Phil Jones Bass BP 800 overheating?

[mccartneyman]

I've been using a Phil Jones Bass BP 800 bass head for about two months now. It is connected to two PJB C8 cabinets, giving it a 4-ohm load. Last night at an outdoor gig with air temperature in the high 80s, the amp or maybe the speakers started to cut out intermittently at the end of the third set. I think it was due to overheating, but I'm new to this head and am not sure. The head has no fan.

I played the same configuration in the same venue under very similar weather conditions and had no problem. By the end of the third set, I admit that the band got a bit loud, although I didn't turn up my gain or master volume at all. I wasn't getting a clip light : the sound just went away and came back a couple of time. Amp didn't shut down.

I am running a Thunderbird bass with a Sadowsky outboard preamp pedal. Last gig I used a Sadowsky RV4 with the same amp setup but of course without the outboard preamp. No problem

Should I be using an external fan to cool the amp under high temperature conditions?

 

[agedhorse]

If this is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer before causing additional damage.

If not, ask them for help finding a QUALIFIED service center to help you resolve this .

 

[Aloe]

well, the amp has a passive cooling, it's hot, you use it at minimal impedance and loud. yeah, it all sounds like a thermal protection kicked in, in this case an external fan or cooling pad might help to some extent. did you check, was the amp hot and where?

or it might be a defunct amp, as Andy pointed.

 

[mccartneyman]

Thanks! I'm not sure if warranty is transferable. I bought it used through Reverb, but I'll check. First time I've had this kind of problem in 57 years of gigging with different amps. That's why I suspect something may be up. I'll see about a service center.

 

[ddnidd1]

You might want to call PJB Tech Support. The tech, whose name I have forgotten, was extremely helpful over the phone.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Last night at an outdoor gig

Was the power generators or the extension cords ran from the kitchen up to the task of running everything?

 

[bassfran]

Agedhorse is, as per usual, spot on. And I agree with S-Bigbottom as well.

I have experienced issues with a fully functioning amp magically becoming an expensive DI on stages wired with less than adequate voltages.
(Hooray for thermal protection circuitry!)

 

[agedhorse]

No way to know what the problem actually is without proper troubleshooting and diagnostics.

 

[Killing Floor]

Warranty support and fire the drummer.

 

[mccartneyman]

Warranty support and fire the drummer.

ALWAYS fire the drummer! But in my band it's one of the guitarists who starts the Loud Parade.

 

[mccartneyman]

Thanks, all! I will get the amp checked out. Played last night in similar condition with a Genzler Magellan 350 and had no problems. Better buy a backup head, I guess.

 

[bottomzone]

Are you still having issues with your BP-800? I'm seriously considering getting one to pair with my C4 cab that's on its way.