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Fixing a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0

DennyOnBass

DennyOnBass

Dec 18, 2003
1,137
1,030
59
Traverse City, MI
#1
I'm hoping that @agedhorse will hopefully jump in here. I think he's still fixing these as well if you send them to him, but I'm sending mine to my local tech, who is isolated due to the Coronavirus and could use the work.

I ended up shelving my early Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 a couple of years ago when it seemed like I was pretty consistently taking it apart and reseating the tube, exercising the jacks on the effects loop, making sure that grey wire behind the master volume was seated properly, all the stuff. The pots had also gotten pretty gnarly sounding, lots of static. And, honestly, after using it for so long, I really just wanted a different head and ended up buying an Aguilar AG700.

The Aggy is great, but I broke out the Shuttle again and really prefer the way it sounds/works. Other than the noise.

So my tech is offering deals on repairs, and I'm going to send him the Shuttle for a tuneup and hopefully get it in working order again. Assuming he can, I'll probably just sell the AG700, get another used Shuttle 9.0 somewhere online, and be set for a while with a main amp and a backup.

The power section is working great. Last night I was running my VT bass pedal into the back. No noise at all. Gobs of power.

So, I've read that the grey wire should be hard wired to the PC board instead of clipped in. That was apparently an engineering change on the 9.2 due to noise. Obviously the pots and jacks should be cleaned. What about the tube? I've always thought that weird retainer thing was a bad idea...is there some way to modify it to keep the tube in place better?

Anything else that we know of, other than the above stuff?
 
#2
There's a flat rate $85 factory service program for your amp, but that doesn't apply to amps that have had service attempts made to them. The cost of repair of units that are not covered under the program is $85/hour with a 2 hour minimum due to the added work required to undo and sort out previous work. This assumes that no unavailable parts like PCBs are damaged.

I can only support world wide Fender electronics authorized service centers as they have the necessary paperwork on file with Fender.

PM me for details if interested.
 
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#4
Jim C said:
Obvious to most, but an $85 charge for a standard repair to an unmolested amp is really an amazing deal.
In fact, I can't think of any audio product that has this kind of out of warranty coverage.
Click to expand...
This is because unmolested amps are MUCH easier and faster to repair properly the first time. There is nothing worse than trying to figure out what motivated some techs to do the things they do to an amp... there are some unbelievably stupid things that I have encountered in the service world.
 
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#5
agedhorse said:
This is because unmolested amps are MUCH easier and faster to repair properly the first time. There is nothing worse than trying to figure out what motivated some techs to do the things they do to an amp... there are some unbelievably stupid things that I have encountered in the service world.
Click to expand...

Understood.
Either price is well below what any shop around here could offer.
The unmolested price is a steal.
Well done.
 
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#6
I agree that the price is more than reasonable, and pretty amazing, considering the company has been out of business for as long as it has.

I don't think that any of those modifications necessarily need to be done, so, knowing what I know now, assuming that my goal here is really just to put a bench fee in the pocket of my socially isolated tech so that he doesn't feel like I'm throwing charity at him, are there any non-obvious maintenance things I should have him do that wouldn't be considered "servicing" the amp?

Cleaning jacks and pots seem obvious, maybe also the headers on that gray wire? What about the tube? The green part that holds the pin receptacle for the tube pulls out and there are some pins down there. Deoxit those as well? I realize my guy will probably know all of this, just trying to get ahead of the game.

Assuming there's still noise when I get it back, I'd just send it off to AgedHorse at that point.
 
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#7
My experience is to leave things alone, but it's your choice. Is your shop part of the Fender service network and have a Fender service center ID? If so, I can help him directly via e-mail to the email address linked to the service center.
 
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#8
Hey, hello bass brothers, do any of you, if you do not mind, have the schematics for the GENZ BENZ SHUTTLE 9.O? Got a little problem with mine. Thanks for your time.
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c_oc=AQmG_UYMMDPonbwVyc6e6sNCvOcSlXJ20Eoc2SYyNtMSDWF2tTfG0TALOyzfEzl14ko&_nc_ht=scontent.fsig2-1.jpg
 
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#9
Sorry, Schematics and service docs are only available to Fender authorized service centers with a current agreement or service center number on file. This information does not belong to me, I am not free to share.

There is a factory flat rate service program for all Shuttle amps (currently $85 flat plus return shipping, 48 hour turnaround), but this flat rate does not apply to amps that have had failed repair amps made, nor the damage caused by such attempts. Often, identifying and repairing the damage caused is more difficult than repairing the original problem. The only items that are not covered are the tube and power module (very rarely a problem)

PM me if you want information on this program.
 
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#10
agedhorse said:
Sorry, Schematics and service docs are only available to Fender authorized service centers with a current agreement or service center number on file. This information does not belong to me, I am not free to share.

There is a factory flat rate service program for all Shuttle amps (currently $85 flat plus return shipping, 48 hour turnaround), but this flat rate does not apply to amps that have had failed repair amps made, nor the damage caused by such attempts. Often, identifying and repairing the damage caused is more difficult than repairing the original problem. The only items that are not covered are the tube and power module (very rarely a problem)

PM me if you want information on this program.
Click to expand...
Hey, hello, thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind, have a great day
 
#11
Just a follow up, since I was the originator of the thread.

A little CAIG deoxit on my part and I was able to get my Shuttle up and running in short order. I ended up sending some other gear to my tech that needed to be fixed. I still really love this head.

Anybody know where to get replacement screws for the top cover? I'm missing like 2 or 3.
 

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