NAD- but it's broke

[jackn1202]

I was helping my friend buy a bass today, and the wonderful people gave us a Stagg 500BA 115. I don't know a ton about this amp right now, except that it's enormous and it's broken. When I turn it on I hear noises, but it sounds like there's nothing coming from the speaker. When there's a cable in I get no sound when I tap it on my finger. I'd like to get this thing working, does anyone recognize these symptoms?

 

[BassmanPaul]

Does the amp have an Effects Loop? If yes, try linking the Send and Return with a signal cable and see what happens.

If not, tell us what sockets are on the back of the amp.

 

[jackn1202]

Does the amp have an Effects Loop? If yes, try linking the Send and Return with a signal cable and see what happens.

If not, tell us what sockets are on the back of the amp.

Did that, didn't work. On the back there's an output to an extension cab, and on the front there's effects out and in, a balanced DI out, a 1/4" cd input, and the bass input.

 

[BassmanPaul]

How is the internal speaker connected to the amp?

 

[jackn1202]

How is the internal speaker connected to the amp?

Not entirely sure, the back of the amp is closed and I don't see how to open that up. I could take the front screen off and see if there's a way to access it there.

 

[jackn1202]

Midday bump, I need help

 

[Plastalmonus]

The speaker should be front mounted. Take it out and check the connections.

Otherwise can you just take it back?

 

[jackn1202]

The speaker should be front mounted. Take it out and check the connections.

Otherwise can you just take it back?

Anything I need to know about taking a cone out? Or is it pretty straightforward?

Also, I don’t want to take it back because we were given it for free by the store and I’m friends with the employees there, so I’d rather go back and tell them how great it is once I have it fixed instead of tell them it broke ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Plastalmonus]

Just unscrew the mounting screws around the speaker that holds it to the baffle and then gently pull it out. Have the amp laying on its back whilst unscrewing it.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

If you have a working amp already?
Can you try the speaker with that amp?
Can you try the dead one with another speaker?
Does the DI do anything?

These things can help isolate the trouble.

 

[Rockbobmel]

You can take off the side handle or the jackplate and look with a flashlight.

 

[jackn1202]

Aight y'all, here's where I'm at with this thing. I've removed the speaker and checked the connections at the speaker, everything looks good there. I can't test the DI because I have neither a cable nor something to plug it into. I have another bass amp, but the last thing I want to do is break that one, so I'm not touching it. I don't have a cab to test it with. I have a multimeter, I guess I could test the speaker leads next with that... what mode do I use to test the leads? Haven't used a multimeter in like four years.

 

[gitfiddl]

Do you have a spare speaker you hook up to the leads in the amp? Size doesn't matter. It's just temporary, for testing purposes.

 

[jackn1202]

Do you have a spare speaker you hook up to the leads in the amp? Size doesn't matter. It's just temporary, for testing purposes.

Good idea, but will the impedance matter? The one I have in mind I harvested out of my truck. I don't want to damage the head.

 

[gitfiddl]

Good idea, but will the impedance matter? The one I have in mind I harvested out of my truck. I don't want to damage the head.

I think you'd be okay with that. We're not playing a gig, we're just momentarily checking for signal. Make sure the amp is off, hook that one up, turn the amp on and see if we have any sound.

 

[jackn1202]

I think you'd be okay with that. We're not playing a gig, we're just momentarily checking for signal. Make sure the amp is off, hook that one up, turn the amp on and see if we have any sound.

I'll do that and report back.