Marshall 2x12 crapped the bed. What should I do?

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Omniscient

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In my recording room, I have a Marshall DFX250 because the room is about 10x10'. We tried using 4x12 cabs with a buddy's 100w Marshall head and it was just too damn loud. We got a lot of bouncing frequencies from the walls. Anyway the 250 is just right for the small space. About two months ago it started having a problem where I had to jiggle the 1/4 cable in the jack to get it to send a signal to the amp. About a week ago it just stopped sending a signal. When I plug the 1/4 into the input jack it just emitts a LOUD low tone buzz. I took the tray out of the cabinet and inspected it. The input jack on the chip board is loose. I think the solder came off one of the connecting points.

Soooo, here's my delema. What should I do? I'm good at soldering but I really don't want to botch up an expensive amp. I've looked in my local yellow pages and so far every music shop I've called doesn't do digital/solid state repairs. They just replace tubes and the likeness. I bought the amp about 4 years ago. I've called Marshall and they said if my warenty is still void I can send it in. Of this I'm not sure, and ontop of that shipping charges for an 80lb amp would be pretty high. Is there such a thing as a place that repairs all kinds of electronics? I almost called a place that repairs computer chipboards, but I don't think they would repair an amp.

What should I do? Or what kind of places should I try to contact?
 
Omniscient said:
In my recording room, I have a Marshall DFX250 because the room is about 10x10'. We tried using 4x12 cabs with a buddy's 100w Marshall head and it was just too damn loud. We got a lot of bouncing frequencies from the walls. Anyway the 250 is just right for the small space. About two months ago it started having a problem where I had to jiggle the 1/4 cable in the jack to get it to send a signal to the amp. About a week ago it just stopped sending a signal. When I plug the 1/4 into the input jack it just emitts a LOUD low tone buzz. I took the tray out of the cabinet and inspected it. The input jack on the chip board is loose. I think the solder came off one of the connecting points.

Soooo, here's my delema. What should I do? I'm good at soldering but I really don't want to botch up an expensive amp. I've looked in my local yellow pages and so far every music shop I've called doesn't do digital/solid state repairs. They just replace tubes and the likeness. I bought the amp about 4 years ago. I've called Marshall and they said if my warenty is still void I can send it in. Of this I'm not sure, and ontop of that shipping charges for an 80lb amp would be pretty high. Is there such a thing as a place that repairs all kinds of electronics? I almost called a place that repairs computer chipboards, but I don't think they would repair an amp.

What should I do? Or what kind of places should I try to contact?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are S.O.L.

I never heard of an amp tech that works on Digital amps. Solidstate transitors, ya, but digi is another can altogether.

Why was it too loud though? Its digital....it should sound about 90% the same at any volume and shouldn't have a problem twitching the volume knob by the hair line to get it at a bedroom volume. The bouncing off the walls is normal in a lot of rooms. Hell, I had an apartment once where simple speech sounded like I was in a tin can.
 
Is it the jack on the cabinet or the head that is broken?

I would just resolder it, just be careful. BTW, there is nothing digital in a Marshall. Any repair shop will be able to do this, you could do it too.
 
Farview said:
Is it the jack on the cabinet or the head that is broken?

I would just resolder it, just be careful. BTW, there is nothing digital in a Marshall. Any repair shop will be able to do this, you could do it too.
Click to expand...


ummm.....Marshall has a line of amps with digital effects now. The ATV 150 has a 'dfx' section with 16 effects. The MG250DFX is the amp in question though if I am correct.
 
Outlaws said:
Sounds like you are S.O.L.

I never heard of an amp tech that works on Digital amps. Solidstate transitors, ya, but digi is another can altogether.

Why was it too loud though? Its digital....it should sound about 90% the same at any volume and shouldn't have a problem twitching the volume knob by the hair line to get it at a bedroom volume. The bouncing off the walls is normal in a lot of rooms. Hell, I had an apartment once where simple speech sounded like I was in a tin can.
Click to expand...

The halfstack with a head was too loud. I think it was the 2 extra speakers in the 4x12. I don't know. The 2x12 is perfect for the space and I can sit in off the ground so I can record easier with it.



Well, shit. So should I just pay the fee and try to ship it back to Marshall?
 
Omniscient said:
Well, shit. So should I just pay the fee and try to ship it back to Marshall?
Click to expand...
NO! If the jack is broken, anyone can fix it. If it isn't the jack, get a list of authorized dealers in your area from Marshall.
 
Omniscient said:
Anyway the 250 is just right for the small space. About two months ago it started having a problem where I had to jiggle the 1/4 cable in the jack to get it to send a signal to the amp.
Click to expand...
The cabinet doesn't send signal to the amp. The amp sends signal to the cabinet.
Omniscient said:
About a week ago it just stopped sending a signal. When I plug the 1/4 into the input jack it just emitts a LOUD low tone buzz. I took the tray out of the cabinet and inspected it. The input jack on the chip board is loose. I think the solder came off one of the connecting points.
Click to expand...
Re-solder the connection. What input jack? Are you talking about the speaker jack? (that is an output)
 
Farview said:
NO! If the jack is broken, anyone can fix it. If it isn't the jack, get a list of authorized dealers in your area from Marshall.
Click to expand...

I shot an e-mail to Musician's Friend about the problem. They said they will respond within one business day. Well see if this is true. I'm still waiting for my Korg midi controller order they botched.

So if I contacted Marshall they can give me a list of authorized dealers and I can bring the amplifier there?
 
Omniscient said:
I shot an e-mail to Musician's Friend about the problem. They said they will respond within one business day. Well see if this is true. I'm still waiting for my Korg midi controller order they botched.
Click to expand...
Musicians Friend is an internet store, they won't care and can't help you

Omniscient said:
So if I contacted Marshall they can give me a list of authorized dealers and I can bring the amplifier there?
Click to expand...
Yes.
 
With an SS half stack you can just turn the knob labeled volume (or level) down lower and it will sound the same.

Farview, I think he means the input on the amp, where you plug the guitar in.

And since you can spot the problem, and you say you have pretty good soldering skills, I'd just do it myself. A repair center will probably do the same as you. And they'll charge you for it.
 
I looked at it myself. It should be a peice of cake. The solder joints just went dry. So the pins from the whatever it is(1/4) jack can move around freely. I just have to-resolder 4 pins.
 
IronFlippy said:
Farview, I think he means the input on the amp, where you plug the guitar in.
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I really need to get away from the computer. I came here to take a break from renaming 7000 files. I'm bleary-eyed and confused. I am in no condition to be answering questions. Sorry.
 
Farview said:
I really need to get away from the computer. I came here to take a break from renaming 7000 files. I'm bleary-eyed and confused. I am in no condition to be answering questions. Sorry.
Click to expand...

You did help me though. You saved me whatever they would charge to diagnose and fix the amp.
 
Outlaws said:
Those are really for tube amps.
Click to expand...

No, a power soak does not know or care what kind of amp is sending it power. If an amp sounds better loud than soft, a power soak can approximate the loud sound at low volume.
 
ggunn said:
No, a power soak does not know or care what kind of amp is sending it power. If an amp sounds better loud than soft, a power soak can approximate the loud sound at low volume.
Click to expand...


A trasistor/digital amp doesn't send sound differently at louder volumes. The onyl affect is the speaker 'opening up' through greater movement, but with a power soak you cancel that part out.
 
Well I resoldered the input jack. It didn't do squat. I even replaced it. So there's gotta be something else. Looks like I have to bring it to a shop if Marshall ever gets back to me about local dealers.
 
Try the fellow who repairsz your TV, computer, DVD, etc if tno one else will help. The fellow who repairs my stuff is a jack of all trades electronics repairer BUT has spent the time to learn how to repair other stuff. He's done my p/up, through valve amps to my DAW computer.
OR
Post it to Marshall
Cheers
rayC
 
Ok, well my registration finally went through. They sent me a service center list.

ACCUTECH AUDIO
87 CHURCH ST.
EAST HARTFORD, CT, 06108
Phone#: 860-290-8979


GREENWICH MUSIC
6 LEWIS ST
GREENWICH, CT, 06830-5516
Phone#: 203-869-3615

SAM ASH 82
95 AMITY ROAD
NEW HAVEN, CT, 06515
Phone#: 203-389-0500


EAST COAST MUSIC MALL
89 DANBURY RD
NEW MILFORD, CT, 06776-3413
Phone#: 203-748-2261

AUDIO CLINIC
1066 NORWICH NEW
LONDON TNPK.
UNCASVILLE, CT, 06382-0000
Phone#: 860-848-3873


SHORELINE ELECTRONICS &
SOUND
125 BEECHTREE LANE
WESTBROOK, CT, 06498
Phone#: 860-399-1861

So one of these places would be able to help me? The audio clinic is about 10 minutes from my home so that would be nice.
 
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