Fender hot rod deluxe-- no sound

chris706 · Newbie Alert Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

i have a fender hot rod deluxe and am getting no sound. The light on the top is lighting up. I know absolutely nothing about amps. All I can say that in standby or the on position, the three smaller tubes glow and the power tubes don't. Do I possibly need new power tubes? --Help!!

tw001_tw · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:48 am Post subject:

I hope you did basic things, and if not, no harm in doing them... like:

remove all pedals, & etc. from the chain and go from guitar right to amp.
triple check all volume knobs involved.
when amp is OFF (and cooled down) - remove and put back in the tubes
double check wiring that goes to the speaker
remove anything connected to the effects loop
disconnect the amps foot switch (if you have one) and change channels, etc.
using the buttons on top.

if after these things you still have no sound - if the amp is on (not just stand
by) do the power tubes get warm (or hot)?

chris706 · Newbie Alert Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Did everything you said and still no sound. The three small tubes glow and get warm and the power tubes don't glow nor do they get warm. Left it in the on mode not standby. Everything functions as it should such as when I switch channels, the channel selection light comes on and the overdrive and more overdrive lights operate correcrtly.

tw001_tw · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

hummm... interesting.

Well, the next step I would do if I were you is to find a junk* set of 6l6's and
try them out. After that, I'm a 'voltage taking' type of fellow. If you are too,
great... if not, beyond changing tubes and double checking cables & connections,
there isn't much left to do, except find a shop to take the amp too.

* by junk I mean, on the cheap side.

chris706 · Newbie Alert Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

Sounds good. I'll go ahead and replace them and see what happens. if that doesn't work I will probably take it to a shop. Thanks so much for your help. will post a message if the new tubes cured it or not when i getthem. --

Herb · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject:

Sounds to me like the transformer isn't providing power to the tubes. If there isn't a fusible link of some sort that has blown in that signal path; it's going to get expensive. There may also be no power getting to the transformer. Broken wire?
_________________
Yer guitar pickin' friend,
Herb
"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"
Doghouse Jazz

tortoto · Newbie Alert Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Structo · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

Yes sometimes the jacks on the FX loop can get dirty/corroded and make poor contact.
They are the switched type jack.

Of course the best way is to take the amp apart and clean/replace them but sometimes just taking a 1/4" plug and plugging it in and out a few times will get it working again.
I'm not familiar enough with that amp but it may have a interior HT fuse that has blown.

That could be a symptom of either a shorted power tube or an indication that something inside has fried.

If you don't feel comfortable going inside the amp take it to a qualified tech.

Remember filter caps can hold a charge and kill you if you don't know what you are doing.