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Fender Amp question - can't turn it down

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 12:09 pm
by anne
I have a fender princeton 112 amp (65 watt single 12" 1 input)
It was in storage over the winter, and I've been playing it for a few weeks.

The volume is either off at 0, or really really loud at 1. It will continue to get louder as you turn it up towards 10, with it maxing out around 8.

I used contact cleaner and made sure there wasn't anything in there that would short it -
before I pull it apart, does anyone have any ideas of what else to do?

Thanks

Re: Fender Amp question - can't turn it down

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 1:46 pm
by allends
anne wrote:I have a fender princeton 112 amp (65 watt single 12" 1 input)
It was in storage over the winter, and I've been playing it for a few weeks.

The volume is either off at 0, or really really loud at 1. It will continue to get louder as you turn it up towards 10, with it maxing out around 8.

I used contact cleaner and made sure there wasn't anything in there that would short it -
before I pull it apart, does anyone have any ideas of what else to do?

Thanks
I had an older Peavey amp that did something similar but not quite the same. On that amp the pot needed to be flushed with the stuff you can find at http://www.caig.com . Another amp of mine had big electrical trouble of a different kind. On that one it was an important capacitor in the power stage. I mention this only because it is useful to know that amplifiers with old capacitors don't like being left idle for long periods of storage. The electrolytes get screwed up when not engaged, so it is good to turn the amp on once in a while.

I'm no expert. I've just had problems and had to fix them.

Anyway, you've been playing this amp again for a while so I would suspect the potentiometer, not a capacitor. I hope it's that simple! :) I'd hate to think you need to resolder something that has come loose.

-Allen

Re: Fender Amp question - can't turn it down

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:14 pm
by ernstinen
Hmmm --- Fender Princetons were 15 watt tube amps. I'm sure you're talking about not a '65 Princeton, but a 65 watt Princeton which is solid state, correct?

In that case, I'd sell it immediately! :mrgreen: Just joking! :lol:

Anne, I don't know. I'm not an expert, but it seems like the volume pot is fried. I doubt any pot cleaner will help. I'd change out the volume pot first, and THEN sell it! ;)

I checked out 15-watt tube Princetons, which are going up to $1000 these days, but solid state ones can be used as a nice anchor for your boat! (Sorry --- in a silly mood!) --- But try exchanging the volume pot first.

Best of luck,

Ern 8-) :)

Re: Fender Amp question - can't turn it down

Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:55 pm
by Len911
I would agree with Allen and Ern. The volume pot potentiometer, it's probably like a car heater fan, when the resistors go you get off or the fan blows at full speed.

I found a website that sell the potentiometers, but there are probably 50 model numbers, and they are all 7,05 eur or about $8.65.
So that probably gives you an idea of the part price anyway. Looks like there are 4 solder joints to the pcb board.

Re: Fender Amp question - can't turn it down

Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 5:06 am
by t4mh
Is this an older tube amp or a newer solid state amp?

Keith