VH4 died...while on the road. Please help

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mindseye

mindseye

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So I'm on the road since last Thursday with my 2011 blue face VH4 and when we got to the gig tonight I turned it on and all I get is a very low sound out of it, like a whisper volume.

I used a head from the band we are touring with to get threw the set then after started swapping tubes, I swapped out the first 4 starting at the input jack and nothing changed.
All four power tubes look fine and I swapped out each pair with a extra set without any change.

Anyone have any idea what I should look at next or any idea what the problem could be?

Thanks for looking!!
 
check tube fuses, could be its running on just a single tube and the lits don't lit - or something
cables - check them
loop jacks - patch serial loop and see if it gets better

plug guitar into serial return and crank master - how is the volume?
 
duesentrieb":qm2k8opq said:
check tube fuses, could be its running on just a single tube and the lits don't lit - or something
cables - check them
loop jacks - patch serial loop and see if it gets better

plug guitar into serial return and crank master - how is the volume?
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Thanks for the tips!!!
Looks like I'm looking for a radio shack in the next stop, I almost packed mine....damn it!!!
 
Check the last two preamp tubes (FX return driver and phase inverter). Mine did somehing similar when those failed, though it did give me some warning first (started as an intermitent volume problem).
 
Peter Diezel":34qrdvhs said:
Preamp tubes ?
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I didn't get a chance to go threw all of them, I only brought four extra with me for the tour.
I did swap out the first four starting at the input side of the amp with no change, hopefully I can find a music store to pick up a few more.
 
cardinal":3ps518gp said:
Check the last two preamp tubes (FX return driver and phase inverter). Mine did somehing similar when those failed, though it did give me some warning first (started as an intermitent volume problem).
Click to expand...


Will do!
In my heart I feel this is a bad tube somewhere......hopefully!!
 
I ran into a similar issue, and this was Peter's suggestion. Fixed it right up!
 
Update.
I found a Guitar Center and got raped on some preamp tubes so I changed out all the pream tubes, I visually inspected each fuse that's on each power tube and they all looked fine, tomorrow I will check them with a multi meter....all four power tubes light up and look fine.

After changing all the preamp tubes I am getting more volume now but it's no where near what it use to be.......any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
Power tubes will still light if the fuse failed. I had a similar issue with mine when I got it. Try to wiggle the preamp tubes gently while it's on. Might be a tube socket or something.
 
I'll have to try the wiggle thing when I get off the road.
I checked all the fuses today with a multi-meter and they all tested fine.

Kinda bummed, had to play a TSL night before last and I'm playing a Recto tonight......yuk!
 
Any time you experience a loss of volume like that, the first thing to suspect after eliminating external causes (dead battery in your pedal, etc...) is the power tubes, especially if the volume drop is across all channels of the amp. If the volume is specific to a particular channel, you need to be familiar with which preamp tubes are used by which channel, and go from there. Always carry a spare matched set + fuses. ESPECIALLY if you're touring. If you replace the power tubes and your volume is STILL low, start with the phase inverter tube (the one closest to the power tubes, generally) and work your way toward the input side of the amp. If all the tubes check out, then check your FX loops jacks. Clean them. In fact, you should clean ALL jacks regularly anyway. It's just good practice.

When I'm on the road (which is 150-200 days out of the year), I don't leave anything to chance. I check intonation on the guitars EVERY day. I check neck relief. I check bias EVERY day, I check every connector and jack on the pedal board. I inspect every cable for wear and tear. Hell I even check straplocks.
This is how you minimize sudden malfunctions.
 
Ended up being a preamp tube, I'm guessing I swapped out the bad one with another not so good one.
Had some time off last night in a hotel I could roll my amp and cab into, I put all the original preamp tubes back in and started swapping them out one at a time untill I found the bad one. I guess the odds where stacked against me because one of the new tubes I bought was bad also, shit happens and it's all good now I learned a lesson.....check your back up tubes before you hit the road!

I would love to have the time to do all that pre gig checkup stuff but usually don't have that kind of time when we are on the road.
 
Oh that's good to here!! I always hesitate to open my VH4 but it seems I need to do it more to check my spare tubes...I haven't checked them since I bought em...

and how exactly do you clean the input jack?

cheers
 
Yes, what is commonly used to clean the input jacks? Im guessing you use a q tip with a certain cleaning solution and wipe out the inside of the jack?

That would be a nice tip to learn from someone knowledgeable that is willing to give some advice.
 
I always assumed you would spray some type of non-residue cleaner onto a 1/4 plug and just plug it in and out of the socket a few times to clean off the contacts. I've never done it before, though, so I could be wrong.
 
MississippiMetal":5erp666r said:
Any time you experience a loss of volume like that, the first thing to suspect after eliminating external causes (dead battery in your pedal, etc...) is the power tubes, especially if the volume drop is across all channels of the amp. If the volume is specific to a particular channel, you need to be familiar with which preamp tubes are used by which channel, and go from there. Always carry a spare matched set + fuses. ESPECIALLY if you're touring. If you replace the power tubes and your volume is STILL low, start with the phase inverter tube (the one closest to the power tubes, generally) and work your way toward the input side of the amp. If all the tubes check out, then check your FX loops jacks. Clean them. In fact, you should clean ALL jacks regularly anyway. It's just good practice.

When I'm on the road (which is 150-200 days out of the year), I don't leave anything to chance. I check intonation on the guitars EVERY day. I check neck relief. I check bias EVERY day, I check every connector and jack on the pedal board. I inspect every cable for wear and tear. Hell I even check straplocks.
This is how you minimize sudden malfunctions.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
pfapin05":3pgspvfh said:
Yes, what is commonly used to clean the input jacks? Im guessing you use a q tip with a certain cleaning solution and wipe out the inside of the jack?

That would be a nice tip to learn from someone knowledgeable that is willing to give some advice.
Click to expand...
This is all I will ever use. Radio Shack carries it.
th.jpg
 
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