Fender Blues deluxe amp problem/question

[DP]

hi there,

I just bought a Fender Blues Deluxe amp - it sounds very nice but I
have a couple of questions about the clean volume knob

1) At volume 1 (the lowest setting), the amp is not silent - you can
still hear the guitar through it - is this how it is meant to be? On
the drive channel, when the gain and master volume are both at 1,
there is no sound, yet there is on the clean channel at 1

2) At volume 1, the tone is not clean - it sounds thin and overdriven
- then somehwere between 1 and 2, there is a sudden and large jump in
volume, the tone cleans up, and the bass and treble really kick it -
it sounds as if there is a spot between 1 and 2 where the amp actually
'kicks in' - is this normal, or is it a problem with the volume pot?

Thanks for any help

[Trevor Ridney]

Post by DP
hi there,
I just bought a Fender Blues Deluxe amp - it sounds very nice but I
have a couple of questions about the clean volume knob
1) At volume 1 (the lowest setting), the amp is not silent - you can
still hear the guitar through it - is this how it is meant to be? On
the drive channel, when the gain and master volume are both at 1,
there is no sound, yet there is on the clean channel at 1
2) At volume 1, the tone is not clean - it sounds thin and overdriven
- then somehwere between 1 and 2, there is a sudden and large jump in
volume, the tone cleans up, and the bass and treble really kick it -
it sounds as if there is a spot between 1 and 2 where the amp actually
'kicks in' - is this normal, or is it a problem with the volume pot?
Thanks for any help

Hi,

The sudden jump in volume is a feature of the Blues Deluxe and its bigger
brother The Blues Deville. It's caused by the volume control being a 100K
*linear* pot.

The workaround I came up with to make my Blues Deville usable was to put a
1MegOhm log pot in a small project box and connect it to the amp via the
'pre-amp out'/'power amp in' sockets. A sort of lashed up master volume.

A more elegant solution is to replace the 100K pot with a 1 Meg log pot but
it's quite a difficult and fiddly job, needing as it does a pot of the right
size and the need to fabricate a mounting bracket.

HTH,

Trev

[DP]

ah thanks very much for the info - so on all the blues deluxe/devilles
(without mods) you can't silence the clean channel? And its normal
that at volume 1 you get a thin disorted tone?

Post by Trevor Ridney

Post by DP
hi there,
I just bought a Fender Blues Deluxe amp - it sounds very nice but I
have a couple of questions about the clean volume knob
1) At volume 1 (the lowest setting), the amp is not silent - you can
still hear the guitar through it - is this how it is meant to be? On
the drive channel, when the gain and master volume are both at 1,
there is no sound, yet there is on the clean channel at 1
2) At volume 1, the tone is not clean - it sounds thin and overdriven
- then somehwere between 1 and 2, there is a sudden and large jump in
volume, the tone cleans up, and the bass and treble really kick it -
it sounds as if there is a spot between 1 and 2 where the amp actually
'kicks in' - is this normal, or is it a problem with the volume pot?
Thanks for any help

Hi,
The sudden jump in volume is a feature of the Blues Deluxe and its bigger
brother The Blues Deville. It's caused by the volume control being a 100K
*linear* pot.
The workaround I came up with to make my Blues Deville usable was to put a
1MegOhm log pot in a small project box and connect it to the amp via the
'pre-amp out'/'power amp in' sockets. A sort of lashed up master volume.
A more elegant solution is to replace the 100K pot with a 1 Meg log pot but
it's quite a difficult and fiddly job, needing as it does a pot of the right
size and the need to fabricate a mounting bracket.
HTH,
Trev- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

[DP]

Also, are both the volume pots on the Blues Deluxe linear? I've been
reading that its only the master volume control of the drive channel
that's linear. I'm having problems with the volume control of the
clean channel

Post by DP
ah thanks very much for the info - so on all the blues deluxe/devilles
(without mods) you can't silence the clean channel? And its normal
that at volume 1 you get a thin disorted tone?

Post by Trevor Ridney

Post by DP
hi there,
I just bought a Fender Blues Deluxe amp - it sounds very nice but I
have a couple of questions about the clean volume knob
1) At volume 1 (the lowest setting), the amp is not silent - you can
still hear the guitar through it - is this how it is meant to be? On
the drive channel, when the gain and master volume are both at 1,
there is no sound, yet there is on the clean channel at 1
2) At volume 1, the tone is not clean - it sounds thin and overdriven
- then somehwere between 1 and 2, there is a sudden and large jump in
volume, the tone cleans up, and the bass and treble really kick it -
it sounds as if there is a spot between 1 and 2 where the amp actually
'kicks in' - is this normal, or is it a problem with the volume pot?
Thanks for any help

Hi,
The sudden jump in volume is a feature of the Blues Deluxe and its bigger
brother The Blues Deville. It's caused by the volume control being a 100K
*linear* pot.
The workaround I came up with to make my Blues Deville usable was to put a
1MegOhm log pot in a small project box and connect it to the amp via the
'pre-amp out'/'power amp in' sockets. A sort of lashed up master volume.
A more elegant solution is to replace the 100K pot with a 1 Meg log pot but
it's quite a difficult and fiddly job, needing as it does a pot of the right
size and the need to fabricate a mounting bracket.
HTH,
Trev- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

[Elvis Kabong]

Post by DP
hi there,
I just bought a Fender Blues Deluxe amp - it sounds very nice but I
have a couple of questions about the clean volume knob
1) At volume 1 (the lowest setting), the amp is not silent - you can
still hear the guitar through it - is this how it is meant to be? On
the drive channel, when the gain and master volume are both at 1,
there is no sound, yet there is on the clean channel at 1
2) At volume 1, the tone is not clean - it sounds thin and overdriven
- then somehwere between 1 and 2, there is a sudden and large jump in
volume, the tone cleans up, and the bass and treble really kick it -
it sounds as if there is a spot between 1 and 2 where the amp actually
'kicks in' - is this normal, or is it a problem with the volume pot?
Thanks for any help

After reviewing the schema and based on the limited infomation you've
provided, it seems like you have a channel switching problem which
could even affect the effects loop.

It appears that the 250K audio volume pot's leg that should go to ground
in order to attenuate the signal IS NOT getting to ground thru one of the
relays for channel switching.

However, you could attempt to clean the volume pot or replace it and use
flying leads if you can't get the direct replacement. Also, clean out the
power amp in jack by spraying some contact cleaner on a 1/4" plug
and shove it into the power amp (or return) jack several times.

If that doesn't help, get the schematic and check out the channel switching
circuit and functions or just take the amp to a tech.

Good luck,

Ed
Sonic Surgery
Nawlins
Earth