Amp Mod issue update: SOLVED

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crankyrayhanky

crankyrayhanky

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So I took my perfectly awesome amp and sent it to an CA amp modder (not Friedman) for a few modifications including Variac Power Scaling and all new tubes including burn in fees.The amp was modded and returned within days and to my horror has volume that is no louder than the strings of my guitar, less than TV. The 2 modded pots that were installed yield weird sounds when dialing them or even touching them, making me think there is a cold solder in there or a bad pot or something botched. I uninstalled and reinstalled each tube, tried the 1 extra 12ax7 I have in each slot, tried different power tubes- no change to the issue.

The modder says I need to follow a "procedure" and file with UPS. I suppose the box could have been dropped to cause this, but the box appears fine, as does the amp chasis. I'm thinking the mod was jarred loose during shipping, which is likely not a UPS issue.


Should I go ahead and let UPS pick it up, meaning they will inspect it (who at UPS is qualified for this?), then hope it goes back to the modder who fixes the issue without costing me for more bills.....or just take it local which could result in reversing some of these mods. The mods have glowing reviews and I was really stoked, now :cry:

I need to decide soon....

update:
Sent it back through the UPS "inspection". It was only there for a day or 2 then landed back in the modders hands.
Here's where it gets weird: he says the amp is working 100% (?)

Now I had a fully functioning Marshall amp that I was swapping in and out with the Diezel at my house- so all the other variables were the same for each amp (cords, guitar, etc).
I assume the modder is being honest here as there would no reason for him to be dishonest- he wouldn't quit on seeking a solution after 10 minutes (I actually saw when he received it in real time). So there are 3 possible causes:
  • The power cord I used was not a tight enough fit for the Diezel to work properly, while it was fine for the Marshall (I think I used 2 different power cords though when I was trouble shooting).
    The shipping that jostled a connection out of place then jostled it back into place (this is possible but totally improbable)
    Modder found a simple answer in a few minutes and is not being totally forthright (this makes little sense either as his communication and demeanor would contradict this? he genuinely seems to be trying to help me diagnose this issue and returned all of my calls immediately)

None of these options seem valid.

Amp came back to me after a week of being in the shop. It sounds glorious and the mods sound like I dreamed :rock:
Very perplexing though...
 
Sorry for your troubles Ray. :aww:

Who did the mod? :checkthisout:

Seems like it can be sent back to him to get repaired and given the once over again on HIS DIME. Since you never got it in working shape from his hands.
 
Make the guy that modded it, REPAIR IT !!!

Taking to a local guy will void any "warranty" type deal that you have with the mod guy.......if there is one. Either way, he will claim that changes had been made to his circuit, and he will not touch it again without a hefty fee.

If this occurred in the manner that you describe, and he does not want to take it back in to fix, you should warn others of his business practices, via the forums.
 
he will claim that changes had been made to his circuit, and he will not touch it again without a hefty fee
Click to expand...
I fear I'm already there, he's trying to push it off on UPS. Do I really want to pass this amp around?
Weird thing is, the reviews say this guy is a nice guy with excellent mods, including people who dealt with him in person (a reputable forum regular) Maybe I should go through this ridiculous procedure and let UPS pick it up IDK
 
That blows, Ray. I've got 100% feedback on eBay after a decade on it because the minute a buyer says they have a problem, I take care of it, even if it's on my dime. But to have a guy who did a service return it to you and pass it off on a shipper without even looking at it, is just lame.
 
crankyrayhanky":1s7mcz1s said:
(who at UPS is qualified for this?)
Click to expand...

No one :no: I would send a detailed letter on amp operation with it (in large marker or crayon :lol: :LOL: ) if you
decide to send it. The modder should really be taking care of this.
I feel for ya man!
 
it was Cameron!!!!! I know it!!!


















just kidding!! I hope this works out for you bro, this sucks!!
 
Sucks. Good luck....UPS f'd me over and now I don't ebay /PayPal at all anymore. Hope it all works out..
 
Given the douchey responses from the modder.....my moneys on surreal amps.
 
Returned within days. That would have been great if the amp didn't get damaged. My amps been at FJA for over 6 weeks now.
 
I would call Lowell at Hunt and see if he can look at it.
 
You should let everyone know who the modder is. Even if it ends up working out that's a pretty shitty "policy" that I wouldn't want to deal with.
 
If the amp was really damaged in shipping, and the box and chassis are in perfect shape, and the guy hasn't even seen it yet, how can he pass it off on UPS ??? If his "mod" is THAT fragile, what would happen if you gigged night after night with this thing ? Stuff gets jostled around in the back of a van or truck, temperature changes, set down a little hard by a roadie...whatever...it should still work, short of being dropped hard or having liquid poured into it while running.

Oh, and out the modder...he's not doing you any favors, and you might save someone else from being raked over the coals...
 
Everyone is right, the person that did the mod should be embarrassed and going out of his way to fix it. Let me share a couple of examples of great service similar to your experience... My Splawn Nitro suffered a switching board failure after 4 years, Scott replaced the board at no charge. I had a Caswell modded JCM800, which Tim updated 3 years later when he revised the mod, at no charge! Just to be sure I had the most current design because it had "his name" on it. The revised mod suffered an fx loop failure after about a year, and he told me which tube pins were passing signal, after offering to fix it. I checked out the tube, found a cracked solder joint, fixed it on my own, and he apologized for the bad solder, which really wasn't a huge deal. My Rocktron loop8 had one malfunctioning loop switch, but my rig was wired up through it and I couldn't afford down time. They sent me a new one, trusting me to return the defective one later.

I'm writing all this in hopes that A) You should realize that the best in the biz stand behind their work always B) You need to stick it to this guy, he sent you a non-working amp, he's 100% liable for that and I also agree you might share the name of the guy, that might get him to take his customers more seriously
 
Dude I am very sorry to hear this! Hope you can get it sorted.
 
OP - I feel your pain. Sucks to have that happen. Much like getting a muscle car back from a tuner with a new supercharger and the car won't start for you.

Having said that . . .


Solder joints aren't bulletproof, and even the best of builders can possibly have a bad solder joint. Are you positive that it's tied to the mods that are done and not something else that has failed? Case in point my Friedman modded Jet City amp has developed a bad solder joint somewhere on the board, but I have yet to locate it. Could possibly be from Friedman's mods, or could be from a stock part on the board. Both very plausible. Volume dropped to a level just like you described in the OP when I dimed the volume (just to see how loud it could be lol) and my guess is the vibrations knocked a joint loose. Fortunately for me I can diagnose and fix my own amps so that's one less worry for me.

My honest opinion I would probably go the UPS route first. Maybe pay a bench fee and have a qualified tech diagnose your amp. First and foremost is finding out what exactly the problem is, second step is determining how it happened, then third is finding out who is responsible. Can't point fingers right off the bat.

If you go UPS, over-document EVERYTHING. Multiple pictures, video clips, whatever it takes so you have documentation on your side and not 'he said/she said'.

Don't be afraid to ask the modder why he is choosing the UPS route and why another option isn't offered, but ask politely. Ask him what he thinks about a local tech giving it a once over.

Just trying to look at it from multiple angles...
 
If you are talking about Jens, I had Zero problems with my amp from him. I know things can happen, and nothing is 100%, but i hope everything works out.
 
update:
Sent it back through the UPS "inspection". It was only there for a day or 2 then landed back in the modders hands. I was freaked about nothing on that issue
Here's where it gets weird: he says the amp is working 100% (?)

Now I had a fully functioning Marshall amp that I was swapping in and out with the Diezel at my house- so all the other variables were the same for each amp (cords, guitar, etc).
I assume the modder is being honest here as there would no reason for him to be dishonest- he wouldn't quit on seeking a solution after 10 minutes (I actually saw when he received it in real time). So there are 3 possible causes:
  • The power cord I used was not a tight enough fit for the Diezel to work properly, while it was fine for the Marshall (I think I used 2 different power cords though when I was trouble shooting).
    The shipping that jostled a connection out of place then jostled it back into place (this is possible but totally improbable)
    Modder found a simple answer in a few minutes and is not being totally forthright (this makes little sense either as his communication and demeanor would contradict this? he genuinely seems to be trying to help me diagnose this issue and returned all of my calls immediately)

None of these options seem valid :doh: My gut feeling is the modder was honestly trying to help me. My gut is usually spot on.

Amp came back to me after a week of being in the shop. It sounds glorious and the mods sound like I dreamed :rock:
Very perplexing though...I'll just assume I was doing something stupid on my end? I've been playing for 30 years and have had plenty of amps, but I have had many bonehead moments and needless freakouts in my life. IDK

Bottom line: Amp slays!
 
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