SVT4-PRO signal drops

Bloomyleo · #1 12-20-2010, 03:39 PM

I have been having some bizarre signal drops during performances. It's as if someone has cut my volume from 7 to 2. It seems to be related to how hard I push the amp. You might think this is by design, but it has been getting worse and worse over the course of the last year. I've swapped to tubes out twice. I removed the head from a touring case that, I might add, was designed for this model. Any suggestions would be great. I'm trying to avoid what will likely be a long and expensive Ampeg repair.

bass12 · #2 12-20-2010, 03:44 PM

How old is the amp?

Bloomyleo · #3 12-20-2010, 03:51 PM

It's about 4 years old. It has been on the road a bit.

bass12 · #4 12-20-2010, 04:00 PM

If your amp gets transported a lot there's a good chance that something has come loose. It shouldn't cost too much to have the amp looked at by a qualified tech and the problem might be an easy fix.

JimmyM · #5 12-20-2010, 10:30 PM

4 years old means it's still got a year left on the warranty, right? good idea to get it fixed sooner than later. probably not a major thing, but you should get it fixed asap to prevent anything worse happening. and, of course, before the warranty runs out.

Bloomyleo · #6 12-21-2010, 08:26 AM

I'll try to get a hold of the monkeys at Ampeg and see what my options are. About a year ago, when this issue first reared it's head (no pun intended) I took it to Corner Music, a reputable shop here in sunny Nashville, Tn. The doc had it up on the lift for a week and, naturally, couldn't reproduce the issue. Ho-hum.

buzzbass · #7 12-21-2010, 09:41 AM

do you use the onboard compressor at all ?

jnewmark · #8 12-21-2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbass

do you use the onboard compressor at all ?

Funny you should mention an onboard compressor. Although it was'nt this amp, but my Roland DB700 combo, that did this one night. Volume dropped, and , at the end of the set, I noticed that I had my compressor turned up alot further then I usually did. It was like the compressor got stuck, and would'nt let go ! Turned it down, and then it was ok.

buzzbass · #9 12-21-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Funny you should mention an onboard compressor. Although it was'nt this amp, but my Roland DB700 combo, that did this one night. Volume dropped, and , at the end of the set, I noticed that I had my compressor turned up alot further then I usually did. It was like the compressor got stuck, and would'nt let go ! Turned it down, and then it was ok.

well, the only good setting for this compressor is off.

Bloomyleo · #10 12-21-2010, 10:22 AM

I keep it off, but his gives me a new angle on the issue.

JimmyM · #11 12-21-2010, 10:33 AM

just thought of something...a lot of amps with effects loops will get corrosion in the jacks that can cause stuff like this to happen if you don't use the loop. if you have some contact cleaner, try spraying it in the jacks, then plug and unplug a cord into it several times. if it works, swell...if not, eh, they probably needed it anyway.