So I bought a new Fender amp...

[jay4321]

A cheapie Fender Frontman 65w solid state, single 12" speaker. Basic sound is not bad at all, but there are issues.

1) Reverb hisses horribly the more you turn it up (it's dead quiet at reverb 0), but I have a Verbzilla so don't particularly care.

2) The volume is very jumpy. It goes from 0 to like 2 or 3 with nothing in between. It's a problem since I need those low volumes to play late at night where I live, which is in a condo.

So is #2 an easy fix, or do I just ship this back?

 

[Soylent]

my fender champ 300 is a jerk about number 2 as well.. 1 is a decent low.. and 2 is roughly 3 times louder, and then it goes up normally from there.  :icon_scratch:

 

[dbw]

1 and 2 are both due to it being a cheap amp.  There's nothing to be done about the reverb.  You might be able to make the volume knob more useful by replacing the pot with a better taper, or modifying some values in the circuit.

 

[jay4321]

1 and 2 are both due to it being a cheap amp.  There's nothing to be done about the reverb.  You might be able to make the volume knob more useful by replacing the pot with a better taper, or modifying some values in the circuit.

That sounds like a bit of work.

 

[chrisg]

You can always add a variable attenuator between the amp and speaker - that will do the trick.

This is an example of what I am talking about: http://www.tubejuiceattenuators.com/

:glasses9:

 

[mayfly]

1 and 2 are both due to it being a cheap amp.  There's nothing to be done about the reverb.  You might be able to make the volume knob more useful by replacing the pot with a better taper, or modifying some values in the circuit.

That sounds like a bit of work.

It's actually quite a bit of work for these types of amps - they have PCB's and the pots are a real PITA to replace.

 

[dbw]

You can always add a variable attenuator between the amp and speaker - that will do the trick.

This is an example of what I am talking about: http://www.tubejuiceattenuators.com/

:glasses9:

An attenuator will cost as much as the whole amp did.

 

[jay4321]

I just decided to return it. It's a shame too, it was built just slightly better with regard to the volume control I'd have been perfectly happy with it.

 

[Soylent]

1 and 2 are both due to it being a cheap amp.  There's nothing to be done about the reverb.  You might be able to make the volume knob more useful by replacing the pot with a better taper, or modifying some values in the circuit.

+500 it's def my cheapest amp, and it shows. (good for late night quiet and nothing else)