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Small combo misbehaving

My Behringer (yes I know...) BX1200 120 watt combo is acting rather strange. I plug in the other day and after only 30 seconds or so, it just sorta dies. The preamp still works, all the lights come on, and I can play with phones, but the speaker won't work. So I check out the speaker, it's fine. I take it to a friend who has a good idea about how this kinda crap works, and when he plugged it in and turned it on, it worked. So I then take it home, plug in, still works fine. A little later, it dies again. I hit it, it works...for 30 seconds.


Any ideas what the problem might be?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
astronauts_suck said:
My Behringer (yes I know...) BX1200 120 watt combo is acting rather strange. I plug in the other day and after only 30 seconds or so, it just sorta dies. The preamp still works, all the lights come on, and I can play with phones, but the speaker won't work. So I check out the speaker, it's fine. I take it to a friend who has a good idea about how this kinda crap works, and when he plugged it in and turned it on, it worked. So I then take it home, plug in, still works fine. A little later, it dies again. I hit it, it works...for 30 seconds.


Any ideas what the problem might be?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm...hopefully just a bad connection somewhere.

Either open it up and look for a loose wire/bad solder joint/loose cable connection and fix it or if you haven't done that kind of thing before get the help of a freind who has or take it in.

:D

Joe.
 
It's not a power transformer problem if the amp keeps working with headphones when it dies, and just the main speaker cuts out.

If you're confident opening it up, open it and look for bad connections and loose wires as previously mentioned.

Particularly considering that it seems intermittent, and that hitting it can bring it back to life.

Most likely a bad speaker wire connection or dry solder joint somewhere.

Good luck.

:bassist:
 
astronauts suck said:
Small combo misbehaving

I'd put that little bast*rd in time out and see if he learns a lesson. If this fails, Ritalin seems to a popular parenting trend. Up next: on to corporal punishment. Weekly beatings with a little therapy is the way to go (keeps 'em guessing).

Another option is wrapping it in a blanket and leaving it on another musician's doorstep.

Mike
 
astronauts_suck said:
My Behringer (yes I know...) BX1200 120 watt combo is acting rather strange. I plug in the other day and after only 30 seconds or so, it just sorta dies. The preamp still works, all the lights come on, and I can play with phones, but the speaker won't work. So I check out the speaker, it's fine. I take it to a friend who has a good idea about how this kinda crap works, and when he plugged it in and turned it on, it worked. So I then take it home, plug in, still works fine. A little later, it dies again. I hit it, it works...for 30 seconds.


Any ideas what the problem might be?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Loose connections are the MOST likely problem.
If the phones are working then the main amp is still on.
Open it up and look on the speaker and see if those wires are firmly attached. If they are then follow them to where they connect to the amp and see if they are firmly attached THERE.
You will probably see either a connector just about falling off or a connector that has failed.
If the speaker wires are connected to the amp or the speaker with crimped connectors check the crimps and see if the wire is loose in the crimp. The crimped connections can be a trouble spot if they have been poorly crimped.

Repost or PM if you need more help.
Dave
 
Yes, but they're AMAZING little amps for the money, when they're working, aren't they?
For small gigs and jams they're ideal...
Can't wait to try the new BXs that are due out later this year - the 180w 1x15 looks just the ticket.
 
Take a really close look at the circuit board, using bright light and magnifying glass if necessary, taking care not to get yourself electrocuted of course. Pay particularly close attention to places where jacks and controls are attached. Also, if the headphone jack is designed to de-activate the speakers when something is plugged in, then the problem could be the jack itself. Cracked circuit boards are another possibility.

I have always had good luck with amp manufactuers sending me a schematic on request.
 
Eric Moesle said:
Its Behringer, its disposable. It'll likely cost less to replace than to have professionally serviced, UNLESS its still under warranty.

Sounds like a power transformer problem to me. Nothing you can do yourself.

Yep. Toss it and get another. Even if it is under warranty Behringer's customer service is so notoriously bad you'll be a little old bassist before it ever gets fixed.