Ampeg SVT CL Fuse/Electrical Problems, Please Help!

depthman6 · #1 12-30-2011, 05:03 PM

Hey everybody I recently got an Ampeg SVT-CL head. However, within 10 minutes of playing it, all sound went away but the amp remained on. I then powered the amp off, waited a bit, and turned it back on. While switching the polarity (which should have no effect on anything, really) the fuse blew.

I have gotten 5 replacement fuses. I tried 3 of them in the back room of my garage, and the amp successfully goes on standby, but as soon as I allow more voltage to the tubes (i.e. turn it off standby) the fuse immediately blows. I tried 1 more fuse inside my house (in case of an issue of dirty power), and it too blew as soon as i turned standby off. I really need help! Any suggestions, DIY advice, or just advice on ways to get it fixed are greatly appreciated! Thanks so much, I really want to play through this head ):

Jerrold Tiers · #2 12-30-2011, 11:46 PM

My best advice is that you take it to a good technician with tube experience.

I can see nothing useful to say about the fairly large number of possible problems that could cause what you describe. At least probably nothing you can do yourself. it is possible that you might find a bad tube by various testing, but since other parts may have also gone bad as a result, a tech is best.

You have done what you could, and now it is time to stop putting in fuses and get it checked out.

depthman6 · #3 12-31-2011, 09:30 AM

I am pretty mad that it would break like that.... Within ten minutes of setup BRAND NEW.... I can't say I'm impressed at all by ampeg

JimmyM · #4 12-31-2011, 09:44 AM

Well if it's brand new, take advantage of the warranty.

Jerrold Tiers · #5 12-31-2011, 10:03 AM

If it IS new (I assumed it was used, since you were asking about DIY fixing) don't even do warranty... ask for another one.... do it NOW, because the exchange deal may not be for very long, after that it may be a "fix it" deal.

Stuff happens.... I cut Loud very little slack, a holdover from the Jamie Engen fiasco and his near-destruction of Loud along with Ampeg etc, but you have no clue what shipping to the dealer (or to you) may have done. Or maybe someone "over there" had bad rice for breakfast.... who knows?

It's a fact that Loud probably has little real control over quality, nobody who does not use virtually all of the Contract Manufacturer's capacity CAN really control them. All you have is the reputation and honor of the CM to go on.

depthman6 · #6 12-31-2011, 12:02 PM

It's brand new, it's just that shipping everything back to ampeg etc. takes FOREVER

**B-string** · #7 12-31-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by depthman6

It's brand new, it's just that shipping everything back to ampeg etc. takes FOREVER

I don't intend to sound jerky here, but you would rather poke around in the amp and void your warranty? Which has more value: 1) The money you spent to buy the amp. 2) The time it takes to get it exchanged.
Stuff happens, when you buy new you at least have the warranty to protect your investment.

depthman6 · #8 12-31-2011, 12:20 PM

I totally get what you're saying here. It's just frustrating that an amp i have been waiting for for a long time decided to work for a total of 10 minutes :/

Thanks for all the replies though! I love how helpful and experienced people are around here...

RickenBoogie · #9 12-31-2011, 01:21 PM

Yes, stuff does happen, and there's really nothing left to do except use the warranty and exchange it for a working amp.

**B-string** · #10 12-31-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by depthman6

I totally get what you're saying here. It's just frustrating that an amp i have been waiting for for a long time decided to work for a total of 10 minutes :/

Thanks for all the replies though! I love how helpful and experienced people are around here...

I understand you drew the bad luck and that sucks!

So many things can happen to any new tube or SS amp. I try not to buy Panasonic electrolytic caps as they have a higher failure rate under higher voltage stress. After doing a "cap job" I stress the amp with higher line voltage for a period of time to weed out weak caps, too many Panasonics pop. Nichicon hardly ever pop, but some have. That is why new amps have a warranty.

depthman6 · #11 12-31-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yes, stuff does happen, and there's really nothing left to do except use the warranty and exchange it for a working amp.

How do you go about exchanging your amp for a working one rather than just servicing the amp to attempt to fix it? Are both under warranty?

**B-string** · #12 12-31-2011, 01:58 PM

Contact the selling dealer or Ampeg customer service. Many times a new exchange will be sent out with a "will call" tag (company pays shipping costs) for the defective pickup.