Suppose your amp turns on but refuses to make sound? The volume is up, on all channels, good chord, good imput, and when you shake it, the reverb coils make noise through the speaker, but no sound from guitar? Bad connection on the inside maybe? Can I fix it with a soldering iron or do I need to take it to some "professionals"?

Man, be careful....

I believe that all amps have "capacitors" which store MASSIVE amounts of electricity!!!!

You can safely work on an amp ONLY after discharging them, which basically means shorting them out to drain the electricity out of them.

"Certain types of capacitors are made of VERY good materials, which can hold a charge for YEARS!"

From this website:
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/captest.htm#ctwtm

I know it sucks, especially if it is something small, but I would recommend that you pay someone to look at it!


If you INSIST on trying to fix it yourself look at this, and also google a bit on "discharging capacitors"... Figure out how to tell if they are "empty" with a multitester too!!!
http://bwilliamson.home.mchsi.com/discharg.htm

BE CAREFUL!



If you dont respond to this thread, we will know that you have perished!!!

When I change the volume dial on my amp it crackles and pops really loudly.

Why is that? Is it something I can fix myself?
It seems to be getting worse.

I know I'll never learn if I don't start doing things myself, but I don't want to die. Soldering the insides of my guitar is one thing, but amplifiers are a whole 'nother can of worms. Thanks Jake!


No problem...
I had some input jacks to fix on my crappy Fender Deville and googled a bit about working on amps before I started...
I was sufficiently scared away, and brought it in to the shop.

If this is a ruse by electrical engineers so that nobody does simple repairs themselves, its working well.
Better safe than sorry, its just an amp.

-Jake

This, in my experience is dust and dirt and crap getting into the dial, or the dial just getting too worn out...

You can get electronics cleaner, spray it in there, and then turn the dial back and forth as many times as you can stand it to try and get the dirt and stuff to come out...

UNPLUG the amp first, and do this when you can let the amp sit for awhile, like overnight... Or hit it real good and long with a hairdryer before you plug it back in.

Dont die OK?

Best, JAke

OK - so you're saying I turn the amp on, tweek the volume dial for a while, get into the bath with it, and rock out with a hairdryer.

Hang on and I'll be right back in a min to let you know how it goes.

just kidding thanks jake.