Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

[Zhangliqun]

Have changed a lot of components -- the usual recommended resistors, jacks, etc, and all worked fine for many years. Lately if I hit the strings hard (on any guitar so I know it's not the guitar), the volume cuts out entirely, then back in like an erratic tremolo. Any thoughts, gang?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Is the speaker possibly half blown? You know the kind where problems start showing up during high cone excursions?

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

No, the sound is solid clean and utterly free of distortion when it comes through. It's almost like a noise gate working in reverse.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

How old is the amp and has it ever had a cap job done ? [ P.S. filter caps ]

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Cold/cracked solder joint? Had this happen in another pcb amp I owned. Finding it is the biggest problem....fixing is easy.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Wonder if it's one of those "fixed" resistors...

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Another thought for you David: they are notorious for problems with the channel relays. If they are flipping back back and forth you hear the muting going on and off.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

I leave it on clean all the time, have no use for the OD channel, it sounds like stepping in a pile of dry leaves with dog dookie under it. There's no distortion, fizz or buzz happening, just cutting out like a switch. For the longest time I thought it was just the Tele I test pickups with, that it had problems with the switch.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Another thought for you David: they are notorious for problems with the channel relays. If they are flipping back back and forth you hear the muting going on and off.

I think you may be onto something here. I just went over and flipped it to the OD channel and no matter where I set the OD master, no signal. Must be rolling over to that channel when I hit a big chord somehow. So how does one fix the channel relay?

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Apparently it could also be the channel switch. Anyone have a line on where to get a replacement?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

is there a way to bypass the switch to test if thats the issue?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Maybe this?

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/17117-playing-it-cool-with-a-hot-rod-deluxe

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Worth a shot...

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

Are those ceramic resistors?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Fender Hotrod Problem - Not the Usual Stuff

View attachment 83575
View attachment 83576
View attachment 83577