Fender Bassbreaker amp, bass knob not working

BoneDigger · #1 01-08-2021, 06:39 PM

I have a fairly new Bassbreaker 15 that I just noticed the bass tone knob isn't working. Any ideas on if that is fixable?

Steve DeRosa · #2 01-08-2021, 07:19 PM

Anything is fixable - first question is, are you still under warranty...?

BoneDigger · #3 01-08-2021, 07:43 PM

I don't believe so, but I can check. It's maybe a year old?

stokes1971 · #4 01-08-2021, 08:08 PM

Yes it can be repaired.If its not under warranty you will have to find a tech.Might not be able to send it back to Fender and pay for repair.A lot of their newer stuff,under warranty,dont get repaired they get replaced so not sure if they would be any help.Dont poke around in there unless you know your way around tube circuits, a lot of juice in there even when turned off.

BoneDigger · #5 01-08-2021, 08:11 PM

I checked and I bought this in February of 2020. The Fender warranty is 2 years, so maybe I can get it repaired for free.

stokes1971 · #6 01-08-2021, 08:32 PM

Thats good news.Good luck.Talked to a friend who's an authorized Fender warranty repair shop.Says with that amp they would just replace the whole board connected to the bass pot under warranty.

Steve DeRosa · #7 01-08-2021, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoneDigger

I checked and I bought this in February of 2020. The Fender warranty is 2 years, so maybe I can get it repaired for free...

No maybes about it - as long as you didn't modify the amp or have any unauthorized repair work done, you're OK...

printer2 · #8 01-13-2021, 09:37 PM

From what I understand Fender's Bassbreaker series is a pain in the butt to work on, if you can get Fender to do it.

dnf777 · #9 01-14-2021, 06:24 AM

I know one amp tech who dreads ANY new production amp. Other than filter caps, everything is circuit-boarded and difficult or impossible to service, but it sounds like you may be in for a new amp on Fender’s warranty.

Where is your MID set? I noticed on a Marshall DSL20 that if the mid is below noon, the bass knob becomes largely dead. I dont understand electronics enough to explain, but apparently parallel circuits can pull signal from adjacent paths at certain settings. Its not a fault, just a quirk.

stokes1971 · #10 01-14-2021, 06:49 AM

Newer amps have PCB's or "printed circuit boards" as opposed to "tag boards" that were used on vintage amps.When you contact Fender for warranty service they will direct you to a certified repair shop.I considered becoming a certified repair shop for Fender but didnt because any warranty work would be on new production amps,which I dont care to work on because of these PCB's and the general flimsy construction of these amps.I rarely touch these newer amps unless it is for a regular client

BoneDigger · #11 01-14-2021, 11:44 AM

Thanks everyone! Actually, I never noticed an issue with it. I was going to trade it in and when I took it in to evaluate they said the bass control wouldn't work. So, I brought it home and it seems to work fine. No idea what they did but I tried it on various guitars and it works fine. I'll probably just keep it.

Bob Womack · #12 01-14-2021, 12:44 PM

Frankly, that is an irony I'm not sure you could pay to receive. A Bassbreaker with a broken bass.

Bob

Steve DeRosa · #13 01-14-2021, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Frankly, that is an irony I'm not sure you could pay to receive. A Bassbreaker with a broken bass....

By the same token, what would you call a defective Ernie Ball (Music Man) amp...?

BoneDigger · #14 01-14-2021, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Frankly, that is an irony I'm not sure you could pay to receive. A Bassbreaker with a broken bass.

Bob

Too funny!