DRRI dead, do I put it in trash and buy a Tone Master?

[Arfage]

Seriously though, I switched it on the other day and nothing. Checked the fuse, seems ok. The lamp doesn't come on, and yes the bulb is ok. I know that's hardly enough info, but busy week, but I can get it on 'the bench' this weekend. Any ideas where to start troubleshooting next?

It's a 2013, I didn't mod it, planned to ride it hard in the warranty phase but of course, I'm out of warranty now.

 

[Arfage]

Start at the very beginning. Try a different power cord. If the pilot light doesn't come on there's probably no voltage getting to the transformer in the first place. Check where the A.C cord comes in. Test the fuse because many times they'll blow inside the chrome end where you can't see it. If by "nothing" you really mean "NOTHING" that's probably it. Anything charred or burnt?

 

[jumpbluesdude]

If you want to sell it as is, pm me and we can figure out a price.

 

[Fmalitz]

Are the tubes lighting up?
Bad jack?
Take that puppy and put an eyelet board in it. Not that hard and now you have a hand wired amp. I did one years ago. Iused the existing smooth pots etc.

Why bother? A decent technician can fix that amp in an hour, Assuming it doesn’t need a new power transformer. Even then, that’s not difficult to put in but usually you have to order one. Independent fender service centers do tube units all the time. The real problem comes in with intermittent issues. If the amp is dead or constantly malfunctioning, it’s easier to diagnose.

 

[Musekatcher]

Fix it yourself and double the gratification, or enlist a crafty tech, help him pay his light bill, and still be gratified. Win-win.

 

[BorderRadio]

So I'm catching wind that I might need a new PT.

Again, I'm looking for more info to weight all my options. I love the amp, it's been a rock all these years. Depends on the tech cost, and I'm willing to a little more work.

 

[Bean1871]

Never throw out an amp. Donate it to a friend.
Sincerely,
your friend, Bill

 

[Dik Ellis]

If you are really going to throw it in the trash, I'll take it. I have a good tech guy.

 

[Dik Ellis]

If you are really going to throw it in the trash, I'll take it. I have a good tech guy.

I'm a Mesa Boogie guy. Not sure what you budget is, but Randall Smith got started by modding Fenders.

 

[Jim W]

Mine crapped out. Took to the local amp guru and it turned out to be a bad solder connection. $45 as good as new.

 

[Fireball519]

Things being what they are, I'm going to fix it myself. That means a recap and trace repair--whatever else is in the heater circuit. If problems persist though, then it's out of my league and I'll have to think about going to the guy who worked on it under warranty (trem noise fix). I guess to answer that more directly, I would sell it, only for the right price

I understand completely. Much luck in the repairs! I would be curious of what that right price would be though. Feel free to pm me

 

[jeffhigh]

So I'm catching wind that I might need a new PT.

Again, I'm looking for more info to weight all my options. I love the amp, it's been a rock all these years. Depends on the tech cost, and I'm willing to a little more work.

I really doubt that you need a new PT
The fuse has probably done its job and protected it. You can check by finding the input side of the fuse and looking for 6.3v AC
Fix the fuse holder and obviously damaged caps and then go looking for a short downstream in the heater circuit. The candidates would be faulty wiring or the tube sockets, the pilot lamp or holder or a shorted tube

 

[Dacious]

I'd say your blown cap shorted internally and took the fuse out. Some tubes lit and others not, indicates maybe a bad solder connection at a tube socket. I don't know whether that board carries the heater traces but I presume not.

 

[jeffhigh]

That fuse is apparently on the heater circuit only, no capacitors fed by it

 

[Mike M]

LOVE my TMDR. Can set the attenuator to .5 or .2 watts and get a great over driven sound late at night in my house without waking up a soul.

The Firmware update has made it even greater. Took out the Bright Cap setting, and the Reverb is perfect now, even at low volume.

 

[brogh]

@BorderRadio

did you get a look at RobRob's website ? Link

 

[jondanger]

So I'm catching wind that I might need a new PT.

Again, I'm looking for more info to weight all my options. I love the amp, it's been a rock all these years. Depends on the tech cost, and I'm willing to a little more work.

What makes you think the PT is shot?

 

[BorderRadio]

What makes you think the PT is shot?

Another member mentioned by DM that the fuse was in the B+ high voltage line and therefore something major shorted out, possibly the PT.

I suppose I'll post some better pictures, but I'm heading out to Tejas for the next 5 days, no time for amp work right now.

 

[soulgeezer]

I once had a guitar player who experienced a similar issue. After wasting all kinds of time and frustration, he finally came to me. My first question: Is the amp plugged into the wall? Lo and behold, it was not.'

 

[omahaaudio]

Seriously though, I switched it on the other day and nothing. Checked the fuse, seems ok. The lamp doesn't come on, and yes the bulb is ok. I know that's hardly enough info, but busy week, but I can get it on 'the bench' this weekend. Any ideas where to start troubleshooting next?

It's a 2013, I didn't mod it, planned to ride it hard in the warranty phase but of course, I'm out of warranty now.

Get rid of it. Put an ad on Craigslist offering it free to the first caller. Someone more clever than you will figure out how to fix it and have years of trouble-free playing. You will have a new Tone Master. Everyone wins.