Amp cutting out. Dealer not helping!

ddpaulbell · #1 08-17-2011, 12:23 PM

My Acoustic B2C combo is having intermittent issues. The pots were scratchy so I sprayed them with WD/40. That's fixed. Sometime there is static and no sound, static and very little sound, no sound of any kind. I bypassed the preamp, plugged a mixer into the power amp and no problem. I have a long rehearsal and 2 performances at the county fair this weekend. I do not need it going out during them.

Is there anything I can look for and possibly repair myself? I bought it 3 weeks ago with a 30 day warranty. I brought it in last Friday. 6 days later and it hasn't been touched. I told them I need it back by this Thursday when I dropped it off. They were told to pull the repair tag so I can pick it up. I said I'll bring it back in next Monday. The kid on the phone said that's fine if it hasn't been over 30 days. I may ask the manager if I can have have something else since they didn't do what they said they would.

username1 · #2 08-17-2011, 12:33 PM

You could try running a short patch cable between the effects in and out jacks. If it works good this way it means the problem is in those jacks. Alot of new amps seem to have this problem lately and i would assume its from being shipped overseas over salt water and the jacks getting corroded in transport.

JTE · #3 08-17-2011, 12:49 PM

Well, don't use WD-40 on electronics. It'll just attract dust and grit and eventually kill it. Only use real electronics contact cleaner, like DeOxit. Get a can of that stuff, spray it on a 1/4" plug (the male end is the plug, the jack is the female end) and plug/unplug it from the effects send and effects return. Those jacks are generally switching jacks and dirt can build up on them.

For more trouble shooting, try running the pre-amp into another power amp. If the pre works just fine by itself, and the power amp works just fine by itself, then the issue in the the wiring between them, and I'd bet that it's due to FX jacks.

John

ddpaulbell · #4 08-17-2011, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username1

You could try running a short patch cable between the effects in and out jacks. If it works good this way it means the problem is in those jacks. Alot of new amps seem to have this problem lately and i would assume its from being shipped overseas over salt water and the jacks getting corroded in transport.

I didn't think until a little while ago to run a cable between the preamp out and the power amp input. I will try that when I get it back tomorrow.

It's not a new Chinese made one. It was made in the USA in the late eighties.

ddpaulbell · #5 08-17-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Well, don't use WD-40 on electronics. It'll just attract dust and grit and eventually kill it. Only use real electronics contact cleaner, like DeOxit. Get a can of that stuff, spray it on a 1/4" plug (the male end is the plug, the jack is the female end) and plug/unplug it from the effects send and effects return. Those jacks are generally switching jacks and dirt can build up on them.

For more trouble shooting, try running the pre-amp into another power amp. If the pre works just fine by itself, and the power amp works just fine by itself, then the issue in the the wiring between them, and I'd bet that it's due to FX jacks.

John

I will never use WD/40 again. I will get proper cleaner.
If bypassing the effects jack helps will it hurt to keep doing that by running a cable preamp out to power amp in?

RickenBoogie · #6 08-17-2011, 01:17 PM

No, it's not a problem at all.

Sundogue · #7 08-17-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddpaulbell

I will never use WD/40 again. I will get proper cleaner.
If bypassing the effects jack helps will it hurt to keep doing that by running a cable preamp out to power amp in?

Just a note on WD-40. Even the inventor of it himself said "it will cause rust". It was meant to loosen rusted parts, but afterwards those parts needed to be cleaned, dried and lubricated.

I'll second it...NEVER use WD-40 on electronics. You may want to open it up and clean the parts you sprayed.

ddpaulbell · #8 08-17-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Just a note on WD-40. Even the inventor of it himself said "it will cause rust". It was meant to loosen rusted parts, but afterwards those parts needed to be cleaned, dried and lubricated.

I'll second it...NEVER use WD-40 on electronics. You may want to open it up and clean the parts you sprayed.

I am going to get some CRC contact cleaner and spray the pots again. The problem was happening before I sprayed WD/40.

WannaJazz · #9 08-17-2011, 02:57 PM

DeoxIT® D-Series

bertbass666 · #10 08-17-2011, 03:14 PM

Had the same problem with a Marshall VBA400. Hard wired the effects loop and that fault solved. I had other problems with it over time though.

wcriley · #11 08-17-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Just a note on WD-40. Even the inventor of it himself said "it will cause rust". It was meant to loosen rusted parts, but afterwards those parts needed to be cleaned, dried and lubricated.

Are you sure you're not thinking of products such as Liquid Wrench? I've never had that experience with WD-40.

I've always read that WD-40 was delveloped for the US military for Water Displacement. It was the 40th formula tested, hence it's name. It's lubricating properties were a side benefit.

Old time auto mechanics would use it dry out cracked spark plug wires and distributor caps.

JTE · #12 08-17-2011, 04:14 PM

WD-40 is a nice solvent, but it's not an electrical contact cleaner, nor is it a lubricant that's any good for this use.

John

ddpaulbell · #13 08-17-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertbass666

Had the same problem with a Marshall VBA400. Hard wired the effects loop and that fault solved. I had other problems with it over time though.

In the interim I will run a cable through the effects loop jacks to test it. Thanks to help here I know running a cable from preamp out to power amp in will work if the effects loop connections are bad. If that fails I'll use a small mixer as a preamp. I'd rather not since I won't have eq. But I do have options. I only paid $149 for the amp. I think I got a good deal. It puts out some meat. Just not below 60hz or so.

**B-string** · #14 08-17-2011, 10:39 PM

The bad news with WD-40 and why I like to "shout" NO WD-40 is can destroy conductive plastic controls. It may be too late for your pots, they may already need to be replaced. Old controls were wire-wound or carbon, lots of newer controls use conductive plastic instead.

johnk_10 · #15 08-17-2011, 10:45 PM

i'd suggest getting a 'plastic-safe' (even though your pots are probably the non-conductive plastic type) zero residue contact cleaner and spraying/washing them first to remove the wd40, left them fully dry, and then giving them a tiny shot of caig deoxit gold.

IME, WD40 leaves a thick residue that it hard to remove when it dries out.

**B-string** · #16 08-17-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i'd suggest getting a 'plastic-safe' (even though your pots are probably the non-conductive plastic type) zero residue contact cleaner and spraying/washing them first to remove the wd40, left them fully dry, and then giving them a tiny shot of caig deoxit gold.

IME, WD40 leaves a thick residue that it hard to remove when it deries out.

It does that too

Sorry John had to......

johnk_10 · #17 08-17-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

It does that too

Sorry John had to......

Benton · #18 08-18-2011, 06:52 AM

No WD40 on guitars. It ruins electronics, seems to melt plastic and destroys pots. It also leaves green sh$& when it dries. My uncle who repairs clocks charges 100$ extra if you put it on a clock. It works great for cleaning a dirt bike but keep away from guitars.

bassgod0dmw · #19 08-18-2011, 07:20 AM

If I were in your situation, I'd simply return it and purchase from another dealer. You shouldn't have to worry about fixing a brand new amp.

ddpaulbell · #20 08-18-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

If I were in your situation, I'd simply return it and purchase from another dealer. You shouldn't have to worry about fixing a brand new amp.

It is over 20 years old. It does have a 30 day warranty. I'm going to pick it up today. I will ask if they can let me swap it out for something else. Their exchange policy is only 7 days though. Being that they did have it for 6 days to repair it and never touched it I hope they will treat me right.

They only thing the same price would be a Peavey Centurion 200 head with a Carvin 2x15. I played it for a while. Non boomy tone, No noise. I've read that those old Peavey heads are very reliable and easy to repair. The 2x15 would be good to upgrade the speakers and use with a more powerful head. The price is $159 for both.