Amp Fire!!!

RangeMaster · #1 05-04-2011, 05:17 PM

Hi All,

I just joined today and posted in the welcome section. As the title says, I recently suffered from an amp fire! I am not, not, not slamming Carvin...their customer service was EXCELLENT!!! If there are any Carvin employees here, I appreciate a company that works with the customer...thanks.

ANYWAY...I got my replacement BX1500 today, and am too paranoid to plug it in and fire it up. I'm 99.9% sure everything was set properly...active switch-OFF, bridged light-OFF, x-over-OFF. Speakon cable in output 1 (and only in output 1) into Avatar TB153. 10 minutes later...all the smoke leaked out of the amp...that's how electricity works, right?

Is there anything you can think of that I might have missed? I'm so gun-shy right now...I need someone to talk me down. Thanks.

John Wentzien · #2 05-04-2011, 05:19 PM

YouTube - Johnny Winter - burning amplifier - End of Vienna Concert

RickenBoogie · #3 05-04-2011, 05:25 PM

too paranoid to plug it in and fire it up

That's funny, sorry. You should be alright, give it a go.

lowsideonacurve · #4 05-04-2011, 05:30 PM

Welcome to the forum.

I really don't have any advice for getting over your gun-shyness other than make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy

If Carvin reads this, I'm sure they're wishing you didn't have internet access

I'd be willing to bet they made sure the replacement amp went through QC at least twice.

Plug it in and crank it up!

RangeMaster · #5 05-04-2011, 05:38 PM

Fire it up...yeah, I missed that...good catch. Wow, Johnny rivers is one cool cat! I don't think he even batted an eye.

OK, I'm going to plug it in, say a prayer, and flip the switch. Thanks All

BigOldHarry · #6 05-04-2011, 05:39 PM

heh heh... fire... heh heh...

bobcruz · #7 05-05-2011, 02:46 PM

Time to start a Smokin' Amps club? Here's my entry:

YouTube - Smokin Amp.wmv

jackcheez · #8 05-05-2011, 04:00 PM

I wish I had film of the 1000 RB I had some years back.

Sparks, flames, smoke, resulting in what was later refered to as severe chassis damage.

After GK fixed it, it worked just fine for years until I sold it and last I heard it is still a workhorse.

You should be fine. Plug that amp in and go.

Calaverasgrande · #9 05-05-2011, 04:07 PM

I did that to my first amp. Fender Musicmaster? IIRC. Smoke flames etc.
Ditto the next amp, Kustom PA head.

anderbass · #10 05-05-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangeMaster

Wow, Johnny rivers is one cool cat!

Could be, but Johnny Winter sure was in that video...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcruz

Time to start a Smokin' Amps club?

I tried to smoke mine but I couldn't keep the dam thing lit, and I wasn't sure what end to toke of of anyway

will33 · #11 05-05-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anderbass

I tried to smoke mine but I couldn't keep the dam thing lit, and I wasn't sure what end to toke off of anyway

Yeah, I had to keep licking mine to keep it from runnin' but then it got so resined up it wouldn't stay lit.

OP, nothing to worry about. If you're that damn nervous, use a pencil or something to flip the switch from off to on. (do people still use pencils?).

I take it this is a warranty return, got a bum unit? Check all your connections coming in and speaker cables going out, etc. Make sure there's not a short anywhere.