Help I blew my son's amp!

[Seed Keeper]

I bought a Tascam 144 pre MK model off eBay for my son. I pugged in the amp headphone jack into the 144 and blew his Marshall tube amp!

What should we have done. And where do we "I" look to get educated on home recording? He is 15 and been playing 4 years. He made a tape on a $10 recoreder and I thought I was helping by getting him some better equipment?

Is the Tascam video worth the money? I have no music talent or background so be kind...

 

[Evildick]

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The headphone jack is just an alternate out, and you could plug just about everything but the kitchen sink into it without ruining the amp. First of all, you should be using the line-out/direct out to go into the tascam.

Your scenario is the first I have ever heard of someone blowing a tube amp through the headphone jack. I wasn't aware this was possible aside from a grounding issue but hopefully someone more experienced will come along and answer your question.

 

[DJTonyMOMO]

WOW thats a new one

Well I have never heard of that ever happening but hey anythings possible.

Honestly sir what I think you should do for your son is Obviously is replace the tubes in his amp then invest in a half decent Microphone and a microphone stand, And instead of running the amp directly through to the recorder. You should mic it.
Meaning put the Mic on the mic stand and place the mic directly in front of the Marshall Cabinet speaker and hook you mic cable into the recorder. Thats probably your best bet Sir. You might need an adapter for the Mic cable so that you can actually plug it into your analog recorder. But thats about it. Does that help you out? Get back to me if you need anything else?

 

[Seed Keeper]

That's his story!

He actually did the deed... (I hooked it that way on his other amp, Peavy) Being 15 there may be more to the story than he let on.. This is the second time this amp has blown. According to my son the first time was while using a cry baby peddle? (Somthing was wrong with the peddle.) The good news is the Marshall amp is still under warrenty. When we take the amp in for repair we will talk to the guys and see what he is doing wrong if anything.

So he should be using a mic instead of a direct connect to the amp.. He has that! It was too easy the other way. When am I supposed to sleep?

We are learning! Any good books, videos or other info sources for beginners. Ear plugs?

He is really having a lot of fun...

Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[Seed Keeper]

More info

It is a Marshall AVT20 and according to the Marshall info there is an Emulated DI Jack Socket that is recommended for >20 Kohms.

The Tascam 414 Mic jack accepts 10 to 50 so as I understand a dircect connection would be OK and I wouldn't need ear plugs. It may take me a while..

Thanks for the info...

 

[charger]

I had a housemate do this once. He plugged a cord from a Mackie mixer input in to the direct out on his bass amp, and when he turned on the bass amp, the whole power section fried instantly. I forget what the exact reason was, but I know it was a grounding issue.