Getting Fixxy With It

[Mama Lou]

I have a Fender AmpCan that was spitting very bad static every time I used it. It really ruined the quality of my shows, it was so distracting.
So, following the advice & example of some awesome people - I cracked open the sucker and decided I would figure out how to fix the problem myself. The worst you can do is break it, and its already broke, right?

Multiple trips to Radio Shack. A full book on electronics. Parts, advice, and a much expanded brain later - and I now have a working amp.

I have now learned how to read a circuit board, know what all the parts are/do, how to test them, solder them, wire them... Dude, knowledge is power. I feel soooo bad ass.

To repair the two potentomiters cost $10.
The skills I have now... priceless.

Special thanks go out to: Eric the Something Else, Mark from Popeyed, Tim Motley, & JP. Thanks for your help & inspiration.

Love & Muscles,
Mama Lou: American Strong Woman

[Rex Boyd]

I could definitely make use of some circuit board lessons someday. Well done for a bit of ingenuity and resourcefulness.

You reminded me of when I was in ex-Soviet Georgia just after the fall of the USSR with my Maxi Mouse spitting out probably the same sort of static that problemed your amp-can. My Georgian host was able to do the same sort of repair job on it for no charge. He replaced the broken bits with some Soviet transistors. I thought it was really cool afterwards using my amp back in full working order with a bit of communist technology inside to help it along.

[Mr Qwirk]

I had to crack mine open today.... its been messing with me all week.

I initially shorted it out (and fried it) with my big clumsy hands. luckily it was easily fixed with a bit of solder, and a steady hand.

after a few hours staring blankly at all the components, i figured out the gain switch was stuffed, and hard wired it off - I mean who uses that little red button anyway? what was Fender thinking....

anyways, its as good as new!
5 years of trusty service.

now i need to fix my Sennheiser g2 100 transmitter....

[Doctor Eric]

Thanks again for the tips, mama lou!

[Mama Lou]

Sadly, after a good run... hubris took me down. I shorted my recharge bit after trying to make a quick fix rerouting the 12v battery directly to the charge input. Still don't know where I went wrong, but I suppose that's what happens when you're learning from experience rather than a teacher. Ha.

But it was exciting! Hot zapping and melting wires!

Guess I'll order a new bit and try again. Happy fixing.

[Stephon]

OT, but when are you arriving in Myrtle Beach?

[Mama Lou]

I get in on Sunday! Will you be around?

[Stephon]

Damn. Probably not; I plan to leave pretty early Sunday.