What are these things?

LarryR · #1 08-09-2010, 03:23 PM

got an Ashdown ABM500 EVO. Its INPUT pot was scratchy. Time to clean this baby. Done this procedure many times on many amps. Pop the chassis, spray pots with hi-grade contact cleaner, twist pots, button'er up...good for another year.

THIS time however, I notice 2 metal clips appear after I slid the chassis out. No idea where these go. The amp works fine fwiw. Anyone what these are?

**mikeddd** · #2 08-09-2010, 05:07 PM

When this sort of thing happens to me (random piece/part/thing falls out of bigger thing while opening it up/disassembling) I usually "logic it out."

They are small pieces of metal.
Gears, cogs, levers or springs? NO. Not likely that they join/fit between "two things"

Do they have holes in either end? NO. They are not "mounting ears" of some kind.

They might be spacers. Do they have markings on them that show they were sandwiched b/t two other pieces? NO. Likely not spacers of some kind.

The two pieces are different sizes but they are uniform in size. Could they be "knockouts" (like an electrical box) from switch openings in a front panel or mounting points for cabinet feet/handles/other hardware? HIGHLY LIKELY BASED ON ALL THE ABOVE.

That's my take on it. Props to you for putting a dime in the picture for size reference.

ps
They might be "fingers" from the edges of the chassis (think fluted edges), designed to keep two parts of the chassis grounded to each other and/or shielding to keep RFI/EMI in/out.

LarryR · #3 08-09-2010, 05:22 PM

Nice response. Thanks Mike.
Let's hope they're knockouts.
Gotta gig tonite at a club I've played before.
We'll see how she performs. Thanks again.

**mikeddd** · #4 08-10-2010, 04:09 AM

You're welcome, LarryR. Let us know how the amp performs at the gig.

dbase · #5 08-10-2010, 05:50 AM

Just a long shot here.. could they be part of the two input recepticles? there are two input plugs and two metal pieces. When you plug in your bass the tip of the cable plug use to slide up against these pieces? They might have broke off after years of use. The tip of your bass cable might still be making contact. Just sayin.

Bassdirty · #6 08-10-2010, 06:03 AM

Yeah, they definately look like they're "punched " out of a piece of steel...may have just been left in there all this time.

I'd take another look inside to see if theres any rectangle shaped holes in the unit somewhere..they prolly punched em out during assembly..maybe didnt come out all the way till now....sort of a `hanging chad` if you will.

silvertones · #7 08-10-2010, 06:04 AM

Pieces of metal punched out of the chassis left in there to short something out after the amp is out of warranty.

Popps · #8 08-10-2010, 06:13 AM

You might want to open it up again and see if there are anymore, they could cause an ugly dead short.

cnltb · #9 08-10-2010, 06:29 AM

I'd make sure and ask the manufacturer directly.

gastric · #10 08-10-2010, 06:46 AM

Send the photo to Ashdown, they should know.