Rebel 30 channel switching problem.

  • Thread starter Thread starter DADDEO
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DADDEO

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Hi everybody, I'm new to this forum and need an answer to a problem with my son's Rebel head.
Every now and then, when he goes from channel 1 to 2 the amp cuts out, not completely as there is some output, but very nearly silent. We've been back to the store, GuitarGuitar in B'ham, a couple of times and my son has emailed Egnater, but are no nearer to sorting a problem that is making an otherwise excellent amplifier unusable.

Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Jim.
 
Is your son using the footswitch to change the channels? If so, that's probably the source of the problem. I've had to fix my footswitch once already and need to do it again. The hardwired cord coming out of it is a BAD idea. Literally, the only complaint I have about my Rebel 30.
 
Hiya Funkwire. It's done it with AND without the footswitch. The channel changes, but there's no output from channel 2. I think there's a bad solder joint somewhere, but I'm no tech and it would take me forever to find it.
It has been checked out by a tech who does Blackstars warranty work, but the fault didn't present itself and he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary.
 
Once again my son's Rebel 30 head has thrown it's intermittent channel switching fault in his face mid gig, and he is understandably angry.
Are there any chances a tube might have a failing/faulty joint that would cause this, or would that be an immediate and total fail, plus, are there specific jobs for the pinouts on a preamp tube or can they be assigned to a specific task in the circuit as required.

I'll try and get a schematic from Egnater so he can get a tech to look at it AGAIN in case it makes it easier to find the problem.

Thanks for looking,

Jim.
 
Best thing to do is get a video of the amp doing its fault and then take it back to GuitarGuitar, you can then prove and show the amp has a fault. Do not take the amp apart or tell GG you have taken it somewhere else, GG have to sort it out under warranty....not Eganater. If your amp is under a year old you have no problem and GG have to sort it out....take it back and say you want it sorted. If its out of warranty, write to GG head office "recorded delivery" and ask them to fix it, ring Trading Standards first they will tell you what to say. Did you buy it on your credit card if so you have some cover with then. But this is GuitarGuitar's problem, they took your money and you now want what you paid your money for....SERVICE. Even out of warranty GG have an obligation to Egnater owners, as the UK importers they have to be able to service and repair them, in the UK they are Egnater. Don't get fobbed off, take it back to GG.......or.......Egnater US can you tell all us UK owners where are local service and repair center is please.
 
Hiya Keith. Thanks for replying. GG actually suggested taking it somewhere else as the Egnater service tech is in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and they wouldn't send it there without seeing the fault in action. I agree with videoing the fault in action, but it only seems to happen when it's being used at a gig, and then there's an almighty scrabble to sort another amp out.

Plodding on as usual.
 
My Renegade is without doubt the best amp I've got. Before the Egnater I was looking at Dr Z, either a Maz 38 or a Z-Wreck. Both amps very expensive and way better than the Renegade...but...I chose the Renegade because I heard Dr Z tones in it but also more tones that the other two amps didn't do. Egnaters are getting a bad press because a lot seem to go wrong but as long as they get fixed it's not a problem just a hassle. In the US Bruce is happy to send new tubes, parts or whatever out to people that need them, but in the UK we have to put up with GuitarGuitar. They seem to do as little as possible that they can get away with. They sell Egnaters in their other stores and the amp tech is in Newcastle, that tells me they have a van that travels back and forth picking things up and dropping things off between all their shops. If you had taken the amp to the Blackstar guy and he fixed it, was he going to fix it for free or send the bill to GG. Sorry but I smell BS, end of the day I love my Renegade but I wouldn't get another one, I hate to say this but I wouldn't recommend anybody in the UK get one either simply because of GG's lack of service or repair back-up for Egnater Amps. You have a valve amp with a problem...it could kill your son the next time he gigs with it and it lets go...OK...a tad overkill...GuitarGuitar know what their doing and are happy to let your son carry on using it...I'm sure it will be fine...the amp could fix itself...or it never gets fix and your son puts up with the fault till he buys a better amp, I think that's what GuitarGuitar hope will happen. I hope you get it sorted. If you don't get sorted Gee Electronic Enterprises in Liverpool are very good, I have used them for years, I'm in Manchester and happily travel to them.
 
Thanks Keith. They DO have a man and a van because my son's amp came from the Glasgow store BNIB. I personally don't have a problem with GG, and it was one of their staff who recommended the tech, who, incidently works at PMT in B'ham.
If he had fixed it, i'd like to think the amount of e-mail messaging between us and Egnater would have been proof enough for them to divvy up.

p.s. a last minute check of my email account revealed a message from Bruce himself. Let's see what that brings forth.

Jim.
 
Mr Johns,
Good evening. I know everything looks better on the other side, but I take exception to your comment about Egnater service in America. Its bloody dreadful. Emails, voicemails unanswered. I wish I had never heard of Egnater.

Now on a more pleasant note. How could an Englishman from the land of Vox and Hiwatt, become ensnared in an American amp, made in china?

Condolances to Daddeo & son too..
 
Simply because the of how the Egnaters sound. I want a Z-Wreck but their so loud...too loud. My Renegade does all I need but in one amp. I have lugged around two amps "Fender/Marshall" for years and it's a pain. I do worry about my amp if it goes bang but only about replacing it with something else......perfect replacement would be a Randall RM22 but you can't get them in the UK same as Egnater modular things. I don't have a problem with made in china or circuit boards over hand made, I have 2 JMP's same amp, both hand made but they don't sound the same. I know you have a problem with service/Egnater I have read your other posts, in the UK our problem is service/guitarguitar. It could all be too late anyhow....the recession seems to be killing guitar and amp sales, don't know how it is over your way, here in the UK you used to be lucky if you'd get a free pack of strings when you bought a Les Paul but now every where's got £500 off. Gibson, Fender, PRS, it's never been a better time to buy if you've got the cash. With amps Blackstar seems to have 2 amp's at every price point and way cheaper than everything else....Egnaters are looking very expensive for what they are, plus if you do your homework your going to find this forum and think twice because of all the problems and buy something else, which is a shame as Bruce does know how to build a great sounding amp.
 
I attended school in England on an exchange program. Mid 70's , terrible recession. Could not find a virgin TB30 for under 500 pounds(1200 usd). It's all about timing..

I don't question what people hear. It's their money to spend. Although when it breaks, it's the worst amp ever conceived by man.

I originally came on this forum to find the 'artful dodger'. A pound of flesh? Mabey, no not really.. It's really a test to be more positive, stilllll working on it.

What I did find were some nice (may I say it) blokes. Too bad it couldn't be on the stage at a nice pop festival, instead of the egnater complaint line.
 
Quick update.
After a few email exchanges with Bruce he recommended we change V3, and when we took it out the Getter at the top of the valve had broken off completely and was rolling around like a goodun'.

New valve in and after a days recording no problems have surfaced.
Only time will tell.
 
Another good outcome....happy for ya....Mr E is always about on this forum getting involved with peoples issues. I don't believe that Egnaters crap out more than any other amps, if you go on the Blackstar forum it's full of amps with problems. Most of the problems on here do seem to be pilot error and yours has turned out the same....lol I feel sure that most Egnaters will last for years and years even with little or no servicing but again GuitarGuitar need's a slap, if you don't get to talk to someone that knows what they are talking about it's easy to go noway fast. Thanks for coming back on and saying you've got sorted. Have a good one.
 
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