Crate amp cutting out

[stolenband]

Hello to all. I am wondering about my amp. It has recently been cutting out whenever i mess with the input jack, this includes toutching the cord anywhere near the input jack. This is becoming an ever growing problem, and i am thinking it would be as quick as re-soldering the input jack. Is there anything that i should know before i start, And would music shops fix this for cheep? i would rather have another person who is more experienced than me to fix it. Any suggestions??

[jimirb]

If you have this fixed commercially, you'll be paying for someone's TIME, not necessarilly their technical knowledge. I would guess you'll pay for at least 2 hours bench time just to take the amp apart far enough to get to the jack, do a quick solder job, re-assemble it, and test it.Assuming you are correct in your diagnosis, and assuming you have the proper soldering equipment, it's not a difficult repair. You have very little but a couple of hours to lose in taking a look yourself.

[chris661]

Are you sure it's not the lead?

[teemuk]

Originally Posted by jimirb

If you have this fixed commercially, you'll be paying for someone's TIME, not necessarilly their technical knowledge.

There's "bench fee" because these guys run a business, which includes costs like rent, equipment, booking, etc. ...And after studying several years on electronics theory and creating network with manufacturers to establish warranty repair deals these guys likely don't want to run their business as charity but actually expect to get paid what they deserve. You are paying the guy because he won't ruin the PC board while working on it (like some first-timer may well do) and for being able to troubleshoot and successfully repair the amp up to manufactuer's specs, if the problem happens to be something else than a failed solder in the input jack. As said, you're also paying for his tools and whole enchilada, just like you'd pay an electrician, a plumper, car mechanic, or any other guy being a specialist on his field.

[stolenband]

My friend does electronics. Is it ok to give him the job??

[geraldfryjr]

It is probably I bad solder joint on the board at the connector.
I have seen this alot.
However they have been using a new style of p.c. mount connector the last few years and it is a pis poor design and some times they are bad right off the bat.

If you know how to use a soldering iron save yourself the money.
Even though it is a PIA to get those things apart sometimes.

Just remember if you have to remove any devices that are heatsinked to the chassis DO NOT fire it up without these devices remounted as the heat will destroy them instantly.

If your friend is knoledgeable in electronics it would be a good idea for him to help you.

Modern guitar amps are pain becuase it generaly requires you to take off every single knob and unbolt every control from the front panel and also unmounting the output devices before you can get the board out.

If you have too unmount the output devices make sure that there is enough heatsink compound when you remount them.
Sometimes there is already enough and all you have to do is resmear it on the output devices and then remount them.

Good luck. jer

[chris661]

Has anyone checked the lead?

Sounds almost exactly like a dodgy connection in the plug to me. It'd be a very quick test to see if it is the lead, then move on to open the amp up when we're certain it is the amp.

[stolenband]

Ok. i got this fixes, and it was simple. The amp sounds really different now that this is fixed. Thanks for the help.

[jimirb]

So don't leave us hanging....what was the problem and what was the fix?