Ouch. That sounds like a cynical truth, Curtis. Fender has spent so many years betraying their customers, and indeed their own reputation, for amps that were once made to be easily serviced. Take for example the problem with the low-voltage circuit on the Hot Rod series. Fender engineers are smart. Smarter than me. And yet they persist with the same flawed design and assembly method. Fender knows how to build amps as good as Leo, but the accountants say “No. The PCB doesn’t always burn, and it usually won’t become an issue until after warranty, so leave it”.
yeah, they had a huge amount of cancelled orders for guitars, ( I don't remember how much, but it was a lot) and so the CEO responded by firing a whole bunch of employees, and then bragged that they had a good year. Corporations disgust me.......@@theguitaramptech
I wish i could find a competent amp tech in Michigan USA. A lot of "techs" cry about these amps, and claim they are unserviceable. You have made it look like an easy fix, and kept a positive attitude in the process. You sir are awesome!
You Sir have saved me a pile of money. Interestingly the 30r has four EL84s but only has two Zenners. I had two tubes red plating. Opened up the amp, reached in and cut the two zenners. I put the back cover on and its fixed!!! THANK YOU so much!
I always tell people to look up repair videos before they buy an amp. Fender amps of the last 30 years are truly disgusting. I've even seen a Handwired deluxe reverb that was pitiful. God bless you.for helping that customer out. I can imagine they aren't fun to work on. This thing is just insulting. Damn
I own one and two 007s. These sound fantastic. It’s a pity Fender didn’t build them with serviceability in mind. One of their best sounding amps with a flawed construction. They need to make a hand wired model that can stand the test of time.
No issue with your "light approach"! Love your work, explinations, attention to detail, everything! Having recently had my amp repaired by you, I understand the mite required getting through the back-log, but your videos are great! Keep them coming.
I've built an 5e3 kit some months ago and pretty much understood almost everything about it, and even managed to troubleshoot it into making it very quiet (yes beside solving the ground loops and grounding unused inputs it was the led pilot light powered by the 6.3 circuit witch was causing the big hum). But anyway today i got myself an used Bassbreaker 15 and this great video made me aware of an possible issue that might come along. Thank you for a very nice video and some very useful insights about this amp.
Good work on your kit, George. I think 90% of noise/hum issues are caused by bad grounding and the filament heaters. I am a believer in the "up and over" approach of well twisted filament wiring. Its disappointing with the Bassbreaker build. It sounds good but a nightmare to service. I wonder if the Classic 30 engineer got a job at Fender?
@@theguitaramptech back to the BB15 I am looking into some static noise (pretty high ground floor noise) that comes from the FX loop when I switch on a cheap digital delay pedal stuck in there, and looking in the service manual everything is layed out on the back pcb (from the fx loop to the reverb and so on). I think they were thinking about protecting all of that with the diodes in case of a power tube fail on the expense of the power tubes. I wonder how does this layout compare to the (new) Marshall DSL line witch I think is comparable in terms of features and might be a better implementation of all that (haven't heard of many problems about those models). PS I was thinking of clipping those diodes to prevent any future red plating but I think I will wait with a spare pair of tubes and see when or if the issue migh appear.
Hi Dennis. Good to hear from you. We are in Week 7 of the Delta Lockdown in Sydney, so I have had a chance to catch up on my repairs and do another video. Do you have a preference for my future videos? Of course, I will do more repairs, but I am thinking of some propellor-head reviews of pedals and amps using FFTs and Spectrum analysis. There are so many good people doing "ear" tests, I'm thinking I may go the "Full Nerd". I have a few Tech Teaching ideas, too. Your thoughts? I miss Chicago. I did one of my corporate shows there many years ago (2007?) and did the usual tourist places and music venues. You can imagine how excited a boy from Aus became when the train stopped at La Grange (even if it wasn't the ZZ Top version). If this plague ever passes, I am so desperate to get back to the USA after 28 gigs, 5 holidays and an eagle tattoo. Stay safe, Dennis.
Hey, long time no hear from..! I've been learning lots from all sorts of other tech's online...Great fix, and interesting explanations about the circuitry...Thanks for sharing, and don't stay away so long..! Stay safe..Ed..uk..😀
You are so right, Ed. As soon as the last lockdown lifted, every muso in the country thought the gigs were coming back....and then along came the Delta dawn. At least I can do more videos.
As usual, a most welcome return to the TH-cam-sphere. Strong work, Sir! This extended my understanding of cathode biasing. Just got done rebiasing a Princeton I built from scratch but was red plating, so tube bias has been on my mind. I hope your lockdown passes soon. Stay healthy! Regards from Minnesota, USA, the land of walleye fishing and frost giants.
Walleye are a fun and reportedly tasty sport fish (haven't caught any myself, not too many places for walleye in my New England state, though I hear they taste like yellow perch) ---- but Walleye might seem tame to an Australian because they have Barramundi down there! A toothy Muskellenge, however, might make an impression on an Australian....but they also have Barracuda, so....
@@goodun2974 Walleye are quite tasty, yes! I think they taste better than perch. I don't know about freshwater Barramundi, but I do know Barracuda would be wildly more difficult to get into the boat! Of course, that is true of most salt water fish.
@@theguitaramptech , my grandfather introduced me to fishing when I was 5. It's the only sport I've ever cared to participate in. I used to prefer the challenge of fishing with artificial lures but I have a bad shoulder and casting repeatedly gets kinda painful, so I am often relegated to using bait. Arthritis is making a lot of activities difficult these days, including electronics work. As Bette Davis once said, " old age ain't for sissies!".
Fender really don't care about serviceablity, I tried to get a circuit board for a fender amp back in 2004 and they said no! I would have to buy a new amp! The guy on the phone was very unfriendly! Never bothered with them since, started building my own amplifiers in 2005, still using the first one I built for gigs to this day!
Yes, it is always sad to see who wants great company that was run by people who had a passion for their product, now replaced with accountants who only look at the bottom line. Excellent work with your amp. I’m envious, but I am so swamped with repair work that it may be a long time coming for me.
Great video and well explained. I picked up a second BB15 which had an intermittent issue of the leads of the Bass and Mid pots shorting out against the chassis which then made them inoperable and the Treble control then acted like the volume. I placed a strip of electrical tape across them to test and it worked great, issue is gone. I should have put nylon washers as a spacer over the pots but didn't want to open it up again lol. Just thought I'd share in case you came across this issue. It's a great sounding amp, I've recorded all of the music on my channel using BB15's.
Thanks Dennis. I love hearing about home remedies like this! Well done, mate. Yes, the BB15 sounds great, but its a disgrace to Fender that a customer has to attach electrical tape to stop shorts and make it work. You shouldn't have to do that.
@@theguitaramptech What make is your tube bias tester? What calculations were you making, were you calculating cathode current bias from the voltage measurement? Can you spell out the math please? :)
@@DennisCameronMusic I have a few bias testers. I nearly always use the EuroTubes one for cathode-biased amps because it will directly measure Plate to Cathode voltage. It also gives me a reading of Plate current (with no screen component). From that, we calculate power (P=VI) and then divide by the theoretical maximum dissipation of an EL84 to give us a % dissipation at idle. There are many ways of finding Plate current, but this is quick and accurate. The lazy person's way of biasing is to use the manufacturers' bias voltage. The “Near-Enough” Tech’s way is to calculate the % dissipation as I show here. I don’t think I showed on this video, ( I have of many other videos) but my preferred way is checking the actual performance of the tubes on an oscilloscope. That is REAL. I cross-check with the Plate Current. Any other way of biasing is “assumed typical”. One EL84 may have a maximum dissipation of 10W, and another has 14W. An oscilloscope doesn’t lie.
Great amp. Sad it's difficult to work on. Glad mine's been running great (3 Years on).I've used a hum x on the the cord from the start. Quit amp. Thanks for the video.
That's a fun amp to disassemble. I wonder why the bean counters that run Fender now would allow the unnecessary expense of diodes that aren't necessary?
I have asked myself the exact same question. No idea. If the idea is to protect the EL84s, the tubes will be passing over 160mA before the Zener kicks in, by which stage the EL84 will make Chernobyl look like a fun day at the park.
I had ordered not once but twice, Supro Black Magick Reverb 25 watt head from Zzounds. Both times it was delivered with blown tubes. Viewing through the back of the amp, I noticed the whiteness of the tubes. I never plugged them up and immediately returned back to Zzounds. They offered to replace the tubes before I sent the second unit back to which I declined. I assumed it’s a quality control issue with Supro.
I've got one on my bench with almost EXACTLY the same issue. My zener just turned into a low-ohm resistor. I've already taken the dang thing apart to get at it, so I'm just going to replace it, I suppose. This is, without a doubt, the least repair-friendly amp I've ever worked on. Just a total nightmare. I give myself a 50-50 chance of getting all the connectors back in the right place.
Yiasou, Ted. The Ballbreaker is a PITA. I can't see any other use for the Zener other than what I described in the video. It would certainly add to the repair bill if you ventured forth with removing that PCB, in addition to compromising those shitty connectors. If you go that way, replace it with a higher current rating.
@@theguitaramptech Just cut em out and throw em away UNLESS the amp is still under warranty in which case you voided it. Parts are made of unobtainium (reverb card and mode selector switch) if you're not an approved service center and even then if the amp is out of warranty G-d help you.
@@theguitaramptech A zener in the cathode string is one of the dumbest ideas I have seen in years. I mean, who does that? Why? There must be 100 million cathode biased guitar amps that didn't feel the need.
Hello! great video! I am about to get a bassbreaker 15 in a trade and was just looking up serviceability. I'm no tech, but I am curious and like to get my hands dirty (without getting electrocuted) :) . Out of curiosity, did you completely remove the diodes? or literally just clip one leg and leave it in there? Is simply clipping them ok? or should I consider removing them with the iron? Thanks! Awesome content!
Many decades ago I Was in a computer electronics tech school.early on I was acing everything but not really learning / understanding what I was “acing”…we got to how a capacitor would release its stored energy by a delayed voltage to it….that was it for me , I aske how it was not constantly releasing and was looked at like I was an idiot and never answered beyond “don’t worry about it ….etc” ….I quit within a week . I can learn , but not without an understanding of how or why ….in hindsight I know i should’ve stuck it out, and eventually would have pieced it altogether. At 20/21 yrs old all I could think was of how overwhelmed I was and how far behind (in my mind )I was …a family member said if you’re no sure it’s for you ,it’s better to quit earlier than later ……long point I’m making , though this is interesting and wish I could follow your detailed explanation ….🎉this is beyond me lol.. am only just into the video,but am glazing over like I did all those decades ago haha…I love what he Bassbreaker “promises” (15 watts ) but scared to consider getting one because of this “red plate“ issue I keep seeing in reviews etc. I’m curious if it was ever worked out, but notice few places sell the 15 W bass breaker now and wonder if fender discontinued the 15 watt and went with the 007 and the 30 only ?due to the red plate issue of the 15?
Hi Vic. I am sure your family member meant well, but I believe in "staying with it". The knowledge will make sense one day. I have mixed feelings about the Bassbreaker. It sounds great, but it is terrible to repair. This is why I would never own one. I am sure there are many Bassbreakers on the market which are still going strong, but I still cannot recommend you buy one.
I've got a bassbreaker 007 head that hums. This is a common problem with this amp. Even when new, the amp hums. The amp sounds amazing except for the hum. The amp hums at low and high volume.
Wow, thank you, Jimi. That means a lot coming from you! Sorry to be personal, but I am so happy that you've recovered from that mild case of death 52 years ago?😂
Hi Chris, a bit late on your video, I want to remove the zeners on mine, but I’m not very educated on electronics, I do know how to solder and that’s about it, I repairs stuff watching tutorials like yours thank you very much!! I was wondering if I clip the zeners and leave the tips soldered, is that enough? Or should I I make an effort to unsolder them? I don’t know if leaving the tips is dangerous or if it will cause static noise on the signal, thanks for your help and keep the great work! Greetings from Mexico!!
Thanks for your email. I appreciate you watching and subscribing to the channel. Because the Zeners are paralled to the cathode resistor, it is fine to just clip them out.
Thanks, this is a great video. You really explain well to the lay man. I bought a bassbreaker 45 combo a couple years ago, should I be thinking of it as unserviceable? Or just going to take more time (aka more money) to put right if anything goes wrong? Thanks from the UK!
I think it's very easy to complain, but you have to be realistic. If you want a small valve amplifier that sounds great, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg then you have to buy something like the Fender Bassbreaker or a Peavey Classic 30. There is a whole bunch of competition around that price point: $500 - $600, which means that in order to make a profit they have to use the most economic manufacturing techniques that they can. Spending time in the design phase to worry about maintainability and servicing = more cost in the manufacturing phase. If you want a valve amplifier that sounds great and is easily serviced, then you will pay more - and sometimes a great deal more for a fully hand-wired boutique amplifier.
Yes, I do agree with you ... partly. But to build an amp like the BB or the C30 focused solely on cheap construction and not reliable ownership is poor engineering. My go-to example is the Vox AC15. The Hot Rod series and the Blues Junior (once their stupid design issues are resolved) are much cheaper to maintain. Don't misunderstand me, the Ballbreaker sounds very nice...but I would never own one.
Just watched a video before this one of a person completely saying fuck trying to fix that. Good job man. Most of us don’t know the repair side when buying an amp.
HAHA! Thank you Tony. I share the frustrations of many Techs with the transition of the major manufacturers from " and amp should be repairable on the road" to today's "sorry mate. This amp is not economically viable to fix". However, we all have to remember that the amp on the bench was somebody's pride and joy at one stage.
How safe is this to do- just opening it up and snipping it out? Are any precautions needed or should I get a tech to do it? It seems straightforward otherwise.
Hello: I had a Bassbraker 15 but it had a problem with the FX Loop. It made noise. When searching the forums, it was mentioned that this amp had a flaw in the effects loop that caused it to get noisy. Do you know if this problem occurs on your amp when using the FX LOOP? Perhaps fender has already fixed the problem in newer versions of this amp.
There was an FX Loop problem when they first came out. Fender's 'Fix' was to fit an isolated Jack Socket on the FX Send. I believe that was All they changed but not 100% certain of that. I bought one in 2017 and it's behaved itself perfectly. Fingers crossed though eh ? 😉 So far, I've made just one little Mod myself. In order to use a TwoNotes CaptorX with it I've added a Break Jack in the direct Amp to Speaker line so that I can connect the Main Speaker jack out to the CaptorX and then feed a line bwck to the combo's speaker without upsetting the amplifier.
Thanks for your info, man. I just instasuscribed. It's so useful for all of us. I play SRV, Buchanan & Winter music but also stuff like Hendrix, Gallagher, Moore & stuff alike. I'm a blues kid, but also loves hardrock. I'm thinking about gettint a Bassbreaker 15 for home use & rehearshals, 'cuz I've been told they take pedals well, but suddenly your video comes up. Should I avoid Bassbreaker and go for the BluesJrIV? does BluesJr takes pedals well?
The Bassbreaker sounds very nice...until it develops a fault. The BJr is also built to a price and has its own issues, but it sounds good (after a setup by a Tech who knows what he's doing!) and is easier to repair than a BB15. Most amps that have a valve input stage with decent clean headroom , like the BB and the BJr , will take pedals well. Also have a look at the Vox AC15. Its a step above the Fenders at this price.
@@jhonathanmoreno73 Thank you, Jhonathan . Many people don't take the time to say "Thank you" to my answers. I have wonderful memories from my visit to Mexico.
@@theguitaramptech You're awesome, man. I think your info and pointers can help us and save us for making a bad decision and avoid some issues. Keep the good work and content. Please. And I'm happy you enjoyed your time in my country. I know my country have BIG problems in a lot of ways, but not everything it's that bad. So happy you enjoyed those times.
Thanks for your comment, Chicken. I must admit, for being such a PITA to work on, the sound of the Bassbreaker was surprisingly good. To my taste, I still prefer a Blues Junior that's been properly set up. Even though the BJr is on a PCB, it's still WAY easier to work on and to do simple setup improvements. .
@@theguitaramptech fair enough. Ive owned a LOT of different tube amps over the years, and the Bassbreaker 15 has been the only one I've truly loved the sound off (and not sold on!).
Definitely stay with the blues junior, Reid. Bias it properly, replace the plastic input jack, and eventually upgrade the speaker, and your blues junior will sound amazing. 🥰
Thanks for the video! Very informative. I have a BB15 in gunmetal grey that I bought Oct 2021. I don’t play loud, I live in an apartment but last week the volume stopped on med and high gain stage settings. Low gain kept working. I took it in for a warranty fix and they said a tube had to be replaced. For low volume playing I’m surprised a tube went so fast. Is this type a thing a flaw in this amp’s design? I’ve been liking the Vibro Champ and thinking it may be better amp for me in my apartment. May look at a trade. Also like the Princetons. Any suggestions?
Hello, thanks for an informative video. I have a BB30r, it came faulty so I had an immediate warranty fix and the amp has been working just fine over the past 2 years, but this scared the sh*t out of me. Since the amp is still new, I'm thinking of a trade to get a good deal in the second hand market. Should I swap it for something used and older but of higher quality? I'm looking into hand-wired "boutique" amplifiers, like a Cornell Romany plus 12. They say those are easier to fix
What are the slots in the metal chassis next to the EL84's for? Watching this on a small screen (phone) it looks like there are exposed components visible through these slots. Are those the zeners? Or bias-monitoring points?
You are testing my last remaining memory cell with that question. Slots are usually for cooling. I can't recall if the high wattage resistors were under there. Sorry, mate.
@@goodun2974 That repair was returned to the customer way earlier than my memory can recall. Generally anything past a week is wiped clean from my internal hard drive. I wish I could answer more fully.
Wow great video and very interesting, thankyou. I was interested to get one of these as I wanted an EL84 amp and these sounds good but I'm not buying landfill. Fender can go jump in their landfill hole with their rubbish.
I think they're great Michael. I don't often recommend them to customers because of the cost. I installed them in my AC10. Please make sure the bias is set correctly. You want these babies to last as long as possible (I have assumed they're power tubes. As you know you don't need to bias preamp tubes).
This is such a great and informative video. By cutting the zener diodes do you mean desolder or can I just literally snip the two legs (which may be easier). Will the rest of circuit/current run fine with the zener legs shipped? Thanks so much!
Hi Dave. I don't recall what the repair bill was, but because of its assembly, it would be more than an equivalent amp, such as an AC15, which I really like. Yes, the BB15 sounds great, but I would never own one because its lack of serviceability.
@@theguitaramptech Thank you for this information. I just bought a Bassbreaker 15 a couple weeks ago, and I'm going to return it since it's already red plating. You just saved me a lot of future headaches and expenses. Can you recommend any low wattage amp (in the same price range) that has tones similar to the mid and low gain settings of this Bassbreaker, but something that also serviceable?
Happy 2 years in Neutral Bay in the late 90s, but now living on the opposite side of the planet. Otherwise I'd bring my bassbreaker to your workshop. Intermittent noise from the reverb unit. Any ideas?
@@theguitaramptech thanks for taking the time to say hi. And thanks for the advice. I had the best time in Sydney. I would spend mornings in coffee shops, lunchtimes busking (I fell in love with Paul Kelly and Neil Finn) Afternoons working in Metropolis Records in Neutral Bay and evenings on the North Shore beaches. We lived above a bottle shop too, so life was a party! I'll have a go at my amp this weekend and let you know how I get on.
I have this amp it is red plating the first tube only like everyone else’s that bought this amp. I’ve had the amp since about 2018 and haven’t bothered with the warranty which I’m sure is expired. Fender should be ashamed of themselves, I’m going to call them for a giggle and tell them they should replace it entirely or repair it for free. I can’t use it and it will cost probably $250-300 for the rapier in labor mostly. I’m never buying Fender again … I own a few other amps including Fender and they’re fine. Just can’t believe an experienced company would market this garbage.
You ae right, J. But its not only Fender. The JTM 30 and 60 should also have been recalled by Marshall but they are still floating around bringing sadness. Many manufacturers have their dark days.
They are definitely better to work on, TH, but they're not without their issues either. Plastic PCB-mounted input jacks are a common failure point. I think it's irresponsible engineering that fender uses plastic shaft pots on the BJr with no chassis nuts. And God bless Fender for keeping Techs fed with that those high-wattage voltage-dropping resistors on the HotRod series that cause serious heat damage to the PCB. Sadly, we live in a time where the great amp companies are ruled by accountants and not people like Leo or Jim.
I have one in pieces but it was in the preamp tubes im new to this did not understand the basics so using it for parts f ing Fender and this boxed in system do not buy this amp at any cost
corporate greed and dishonesty are the only chance fender has at this point
Ouch. That sounds like a cynical truth, Curtis. Fender has spent so many years betraying their customers, and indeed their own reputation, for amps that were once made to be easily serviced. Take for example the problem with the low-voltage circuit on the Hot Rod series. Fender engineers are smart. Smarter than me. And yet they persist with the same flawed design and assembly method. Fender knows how to build amps as good as Leo, but the accountants say “No. The PCB doesn’t always burn, and it usually won’t become an issue until after warranty, so leave it”.
yeah, they had a huge amount of cancelled orders for guitars, ( I don't remember how much, but it was a lot) and so the CEO responded by firing a whole bunch of employees, and then bragged that they had a good year. Corporations disgust me.......@@theguitaramptech
I'm with you, my friend.
I wish i could find a competent amp tech in Michigan USA. A lot of "techs" cry about these amps, and claim they are unserviceable. You have made it look like an easy fix, and kept a positive attitude in the process. You sir are awesome!
Thank you Dave. You have made my day
You Sir have saved me a pile of money. Interestingly the 30r has four EL84s but only has two Zenners. I had two tubes red plating. Opened up the amp, reached in and cut the two zenners. I put the back cover on and its fixed!!! THANK YOU so much!
Glad I could help, Rob
How difficult was it to find and remove the two zenners? I have the BB 15 head, and I'm pretty sure this has become an issue for me
I was going to say BRAVE MAN!! Most tech won't touch these badly designed amps!!! 5*****!!
Sadly, you’re right, Dino.
I always tell people to look up repair videos before they buy an amp. Fender amps of the last 30 years are truly disgusting. I've even seen a Handwired deluxe reverb that was pitiful.
God bless you.for helping that customer out. I can imagine they aren't fun to work on. This thing is just insulting. Damn
thats a great suggestion. I did the same thing when I needed to buy a new coffee machine. I called the Coffee machine repair man.
I own one and two 007s. These sound fantastic. It’s a pity Fender didn’t build them with serviceability in mind. One of their best sounding amps with a flawed construction. They need to make a hand wired model that can stand the test of time.
I could not have expressed it better. Yes it sounds great. No, I would never own one. What a pity, Fender.
No issue with your "light approach"! Love your work, explinations, attention to detail, everything! Having recently had my amp repaired by you, I understand the mite required getting through the back-log, but your videos are great! Keep them coming.
Wow. You have blown me away with your generous comments, Glen. You have made my day.
I've built an 5e3 kit some months ago and pretty much understood almost everything about it, and even managed to troubleshoot it into making it very quiet (yes beside solving the ground loops and grounding unused inputs it was the led pilot light powered by the 6.3 circuit witch was causing the big hum). But anyway today i got myself an used Bassbreaker 15 and this great video made me aware of an possible issue that might come along. Thank you for a very nice video and some very useful insights about this amp.
Good work on your kit, George. I think 90% of noise/hum issues are caused by bad grounding and the filament heaters. I am a believer in the "up and over" approach of well twisted filament wiring.
Its disappointing with the Bassbreaker build. It sounds good but a nightmare to service. I wonder if the Classic 30 engineer got a job at Fender?
@@theguitaramptech back to the BB15 I am looking into some static noise (pretty high ground floor noise) that comes from the FX loop when I switch on a cheap digital delay pedal stuck in there, and looking in the service manual everything is layed out on the back pcb (from the fx loop to the reverb and so on). I think they were thinking about protecting all of that with the diodes in case of a power tube fail on the expense of the power tubes. I wonder how does this layout compare to the (new) Marshall DSL line witch I think is comparable in terms of features and might be a better implementation of all that (haven't heard of many problems about those models).
PS I was thinking of clipping those diodes to prevent any future red plating but I think I will wait with a spare pair of tubes and see when or if the issue migh appear.
A great description of the schematics!
I can only try :) Thank you
Good to see you back in action. Hello from Chicago!
Hi Dennis. Good to hear from you. We are in Week 7 of the Delta Lockdown in Sydney, so I have had a chance to catch up on my repairs and do another video. Do you have a preference for my future videos? Of course, I will do more repairs, but I am thinking of some propellor-head reviews of pedals and amps using FFTs and Spectrum analysis. There are so many good people doing "ear" tests, I'm thinking I may go the "Full Nerd". I have a few Tech Teaching ideas, too. Your thoughts?
I miss Chicago. I did one of my corporate shows there many years ago (2007?) and did the usual tourist places and music venues. You can imagine how excited a boy from Aus became when the train stopped at La Grange (even if it wasn't the ZZ Top version). If this plague ever passes, I am so desperate to get back to the USA after 28 gigs, 5 holidays and an eagle tattoo. Stay safe, Dennis.
Excelent Sleuthing there Sir. 👍🕵♂
Thanks Koz!
I like how you go through the Schems, would be useless without them, wouldn't know what's going on.
Thanks Green. I'm glad the schematics proved useful.
I was so close to picking up one of these OR a Classic 30.....thank you for saving me the headache. I'm keeping my Nace.......
Hi Norman. Yes, it’s a shame that two amplifiers that sound very good, are just horrible to work on. The service cost is unnecessarily high.
Hey, long time no hear from..! I've been learning lots from all sorts of other tech's online...Great fix, and interesting explanations about the circuitry...Thanks for sharing, and don't stay away so long..! Stay safe..Ed..uk..😀
You are so right, Ed. As soon as the last lockdown lifted, every muso in the country thought the gigs were coming back....and then along came the Delta dawn. At least I can do more videos.
@@theguitaramptech My mate & I did our first duo gig since our lockdown, a couple of weeks ago..Just about remembered how to set up the gear..🤣🤣
@@edwardhannigan6324 I so understand that. Ed 😂
As usual, a most welcome return to the TH-cam-sphere. Strong work, Sir! This extended my understanding of cathode biasing. Just got done rebiasing a Princeton I built from scratch but was red plating, so tube bias has been on my mind. I hope your lockdown passes soon. Stay healthy! Regards from Minnesota, USA, the land of walleye fishing and frost giants.
Thank you so much Andy. I’ve been to so many places in the USA but not to Minnesota…yet
Walleye are a fun and reportedly tasty sport fish (haven't caught any myself, not too many places for walleye in my New England state, though I hear they taste like yellow perch) ---- but Walleye might seem tame to an Australian because they have Barramundi down there! A toothy Muskellenge, however, might make an impression on an Australian....but they also have Barracuda, so....
@@goodun2974 Walleye are quite tasty, yes! I think they taste better than perch. I don't know about freshwater Barramundi, but I do know Barracuda would be wildly more difficult to get into the boat! Of course, that is true of most salt water fish.
@@goodun2974 I wish I knew more about fishing. I have difficulty catching a barrumundi laying on the ice in the fish shop.
@@theguitaramptech , my grandfather introduced me to fishing when I was 5. It's the only sport I've ever cared to participate in. I used to prefer the challenge of fishing with artificial lures but I have a bad shoulder and casting repeatedly gets kinda painful, so I am often relegated to using bait. Arthritis is making a lot of activities difficult these days, including electronics work. As Bette Davis once said, " old age ain't for sissies!".
Fender really don't care about serviceablity, I tried to get a circuit board for a fender amp back in 2004 and they said no! I would have to buy a new amp! The guy on the phone was very unfriendly! Never bothered with them since, started building my own amplifiers in 2005, still using the first one I built for gigs to this day!
Yes, it is always sad to see who wants great company that was run by people who had a passion for their product, now replaced with accountants who only look at the bottom line.
Excellent work with your amp. I’m envious, but I am so swamped with repair work that it may be a long time coming for me.
Great video and well explained. I picked up a second BB15 which had an intermittent issue of the leads of the Bass and Mid pots shorting out against the chassis which then made them inoperable and the Treble control then acted like the volume. I placed a strip of electrical tape across them to test and it worked great, issue is gone. I should have put nylon washers as a spacer over the pots but didn't want to open it up again lol.
Just thought I'd share in case you came across this issue. It's a great sounding amp, I've recorded all of the music on my channel using BB15's.
Thanks Dennis. I love hearing about home remedies like this! Well done, mate. Yes, the BB15 sounds great, but its a disgrace to Fender that a customer has to attach electrical tape to stop shorts and make it work. You shouldn't have to do that.
@@theguitaramptech What make is your tube bias tester? What calculations were you making, were you calculating cathode current bias from the voltage measurement? Can you spell out the math please? :)
@@DennisCameronMusic I have a few bias testers. I nearly always use the EuroTubes one for cathode-biased amps because it will directly measure Plate to Cathode voltage. It also gives me a reading of Plate current (with no screen component). From that, we calculate power (P=VI) and then divide by the theoretical maximum dissipation of an EL84 to give us a % dissipation at idle. There are many ways of finding Plate current, but this is quick and accurate.
The lazy person's way of biasing is to use the manufacturers' bias voltage. The “Near-Enough” Tech’s way is to calculate the % dissipation as I show here. I don’t think I showed on this video, ( I have of many other videos) but my preferred way is checking the actual performance of the tubes on an oscilloscope. That is REAL. I cross-check with the Plate Current. Any other way of biasing is “assumed typical”. One EL84 may have a maximum dissipation of 10W, and another has 14W. An oscilloscope doesn’t lie.
Great amp. Sad it's difficult to work on. Glad mine's been running great (3 Years on).I've used a hum x on the the cord from the start. Quit amp. Thanks for the video.
I must admit that it sounded better than I expected. Personally, I wouldn't own one simply because of it service unfriendliness (=$$$)
@@theguitaramptech good excuse to let the wife know I'd like new better one when it goes. Like a badcat or matchless.
@@anthonycashero7605 of course Anthony. I am sure she will understand. My Ex wife certainly did.
Amazing! Thanx for another great lesson!
Glad you liked it, Andre. Thank you for your kind words
That's a fun amp to disassemble. I wonder why the bean counters that run Fender now would allow the unnecessary expense of diodes that aren't necessary?
I have asked myself the exact same question. No idea. If the idea is to protect the EL84s, the tubes will be passing over 160mA before the Zener kicks in, by which stage the EL84 will make Chernobyl look like a fun day at the park.
I had ordered not once but twice, Supro Black Magick Reverb 25 watt head from Zzounds. Both times it was delivered with blown tubes. Viewing through the back of the amp, I noticed the whiteness of the tubes. I never plugged them up and immediately returned back to Zzounds. They offered to replace the tubes before I sent the second unit back to which I declined. I assumed it’s a quality control issue with Supro.
That’s very disappointing. I wish I could say it was rare but most of these once great companies are run by accountants who just want to sell product.
I think the game is 'Planned Obsolescence'.
Yep, with a side-game of "Let's make it cheap, and damn the maintenance".
I've got one on my bench with almost EXACTLY the same issue. My zener just turned into a low-ohm resistor. I've already taken the dang thing apart to get at it, so I'm just going to replace it, I suppose. This is, without a doubt, the least repair-friendly amp I've ever worked on. Just a total nightmare. I give myself a 50-50 chance of getting all the connectors back in the right place.
Do you have a suggestion for zener values that might be less likely to burn out, but still keep the amp biased as intended? Maybe go up to 39V 10W?
Yiasou, Ted. The Ballbreaker is a PITA. I can't see any other use for the Zener other than what I described in the video. It would certainly add to the repair bill if you ventured forth with removing that PCB, in addition to compromising those shitty connectors. If you go that way, replace it with a higher current rating.
@@theguitaramptech Just cut em out and throw em away UNLESS the amp is still under warranty in which case you voided it. Parts are made of unobtainium (reverb card and mode selector switch) if you're not an approved service center and even then if the amp is out of warranty G-d help you.
@@1Dougloid The parts support for Fender in Australia is pretty poor. I agree with "cut-out and simplify", Robert.
@@theguitaramptech A zener in the cathode string is one of the dumbest ideas I have seen in years. I mean, who does that? Why? There must be 100 million cathode biased guitar amps that didn't feel the need.
amazing explanation and a cool fix.
Great content
Thank you John 🙏
Best amp repairer out there
Aww shucks ❤️
Hello! great video! I am about to get a bassbreaker 15 in a trade and was just looking up serviceability. I'm no tech, but I am curious and like to get my hands dirty (without getting electrocuted) :) .
Out of curiosity, did you completely remove the diodes? or literally just clip one leg and leave it in there? Is simply clipping them ok? or should I consider removing them with the iron?
Thanks! Awesome content!
Hi Pedro. Clipping it out is sufficient. The BB15 sounds excellent but sh*t to work on! Good luck
@@theguitaramptech thank you! :)
Many decades ago I Was in a computer electronics tech school.early on I was acing everything but not really learning / understanding what I was “acing”…we got to how a capacitor would release its stored energy by a delayed voltage to it….that was it for me , I aske how it was not constantly releasing and was looked at like I was an idiot and never answered beyond “don’t worry about it ….etc” ….I quit within a week . I can learn , but not without an understanding of how or why ….in hindsight I know i should’ve stuck it out, and eventually would have pieced it altogether. At 20/21 yrs old all I could think was of how overwhelmed I was and how far behind (in my mind )I was …a family member said if you’re no sure it’s for you ,it’s better to quit earlier than later ……long point I’m making , though this is interesting and wish I could follow your detailed explanation ….🎉this is beyond me lol.. am only just into the video,but am glazing over like I did all those decades ago haha…I love what he Bassbreaker “promises” (15 watts ) but scared to consider getting one because of this “red plate“ issue I keep seeing in reviews etc. I’m curious if it was ever worked out, but notice few places sell the 15 W bass breaker now and wonder if fender discontinued the 15 watt and went with the 007 and the 30 only ?due to the red plate issue of the 15?
Hi Vic. I am sure your family member meant well, but I believe in "staying with it". The knowledge will make sense one day. I have mixed feelings about the Bassbreaker. It sounds great, but it is terrible to repair. This is why I would never own one. I am sure there are many Bassbreakers on the market which are still going strong, but I still cannot recommend you buy one.
@@theguitaramptech thanks
I've got a bassbreaker 007 head that hums.
This is a common problem with this amp.
Even when new, the amp hums.
The amp sounds amazing except for the hum.
The amp hums at low and high volume.
The BB sure does sound great when it going properly.
Very good at your craft.
Wow, thank you, Jimi. That means a lot coming from you! Sorry to be personal, but I am so happy that you've recovered from that mild case of death 52 years ago?😂
Thanks! Great video!
Thanks Jedi. I appreciate that 🙏
Hi Chris, a bit late on your video, I want to remove the zeners on mine, but I’m not very educated on electronics, I do know how to solder and that’s about it, I repairs stuff watching tutorials like yours thank you very much!! I was wondering if I clip the zeners and leave the tips soldered, is that enough? Or should I I make an effort to unsolder them? I don’t know if leaving the tips is dangerous or if it will cause static noise on the signal, thanks for your help and keep the great work! Greetings from Mexico!!
Thanks for your email. I appreciate you watching and subscribing to the channel. Because the Zeners are paralled to the cathode resistor, it is fine to just clip them out.
@@theguitaramptech hey thank you very much for the response, keep the amazing videos coming!
Thanks, this is a great video. You really explain well to the lay man. I bought a bassbreaker 45 combo a couple years ago, should I be thinking of it as unserviceable? Or just going to take more time (aka more money) to put right if anything goes wrong? Thanks from the UK!
Spot on Rhys. Most of the issues are solvable but it will take the Tech more time. It’s a shame they sound so good, or else I’d say get rid of it now.
I think it's very easy to complain, but you have to be realistic. If you want a small valve amplifier that sounds great, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg then you have to buy something like the Fender Bassbreaker or a Peavey Classic 30. There is a whole bunch of competition around that price point: $500 - $600, which means that in order to make a profit they have to use the most economic manufacturing techniques that they can. Spending time in the design phase to worry about maintainability and servicing = more cost in the manufacturing phase. If you want a valve amplifier that sounds great and is easily serviced, then you will pay more - and sometimes a great deal more for a fully hand-wired boutique amplifier.
Yes, I do agree with you ... partly. But to build an amp like the BB or the C30 focused solely on cheap construction and not reliable ownership is poor engineering. My go-to example is the Vox AC15. The Hot Rod series and the Blues Junior (once their stupid design issues are resolved) are much cheaper to maintain. Don't misunderstand me, the Ballbreaker sounds very nice...but I would never own one.
Just watched a video before this one of a person completely saying fuck trying to fix that. Good job man. Most of us don’t know the repair side when buying an amp.
HAHA! Thank you Tony. I share the frustrations of many Techs with the transition of the major manufacturers from " and amp should be repairable on the road" to today's "sorry mate. This amp is not economically viable to fix". However, we all have to remember that the amp on the bench was somebody's pride and joy at one stage.
Hi! My Bugera V22 Infinium is blowing the power tubes as well... it’s very disappointing 🤷♂️
How safe is this to do- just opening it up and snipping it out? Are any precautions needed or should I get a tech to do it? It seems straightforward otherwise.
You have answered your own question, Danmist. If you are not sure what precautions you need to take, PLEASE don't go inside the amp.
Hello:
I had a Bassbraker 15 but it had a problem with the FX Loop. It made noise. When searching the forums, it was mentioned that this amp had a flaw in the effects loop that caused it to get noisy.
Do you know if this problem occurs on your amp when using the FX LOOP?
Perhaps fender has already fixed the problem in newer versions of this amp.
I'm sorry but it was long enough ago that I don't remember anything about the FX loop. I haven't heard of any fixes for it.
There was an FX Loop problem when they first came out.
Fender's 'Fix' was to fit an isolated Jack Socket on the FX Send.
I believe that was All they changed but not 100% certain of that.
I bought one in 2017 and it's behaved itself perfectly.
Fingers crossed though eh ? 😉
So far, I've made just one little Mod myself.
In order to use a TwoNotes CaptorX with it I've added a Break Jack in the direct Amp to Speaker line so that I can connect the Main Speaker jack out to the CaptorX and then feed a line bwck to the combo's speaker without upsetting the amplifier.
Thanks for your info, man. I just instasuscribed. It's so useful for all of us. I play SRV, Buchanan & Winter music but also stuff like Hendrix, Gallagher, Moore & stuff alike. I'm a blues kid, but also loves hardrock. I'm thinking about gettint a Bassbreaker 15 for home use & rehearshals, 'cuz I've been told they take pedals well, but suddenly your video comes up. Should I avoid Bassbreaker and go for the BluesJrIV? does BluesJr takes pedals well?
The Bassbreaker sounds very nice...until it develops a fault. The BJr is also built to a price and has its own issues, but it sounds good (after a setup by a Tech who knows what he's doing!) and is easier to repair than a BB15. Most amps that have a valve input stage with decent clean headroom , like the BB and the BJr , will take pedals well. Also have a look at the Vox AC15. Its a step above the Fenders at this price.
@@theguitaramptech I really appreciate your answer, man.
I'mma look for it.
Thanks and greetings from Mexico.
@@jhonathanmoreno73 Thank you, Jhonathan . Many people don't take the time to say "Thank you" to my answers. I have wonderful memories from my visit to Mexico.
@@theguitaramptech You're awesome, man. I think your info and pointers can help us and save us for making a bad decision and avoid some issues.
Keep the good work and content. Please.
And I'm happy you enjoyed your time in my country. I know my country have BIG problems in a lot of ways, but not everything it's that bad. So happy you enjoyed those times.
This amp does sound Awesome... hard to dial in a bad tone
Thanks for your comment, Chicken. I must admit, for being such a PITA to work on, the sound of the Bassbreaker was surprisingly good. To my taste, I still prefer a Blues Junior that's been properly set up. Even though the BJr is on a PCB, it's still WAY easier to work on and to do simple setup improvements. .
@@theguitaramptech fair enough. Ive owned a LOT of different tube amps over the years, and the Bassbreaker 15 has been the only one I've truly loved the sound off (and not sold on!).
@@chickenbites8877 that is so good. Most of us never find our sonic nirvana.
Was going to look at one of these tomorrow on CL, I think I'll just stick with a B's Jr....
Definitely stay with the blues junior, Reid. Bias it properly, replace the plastic input jack, and eventually upgrade the speaker, and your blues junior will sound amazing. 🥰
I would have thought that the zener is there to protect the bypass capacitors from over voltage.
That certainly is another way of looking at the reason for having the Zener. It would only come on at a massive 210mA. Thank you for that.
Thanks for the video! Very informative. I have a BB15 in gunmetal grey that I bought Oct 2021. I don’t play loud, I live in an apartment but last week the volume stopped on med and high gain stage settings. Low gain kept working. I took it in for a warranty fix and they said a tube had to be replaced. For low volume playing I’m surprised a tube went so fast. Is this type a thing a flaw in this amp’s design? I’ve been liking the Vibro Champ and thinking it may be better amp for me in my apartment. May look at a trade. Also like the Princetons. Any suggestions?
Are they blowing the Zener diodes because of people using them with mis-matched speaker impedance?
I don't think that would cause them to blow.
Any idea what would cause it? Also, are these diodes on the 007 as well?
Hello, thanks for an informative video. I have a BB30r, it came faulty so I had an immediate warranty fix and the amp has been working just fine over the past 2 years, but this scared the sh*t out of me. Since the amp is still new, I'm thinking of a trade to get a good deal in the second hand market. Should I swap it for something used and older but of higher quality? I'm looking into hand-wired "boutique" amplifiers, like a Cornell Romany plus 12. They say those are easier to fix
What are the slots in the metal chassis next to the EL84's for? Watching this on a small screen (phone) it looks like there are exposed components visible through these slots. Are those the zeners? Or bias-monitoring points?
You are testing my last remaining memory cell with that question. Slots are usually for cooling. I can't recall if the high wattage resistors were under there. Sorry, mate.
@@theguitaramptech , whatever component was visible through those slots was small, almost tiny; couldn't possibly be rated for more than 1 watt.....
@@goodun2974 That repair was returned to the customer way earlier than my memory can recall. Generally anything past a week is wiped clean from my internal hard drive. I wish I could answer more fully.
Wow great video and very interesting, thankyou. I was interested to get one of these as I wanted an EL84 amp and these sounds good but I'm not buying landfill. Fender can go jump in their landfill hole with their rubbish.
HAHAHA!
"...unless you got tiny wee little hands..."
Fender Shop Elves confirmed.
Ahh hahahahahahaha! Absolutely agree, Walt.
What do you think of gold lion Tubes ,
????
I think they're great Michael. I don't often recommend them to customers because of the cost. I installed them in my AC10. Please make sure the bias is set correctly. You want these babies to last as long as possible (I have assumed they're power tubes. As you know you don't need to bias preamp tubes).
This is such a great and informative video. By cutting the zener diodes do you mean desolder or can I just literally snip the two legs (which may be easier). Will the rest of circuit/current run fine with the zener legs shipped? Thanks so much!
Either would work. Even just snipping one leg would work if you were confident the lifted leg would not touch anything else.
How can a company design something so badly? With those zeners in place, how long would a new tube last?
Agreed. It seems like each of the major manufacturers take turns in being stupid.
I have the bassbreaker 30r.is the circuitthe same.I have 2 tubes of the four red plating
Ouch. Good luck
How much would a repair like this cost? I have this amp, and I love the way it sounds.
Hi Dave. I don't recall what the repair bill was, but because of its assembly, it would be more than an equivalent amp, such as an AC15, which I really like. Yes, the BB15 sounds great, but I would never own one because its lack of serviceability.
@@theguitaramptech Thank you for this information. I just bought a Bassbreaker 15 a couple weeks ago, and I'm going to return it since it's already red plating. You just saved me a lot of future headaches and expenses.
Can you recommend any low wattage amp (in the same price range) that has tones similar to the mid and low gain settings of this Bassbreaker, but something that also serviceable?
Happy 2 years in Neutral Bay in the late 90s, but now living on the opposite side of the planet. Otherwise I'd bring my bassbreaker to your workshop.
Intermittent noise from the reverb unit. Any ideas?
You lived in a nice part of Sydney, Anthony. I'd be checking the connections to the Reverb card.
@@theguitaramptech thanks for taking the time to say hi.
And thanks for the advice.
I had the best time in Sydney.
I would spend mornings in coffee shops, lunchtimes busking (I fell in love with Paul Kelly and Neil Finn)
Afternoons working in Metropolis Records in Neutral Bay and evenings on the North Shore beaches. We lived above a bottle shop too, so life was a party!
I'll have a go at my amp this weekend and let you know how I get on.
Great video i am having this problem with my bb15 i took it to 2 different techs neither could fix it im thinking of trying this. Not sure though..
What would happen if i only did the one that was red plating and not the other one
Let me know how you get on, Destry.
Quiero comorar uno pero es buena opcion?
Hi Zona. It sounds good when it is working, but if it fails it will cost you too much money. It is not one of Fender's best amplifiers.
Thanks Master 🥺 i Buy jazzchorus
I have this amp it is red plating the first tube only like everyone else’s that bought this amp.
I’ve had the amp since about 2018 and haven’t bothered with the warranty which I’m sure is expired. Fender should be ashamed of themselves, I’m going to call them for a giggle and tell them they should replace it entirely or repair it for free.
I can’t use it and it will cost probably $250-300 for the rapier in labor mostly. I’m never buying Fender again … I own a few other amps including Fender and they’re fine. Just can’t believe an experienced company would market this garbage.
You ae right, J. But its not only Fender. The JTM 30 and 60 should also have been recalled by Marshall but they are still floating around bringing sadness. Many manufacturers have their dark days.
Unintentional ASMR.
Hahaha! So unintentional that I don’t even know what ASMR is. 😂
They sound great but wow what a terrible amp design, shame on any company forcing things to be disposable in these times
Well said shughy. It would never have happened in Leo’s day.
Hi! Some techs say this amp is very hard to repair (sometime is not even possible)... is it true? Cheers!
You bet. It’s a total PITA! similar stupid layout to a Peavey Classic 30.
@@theguitaramptech Wow! Such a shame... would you say the Marshal DSL40 is a reliable amp?
the electrons got out of the tube cut the Zener's out bin them
Hilarious, Ian. I captured the escaped electrons and returned them to the tube.
Fender mustang micro headphone amp
Fender should have made a head based on their blues series...jr or deluxe
They are definitely better to work on, TH, but they're not without their issues either. Plastic PCB-mounted input jacks are a common failure point. I think it's irresponsible engineering that fender uses plastic shaft pots on the BJr with no chassis nuts. And God bless Fender for keeping Techs fed with that those high-wattage voltage-dropping resistors on the HotRod series that cause serious heat damage to the PCB. Sadly, we live in a time where the great amp companies are ruled by accountants and not people like Leo or Jim.
😄😎
Greetings FMF.
I have one in pieces but it was in the preamp tubes im new to this did not understand the basics so using it for parts f ing Fender and this boxed in system do not buy this amp at any cost
I feel your pain, John 😢
Great solution to an ill designed, impossible amp.
Good sound, but….nah.
The worst amp chassis design ever
Too right Squizzy. The Classic 30 gets runner-up in The “Who The F**k Had That Idea” category.
I just flick the unnecessary Zeners out with a long screwdriver whilst heating the solder. Sh*T Amp design again! (Alan, Anvil Amplifiers Auckland)
Love your style, Jackie. Greetings from across the ditch.
@@theguitaramptech Hi, I was using my wife Jackie's F/B profile.
@@alanfarmer5730 good tactic 🤫