I try doing the firm reset procedure, but I do not know what that is or how to go about doing it. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 8:41 am
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Two things to try. The factory reset, and firmware update. The rest is easy, but you must save your presets with the fuse software on your PC or you'll lose all your custom tweaked presets because it will all go back to factory defaults. Hook it to the pc then under "main menu" then "utilities" choose "backup". This will save all the amps presets just as it is now. Then you can do the reset. Unhook the amp from pc and turn it off. Hold down the exit button while turning the amp on. Continue to hold it down till the button is no longer illuminated. It's now reste, and to get your presets all back hook it to fuse again and go to the same place on the main menu as you did to backup but this time choose "restore".

The other thing you can try is a firmware update. If you never did that theres a good chance the amp is still on firmware 2.1 rather than the newer 2.2. In this forum you will see a sticky near the top with a link to 2.2. Download that firmware and using fuse again go once again to the same place and choose "update firmware". It will guide you thru the rest.

If it continues to do this take it to a repair station for fender and get it fixed under warrant. It may be a power supply issue or something not software/firmware related. But it IS a computer so data glitches are often to blame. Mine did something odd a while back and i reset it and problem solved. And finally, download the manual for it or read the paper one if it came with that. It will tell you how to do this stuff so you don't have to ask and wait for an answer.


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:55 pm
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Thanks to each and every one of you for your input. I did the reset trick and WAHHH-LAAAH- IT'S FIXED!!!! Thank you thank you thank you! I didn't have any customized presets of my own, so didn't have to bother with trying to save, etc.
Next, I need to play with the FUSE program to figure out how to do the firmware thing. My screen is different from what it's supposed to be and I have to just keep experimenting with it until I figure out how to use it.


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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:01 am
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Glad to hear your amp now seems to be ok. But one thing worries me. This:

Quote:
When I turned the switch off, the noise continued. All the lights, etc. were still on. It was as if I hadn't turned the switch at all


sounds definitely like a hardware problem, and would not be fixed by a factory reset.

As for a firmware update, what version number is displayed on the LCD screen when you first turn the amp on? (it's only displayed briefly before the screen changes to show the normal preset display, so make sure you're looking at it as you turn the amp on)


Last edited by scott-uk on Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Problems with Mustang 3 amp
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:18 am
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the power on switch is hardwired to the power supply section of the PCB.
If it did not power off the amp that means you have either a defective switch and/or PCB. It could be intermittent due to temperature fluctuations and vibrations. Intermittent failures likes normally do not go away for ever, just go to sleep to hit you back at the worst possible moment. If you can, bring it to a fender service shop.


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