SVT-CL failure

wilbur88 · #1 12-12-2010, 06:01 PM

Toward the end of rehearsal today, my amp dies. No signal. I looked over at it, and the failure light on the front panel was flashing green/red. So, I turned it off, left it about 2-3 mins and turned it back on again. It worked fine after that, but it did seem to be running hot - you know that smell?

Does anyone have any ideas? It's a near new model, so I'm really surprised.

An observation that may or may not be related - I looked around the back when I turned it back on - there are 2 sets of bias lights on the back panel - green/red. The left one was glowing green permanently, and the two red lights would light up when I played a note.

Thanks,
Terry

Mr. Foxen · #2 12-12-2010, 06:35 PM

Under warranty? If not, get it looked at. No point risking your gig and your safety with a half working amp. If it is in warranty, get on it right away.

wilbur88 · #3 12-12-2010, 06:41 PM

Thanks - I've got some gigs coming up this weekend so I can't do without it. I'll see if they can loan me a decent head. I am guessing after reading the manual it is a bias setting issue, so I'll try that first.

Superdave · #4 12-12-2010, 06:43 PM

You either blew a tube or have a busted Bias control. This happened to mine over summer; the issue was a bad circuit which was blowing the tubes. Take it to get looked at.

anonymous02282011 · #5 12-12-2010, 06:45 PM

If you smelled something burning you (or someone) probably needs to get inside the amp to fix whatever went wrong.

Just a wild guess . ..

Jim C · #6 12-12-2010, 07:23 PM

It could be a number of items; impossible to diagnose with limited information over the internet; the suggestion to take it in for waranty and ask for a loaner or borrow a head is the best solution IMO.

wilbur88 · #7 12-12-2010, 07:28 PM

Thanks guys. The smell wasn't a burning smell, just smelt like it was running really hot. I'll try the bias first.

Jim C · #8 12-12-2010, 08:16 PM

Good luck Terry, but it seems like bad judgement to think that an amp that normally works fine, quits due to a bias adjustment that suddenly drifted off course, will be fixed by turning a trim pot. Hope I'm wrong although you could make the problem worse.

Jerrold Tiers · #9 12-12-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Good luck Terry, but it seems like bad judgement to think that an amp that normally works fine, quits due to a bias adjustment that suddenly drifted off course, will be fixed by turning a trim pot. Hope I'm wrong although you could make the problem worse.

+1......... it's pretty suspicious.

Could be a bad tube..... with the QC on tubes these days, infant failure is certainly possible.

Did you happen to look around back? If anything was glowing red other than the filament in the middle, that would be a bad sign. if the outer part of the tube innards (normally the "plate") is glowing red, that would be a very good time to turn the power switch OFF..................

wilbur88 · #10 12-12-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerrold Tiers

+1......... it's pretty suspicious.

Could be a bad tube..... with the QC on tubes these days, infant failure is certainly possible.

Did you happen to look around back? If anything was glowing red other than the filament in the middle, that would be a bad sign. if the outer part of the tube innards (normally the "plate") is glowing red, that would be a very good time to turn the power switch OFF..................

Thanks. The tubes seemed to be glowing as they should. I've been reading the manual, and the bias section suggests that unless I have 2 green lights glowing, then the amp is over biased. Should red lights on the back panel glow when playing notes?

Jerrold Tiers · #11 12-12-2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilbur88

Should red lights on the back panel glow when playing notes?

What happens when playing is of no importance, lights -wise. it's only the lights when no signal is going in that matters.

wilbur88 · #12 12-12-2010, 09:05 PM

I've rung the dealer. The amp is 5 months old and they can't tell me when it can be looked at because of the Christmas break, and can't loan me a head either. No use at all. Why did I buy a new one?

**Lazarus.Bird** · #13 12-12-2010, 09:16 PM

If you don't have a backup head or have someone who can loan you one, look for a Peavey Mark amp on your local CL/stores. I picked up a Mark VIII for $100 and it's 1200 watts of great solid state power. Awesome backup head.

JimmyM · #14 12-12-2010, 09:21 PM

call ampeg tech support tomorrow. maybe they can light a fire under this dealer or help you diagnose it yourself and square you away.

wilbur88 · #15 12-12-2010, 09:22 PM

I do have an small Eden head, which will have to do I suppose. I'm in Australia by the way - should have mentioned that earlier.

Jim C · #16 12-12-2010, 09:46 PM

Good luck, mate.
Here's to hoping it gets resolved quickly and without much fuss.
Also, if the gigs are important, the amp will certainly fail without warning.
If the gigs aren't that stellar, the Eden will be fine; win/win, no?

JimmyM · #17 12-12-2010, 09:55 PM

ampeg's distributor in australia:

Musiclink Australia Pvt. Ltd.
GENERAL CONTACT
29, South Corporate Ave
Rowville 3178, Melbourne, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9765 6530
Web: www.musiclink.com.au
Email: peterm@musiclink.com.au
Contact: Peter Murnane

or try technicalsupport@loudtechinc.com .

wilbur88 · #18 12-12-2010, 10:32 PM

Thanks so much Jimmy. On the phone to them now!

wilbur88 · #19 12-13-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Good luck, mate.
Here's to hoping it gets resolved quickly and without much fuss.
Also, if the gigs are important, the amp will certainly fail without warning.
If the gigs aren't that stellar, the Eden will be fine; win/win, no?

Thanks Jim - makes perfect sense!

Floyd Eye · #20 12-13-2010, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

If you don't have a backup head or have someone who can loan you one, look for a Peavey Mark amp on your local CL/stores. I picked up a Mark VIII for $100 and it's 1200 watts of great solid state power. Awesome backup head.

Those are 600 watts @ 2 ohms.

My back up is a Mark VI, which is 400 watts. It's a great sounding head. It is underpowered though. They regularly sell for about $150 though and if you have PA support it's fine.