Amp Gone Bad...

[Crash 56]

Fellow bassophiles,
My Orange terror 500 has always been a great amp, since I got it five or six years ago. It hasn't seen heavy use, I just have taken it out when I want a lighter alternative to my heavier amps. Last night at practice, the gain went wonky, the volume jumped up to an unuseable level, even with the gain nearly off, and then a minute later the amp cut out altogether. Does anyone have any ideas of something I can do about this? Or do I need to send it to the authorised repair facility on the other side of the state?
Any help would be appreciated!

 

[DuncanF]

Similar uncontrollable volume experience on my old Hartke 140 amp in a 1415 combo.

I found the main reservoir caps were shot (bulging). A couple of quid to buy new ones of same capacity/voltage rating and 10 minutes to replace.

If you know your way round a soldering iron it's definitely something you can do yourself.

 

[Crash 56]

Thanks, Duncan, I may try that since the amp is past warranty. Any other Orange users had an experience like this?

 

[CL400Peavey]

Thanks, Duncan, I may try that since the amp is past warranty. Any other Orange users had an experience like this?

Contact Orange. They have been really great in their service.

 

[Crash 56]

That was the first thing I tried, but the MRB page on the orange site doesn't seem to want to let me complete it... I will try again, maybe look for a phone number..

 

[waltdogg]

Umm, change your pre-amp tubes?

 

[B-string]

Be sure to give them your S/N. Some of those had caps in the power supply that pop. They were offering repair on them.

 

[Crash 56]

Thanks, I'll give them all the info. Maybe I'll get lucky. I like the amp alot, but I'm a little freaked that it went out with so few hours on it. All my other stuff is Hartke, which has always been bulletproof.

 

[bassliner50]

Volume jumped up to unusable levels then nothing? My educated guess would be an op amp in the preamp section went belly up...Actually an easy fix if you can get schematics and trace with an oscilloscope. (find and replace offending op amp.) There are a few other possible causes ...

 

[rhopper]

Same exact thing happened to me and it turned out to be a bad preamp tube. Quick fix and I keep a spare with me always.