F*ck me.. Randall Thrasher 50 problem..

  • Thread starter Thread starter napalmdeath
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napalmdeath

napalmdeath

Well-known member
I bought it brand new, and it sounds glorious! However, I never used the clean channel, until today, when I was going to dial in some clean patches. But, the clean channel is DOA. NO sound, whatsoever. A little static when I flip on the boost switch on, but no sound.

Fuck me. I love this amp. The dirty channel sounds just fine, but no clean channel.

Tried new preamp tubes, (I have over 50 in my stash), no change. Majorly pissed off. On one hand, cleans aren't THAT important, but knowing it doesn't work 100% has me bent out of shape. Any ideas?
 
Try poking around the first 3 preamp tubes with a chopstick while on the clean channel. Can you take some voltage readings?
 
Hard to tell, since I don't know anything about the amp. It's pretty easy to find big problems like that by taking voltage measurements and just visually inspecting shit. But I'm north of Seattle!
 
glip22":2i5e9u4h said:
Try poking around the first 3 preamp tubes with a chopstick while on the clean channel. Can you take some voltage readings?

I swapped all the preamp tubes, no change.
 
Anybody have any other suggestions? I gotta think something simple.
 
napalmdeath":9pyi0edd said:
glip22":9pyi0edd said:
Try poking around the first 3 preamp tubes with a chopstick while on the clean channel. Can you take some voltage readings?

I swapped all the preamp tubes, no change.
I meant touching around the tubes sockets, circuit board, leads, etc., with a wooden chopstick
 
glip22":1iorhoxa said:
napalmdeath":1iorhoxa said:
glip22":1iorhoxa said:
Try poking around the first 3 preamp tubes with a chopstick while on the clean channel. Can you take some voltage readings?

I swapped all the preamp tubes, no change.
I meant touching around the tubes sockets, circuit board, leads, etc., with a wooden chopstick

I poked around a bit, nothing.
 
napalmdeath":f2ptyjqj said:
glip22":f2ptyjqj said:
napalmdeath":f2ptyjqj said:
glip22":f2ptyjqj said:
Try poking around the first 3 preamp tubes with a chopstick while on the clean channel. Can you take some voltage readings?

I swapped all the preamp tubes, no change.
I meant touching around the tubes sockets, circuit board, leads, etc., with a wooden chopstick

I poked around a bit, nothing.
You need an amp tech to take a look. Usually they charge maybe 60 bucks bench fee to diagnose. Could be many things. Cold solder joint. Issue in the clean channel EQ. Could be shorting out the signal somewhere with a lead or connection touching ground. Who knows.
 
Maybe a stupid question, but this is your 2nd Thrasher 50, right? Why sell the 1st one to begin with? :confused:

regarding the issue:
So far have you tried the footswitch opposed to the front panel switch to switch channels?

Also, a long shot, but would putting a patch cable in the fx-loop bring back volume to the Clean channel? This did the trick in my Marshall Mosfet head. Turns out (the thing is +30 years old) there was some oxidation in the fx-loop jacks there. Which probably won't be in a brand new amp, but still, it's good to check these basics.

The fact that Gain channel does have proper sound means that your input jack does reach that side properly. So, without knowing the schematic, the Switching circuit between the 2 channels would probably be one of the first places to inspect.
 
Speeddemon":121vd3ds said:
Maybe a stupid question, but this is your 2nd Thrasher 50, right? Why sell the 1st one to begin with? :confused:

regarding the issue:
So far have you tried the footswitch opposed to the front panel switch to switch channels?

Also, a long shot, but would putting a patch cable in the fx-loop bring back volume to the Clean channel? This did the trick in my Marshall Mosfet head. Turns out (the thing is +30 years old) there was some oxidation in the fx-loop jacks there. Which probably won't be in a brand new amp, but still, it's good to check these basics.

The fact that Gain channel does have proper sound means that your input jack does reach that side properly. So, without knowing the schematic, the Switching circuit between the 2 channels would probably be one of the first places to inspect.

I've tried everything. I've got the option of sending it back, or getting it fixed. I can say this, the lead channel works 100%, and that's where I live. I have a return label printed, but I think I'm going to play it as is until the Quick Rod shows up, then drop it off for warranty repair. I think I can have any other suspect things touched up while they're at it, and have it back better than new. If it sits in the closet, so be it. The Thrasher is a killer amp, and worth hanging on to.
 
napalmdeath":8t9upkmh said:
Speeddemon":8t9upkmh said:
Maybe a stupid question, but this is your 2nd Thrasher 50, right? Why sell the 1st one to begin with? :confused:

regarding the issue:
So far have you tried the footswitch opposed to the front panel switch to switch channels?

Also, a long shot, but would putting a patch cable in the fx-loop bring back volume to the Clean channel? This did the trick in my Marshall Mosfet head. Turns out (the thing is +30 years old) there was some oxidation in the fx-loop jacks there. Which probably won't be in a brand new amp, but still, it's good to check these basics.

The fact that Gain channel does have proper sound means that your input jack does reach that side properly. So, without knowing the schematic, the Switching circuit between the 2 channels would probably be one of the first places to inspect.

I've tried everything. I've got the option of sending it back, or getting it fixed. I can say this, the lead channel works 100%, and that's where I live. I have a return label printed, but I think I'm going to play it as is until the Quick Rod shows up, then drop it off for warranty repair. I think I can have any other suspect things touched up while they're at it, and have it back better than new. If it sits in the closet, so be it. The Thrasher is a killer amp, and worth hanging on to.
Yeah man this sounds like the smart play
 
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