My Bassman! :'(
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Posted on May 03, 2006 12:12 am
colonel_sanders
edit0r
Member Since: Aug 17, 2004
[:-(!]
So I was playing my hollingworth through my bassman and left it on standby while I went to make a sandwich, I came back and sat down on the chair in front of it and heard a faint noise coming from the speakers. The noise suddenly skyrocketed in intensity and before I could hit the off switch, the lights an the amp went off and it started to smoke!
I promptly disconnected it from the power and checked the fuse. The fuse was fine.
What on earth?!
[/:-(!]
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May 03, 2006 04:28 am Whoa...I would suggest bringing it to the local repair shop, likely just blew a transistior, and while that was blowing it probably took out a few things around it...or, since the lights went off, maybe just a power supply smoked.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 03, 2006 08:25 am If it's an older bassman, (or newer ones as well) it sounds like a power (aka filter) capacitor went. They'll surge up funny like that, then poof out. I had one on an old CB radio go, and it spewed its guts all over the inside of its chassis. Kinda like a chinese yo-yo. Funny smell too.
I just looked, 59 re-issue. Still applies. If you're electronically inclined, you could snoop around, but if you're not, then stay out. Deadly voltages reside there-in. And they'll stay deadly even after unplugging your amp.
That's very weird that it didn't blow a fuse. That's what they're for. You sure the fuse is for the correct rating?
If the power light went out, but the fuse didn't blow, then it could be more troublesome, cause if the 6.3v heater / light voltage stopped, but the fuse didn't blow, then maybe the power xfmr is shot. Maybe the light blew out as well.
I'm just thinking out loud. Sounds like a trip to the tube amp repair shop. Try to find a shop versed in old tube amps, as non-vintage shops can do funny things to older-type circuits.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
May 03, 2006 08:34 am i couldn't find a schematic, but there may be another fuse in that circuit. One for the 120v (or whatever NZ uses), plus a B+, or HT fuse, which will be 250ma, or 500ma, something like that.
It may be inside the chassis, not visible from the back.
Be warned again though, if something took out the fuse, then there's something wrong. Fix it before you try another fuse.
well, that's my .02$us, anyway. Good luck.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 03, 2006 07:53 pm IF it was having noise coming from the speakers it could be in either the pre or the power amp section. And as dB stated, it could be something as simple as a transister let go, or as pjk stated a power cap let loose. And as pjk stated as well, be very carefull if your going to dig around in there yourself as any or all of the caps could still be fully charged, and they will give you one hell of a jolt.
How loud did it actually get, and what kind of noise are we talking about? Squeeling, buzzing or humming?
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
May 03, 2006 09:45 pm I thought bassmans were tube... don't things do that when on of the tubes go?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 03, 2006 09:59 pm Not usually taht bad though. Noise will be made for sure, but there is normally no smoke when a tube goes. And normally it will result in loss of volume, not a complete shutdown.
May 03, 2006 10:24 pm We've got neighbour problems, so it wasn't very loud. 2-3? It was defintinely a building buzz.
Cheers for the advice pjk. I think I'll leave it to the pro's, sounds like my curiosity could be dangerous.
