How (not) to Fix Fender Bassbreaker 15 Piece of Sh@#

[@AlchemyMusicConcept]

I was looking at this Amp, happy I came across this video. Thanks for the heads-up.

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's thank you and have a nice day! kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@aitken1965]

Same!

[@MifuneYoutube]

You are all missing out on an absolutely fantastic sounding amp! My local guy had no issues with it when I took it in for repair. I even mentioned that there are repair shops saying they will refuse this amp and he said "It's tricky for sure, but any reputable tech can fix it".

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi. The amp is great sounding, I'm not denying that. I am a highly experienced tech with tousands of amps under my belt and 50 years experience on the bench. My view is that this amp is unrepairable at a reasonable price - that's assuming you have to do something serious to it requiring access to the board etc. Other techs feel the same. I'd like to know what magic method your tech has for fixing these amps!

[@MifuneYoutube]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 I don’t mean disrespect to you, I’m sure you are great at what you do, but that’s not quite what you say in the video. You deem it “almost impossible to fix” and give the impression it’s not worth yours or anyone else’s time at all. It just takes a lot more time than you want to put in at the rate you charge. I probably did pay a little more than average to have it fixed, however that’s how it works isn’t it? We pay for parts and labour time? I’m happy with that deal from this side as a customer if you can fix my beloved amp. This one is too good to give up on, Stuart 🙂

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

@@MifuneKZbin Hi. I'd like to know what fault your guy fixed. I would stand by my comment that they are 'next to impossible' to fix. Even with money no object I couldn't see how to access the inside of this. Anyway, I'm pleased you managed to find someone to sort it.

[@erajad]

@@MifuneKZbin So ... Stuart's question is a good one! What _was_ the problem with yours, and what was the fix from your tech? Thanks!

[@MifuneYoutube]

@@erajad a diode inside needed replacing and he gave some dirty pots a good old clean. I was due a tube change too, but I did that myself.

[@clanrobertson1]

This is AWESOME. You should seriously think about doing a series of videos about crappy gear. Informative and hilarious. Thank you.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Thanks Dan!

[@gearoftones8585]

I agree. A series on what amps are easy to repair and what should be avoided would be great, it might also prompt manufacturers to think about ease of service when making amps in future if they know their poor designs will be outed on channels like this.

[@denbodg9311]

I am toying with buying a new amp, I.e a toss up between a used Blues Junior and a Bassbreaker. The algorithms threw up this video on my KZbin and you just made my mind up. Thanks for saving me some cash and maybe a lot of agro’

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Good call, I really like the Blues Junior.

[@RyansCustomShopandGearOutlet]

I have one completely disassembled on my work bench right now. Do you want to put it back together for me? Lol! 😄😂🤣This amp requires a lot of patience for sure. Once It is split into "plug and play" PCB sections. I'm sure an "authorized" Fender repair shop would just unplug the faulty PCB section and replace it with a new one rather than replace individual components. One positive observation is the PCB boards are connected with actual wires rather than the easily broken jumper wires seen in the Peavey Classics. The one I'm repairing has both T1A 250V fuses blown on the power section PCB. Not only do you have to completely disassemble the amp, all of the internal fuses are axial lead fuses soldered to the PCB board. I bought this one knowing it didn't power on just to tinker with for my own fun. Unless an owner of this amp is still within the official Fender warranty window, I would highly recommend either selling it for parts, or gut it and use the chassis, cabinet, and speaker for a hand wired build. At today's prices, the valves and speaker alone could recoup a big chunk of the amp cost. If you are interested in seeing the full layout of this amp, you can check it out on my channel.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Wow well done you!! Thanks for confirming it's a nightmare! All the best.

[@tjjr1062]

Thanks for the info. I WAS thinking about getting this amp.

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's thank you and have a nice day! kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@DrShrimpPuertoRicoMD]

Dang. I’ve had one since they came out new, I’ve never had any issues with it. Hopefully it stays that way because I love it.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes let's hope it hangs on in there!

[@LLSicilia]

I have one too.. will be sure to not forget to turn it off!!

[@noternunstoned]

It is fixable and at a reasonable cost IF you can get a procedure for the teardown, also the redplating of the EL 84's has been documented ad nauseum and the culprits are almost always the two Zenon diodes in the bias circuit.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes that's the issue though, the procedure for the teardown. From memory (could be wrong) those zeners aren;t readily changeable without complete teardown.

[@jedishaw6771]

This is precisely why I build my own amplifiers! I'm still giging with an amp I built in 2005!!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Nice!

[@danletter9357]

Mine was repaired….no problem. This is a fantastic amp. Sounds amazing. I really love the separate gain stages. It’s like having a tweed, silver face, and a Marshall JCM 900 all in one amp.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Dan yes nice amp, super hard to repair though. Where did you get yours repaired and what was wrong with it? also, how much?

[@Spiritbro77]

Thanks for this video. I was all set to buy one of these but after seeing this and doing some more research I went with the Blues Junior NOS instead. I like the sound of the Bassbreaker but if they are so difficult for a tech to repair then I want no part of them. Amps occasionally go bad and for sure they need serviced regularly. Pots cleaned etc. A real shame because the Bassbreaker has a very nice sound. Anyway, thanks again for saving me numerous headaches down the road. I think I am going to like my new(to me) amp. Hope it's a good one. :) Have a great week! Peace

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Agreed. This is a noce sounding amp, shame about the dificulty of repairing. I like the BJ too. Nice amp.

[@Spiritbro77]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Question? Are the heads built the same way? If so then they are equally hard to work on and thus not worth it, but if they are built differently they might be worth a look...

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

@@Spiritbro77 I've never seen one but I'd be very surprised if they were different.

[@THE-zv7vj]

Thank you... you just saved me 375 american dollars. Didn't know it couldn't be repaired or modded for that fact alone you couldn't give me one. 😅 thank you 100x

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

A nice amp when working. A nightmare if it fails!

[@Ian-jt2yz]

I have one of these amps and it sounds great but looks like it will eventually become a boat anchor. I have a total of 4 Fender amps. if the Bassbreaker dies I will not be buying another recently made fender amp. Some of the kit makers should design a replacement kit chassie for these, looks like there will be a market. Thanks for the review.

[@markferguson3745]

You should be able to find a tech that can fix it in the States, anyway.If it's a newer model of the 15 or 40, it might be exempt from some of the design flaws.Great sound.

[@jonathanbeaver4678]

I have this amp and absolutely love it.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes it's a great sounding amp and the owners really do like it. But... if it goes wrong, you can forget it!

[@stringlocker]

At the price I think it's still worth the risk. But not if they raise the prices much higher.

[@daniellaudman8580]

I would buy another traynor ycv 50 blue fender clean marshall style od put the kt 77 and tungsol 12ax7's and be done

[@PeterVories]

I am glad for this video. Thank you, Stuart. I fell in love with the tone of a used one at the local GC but alas, it sounds like it is probably going to be a headache in the long run. Dammit! I really loved the warmth of that amp. I am teaching myself jazz and oddly my Marshall tuber I find to be a bit bright. My Supro is nice, but I've sort of fallen out of love with it. Oh well. Back to the hunt...

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes they sound great, but virtually impossible to fix. Why? Why???

[@m.garcon8824]

Hello, glad to learn that. I thought about getting the 30r version (the newer one), do you think that version is different from this one ?

[@preciseaudioblog]

I’m wondering the same!!

[@darklight4815]

I would imagine it's built exactly the same way..those chassis are bent in a way where I'm sure it saves them just the tinyest bit of space to save a few bucks on cabinet costs.

[@daniellaudman8580]

I was interested as well on the 30r. No thanks!! Can't afford to take that chance $$$$$$$

[@theceo1]

Also is their a similar sounding amp that has a similar price I really like the clean tone this offers

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Sorry but I can;t really advise on amp sounds as I am not a guitarist. I just repair them! All the best.

[@theceo1]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thank you!

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's ALLAN ROTONI kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

One of the best amps I’ve ever heard. I’ve a couple of 007s too! Lots of low quality components in them I must say.

[@foxstar409]

I appreciate the information, I was practically 2 hours to buy a used amplifier and you saved my savings and the effort of having earned the money Regards

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Great. It's a shame as they sound good.

[@scottjamable]

I’d love to see Brads amp garage work on this while giving it a good healthy cussing!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Me too!

[@-_AjB_-]

Thanks souch for showing your work. I have this amp to and it has a common problem- the reverb is intermittently making noise. I was considering taking it apart to investigate, but your ezperience has put me off. Unless anyone out there has advice..?

[@marekzapaa2598]

May God bless you, just almost bought this, uff.. Whats your opinion about Laney VC15 or VC 30 (UK made)? They seems to be more reliable and repair - friendly.

[@tjsogmc]

I did fix one of those for a friend of mine once. ONCE. And it was for a good friend who was short on money and couldn't afford a new amp. All it needed was a new diode in the power circuit and it took me a full day to fix it. It's possible to fix them, but it's not economical to do so. You could buy a new amp for all the time you've invested in doing a simple repair.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Amazing, well done!

[@Fugettaboutit]

When I heard about this amp and its tube lineup, I wondered if it was essentially their version of the Peavey Classic series. In particular, if it was as 'disposable' as those amps are. Because when something goes on those, especially the filter caps, it takes a lot down with it. Yes, they're relatively inexpensive amps but not so much so that it's okay you can't have them serviced and up and running again. I still think the Peavey Classic 30 is one of the best backup/grab-n-go combos out there, but kind of ticking time bomb. This seems somewhat similar, but due to construction and placement of boards and such. EDIT: HA! 10:40 - you mention the Peavey Classic just like I did! Yup.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I think that's an excellent summary of the situation.

[@JimBoom92]

Thanks for your honesty. The amp sounds sweet, but this cheekiness from Fender is unacceptable. I will avoid buying any products from them, thats really the wrong way they are going nowadays...

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes the amp sounds great, it's just the maintenance which is a nightmare.

[@cloudconnect]

Yup, was going to mention the peavey classic line as similar. Vox ac 15 and blues junior would be better alternatives at this price point. Thanks so much for posting this so that we know. I hate this sneaky part of the industry. People buy tube amps with an expectation of repair ability. When it's not, it's a tough one to swallow, especially if they are used to banging around an older model that was repairable.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

True. The thing I don't understand though is this would also be a total PIG to manufacture. In fact I can't see how they managed to do it. So it's not a question of "Let's make our life easy in manufacturing and to hell with the repairability."

[@MreViewer]

A fellow amp tech here in Kent, what a f*ing nightmare, thanks for the warning! I've had a Peavey Classic 30 on the bench, that was sh*t but that Fender, cripes!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Ah yes, that's the other amp you can;t work on. Utterly ridiculous design! If you need any shematics or anything contact me via link at end of vids.

[@MreViewer]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks Stuart

[@RisingMoon697]

A dollar short and a day late. Bought this amp when it first came out. Amazing sound and only complaint was no foot pedal. Used it often in my room with no problems until... last night. It sat for a couple months unused. Fired it up last night, let it warm up like I always do for about 5 minutes then started playing at a low volume. Couple minutes in and a strange sound came out of it right before it just went dead. No power now. Looks like I'm going back to vintage gear I can work on. lol. It will join my Egnater Vengeance in the closet.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Oh no! What a nightmare. I think you'll struggle to find someone able to repair it.

[@roberthollander4522]

Have you checked the tubes?

[@RisingMoon697]

@@roberthollander4522 nope. There isn't even a power light on or anything. None of the tubes are lighting up either. It's like a main fuse blew. I don't know if this even has a main fuse.

[@waltjames407]

My local tech never has a problem working on my Peavey Classic 30, in fact he's always happy to work on it because he knows how great-sounding of an amp it is. Curiosity about the Bassbreaker brought me here, serviceability is a must on a tube amp due to the nature of tube technology...it looks like the Bassbreaker is a step or two harder than the Classic 30 to service. The Classic 30 has that U-shaped triple board but the inside is nowhere near as cramped as the Bassbreaker.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Yes I've done a few classic 30. Not my favourite to work on but they are at least doable, unlike the Bassbreaker!

[@elshiftos]

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be sure to refuse repair of this piece of garbage if anyone asks! Could always offer something for it and reuse the cab, speaker and iron in a custom chassis, and rebuild it as something else that IS serviceable. Edit: I found the schematic for this and it did make me laugh: Belton digilog module for the reverb, 555 timer IC in the power circuit, a bunch of op-amp nonsense in the audio signal path 🙂 I have a Peavey custom 50 in my queue, do you know if they are as bad to work on as the 30? Thanks

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes one tpo be avoided. The users love them though!

[@neslesman6708]

So glad I researched "fender bass breaker problems". Thank you.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

No problem!

[@sylvainbiensur7370]

There is a service manual and its free online. Certainly not easy like a vintage amp but I am 100% confident it can be fixed.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Thanks Sylvain. Yes anything can be fixed, but at what price? I don;t know any techs who will touch this amp.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Hi all. I’m thinking about getting a Marshall Dsl20/Dsl40 are last longing without issues?? Thank you.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes they're pretty good amps and also repairable!

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 In your experience, do they have issues often? Thanks again!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

@@preciseaudioblog Ity's hard for me to say becuse all my experience is based on wat comes in for repair. For what it's worth, I haven't had many of them. But it's not an old amp so maybe you wouldn;t expect too many to go wrong? They're great little amps, jist very poor from a serviceablity viewpoint.

[@felipenep]

Thank you. You saved me of buying one. I’m thinking on getting instead one of these amps: blues jr IV, vox ac15 or Roland blues cube hot. Are these amps easy to repair?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

To be clear these amps sound great, it's just that if they go wroing they are a nightmare. I like the Fender Blues Junior but an amp is a very personal thing.

[@TheTwoTonesLive]

Thanks for the video. Would you know if the head versions of the same model are similar?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes, same I believe.

[@ddhuber]

I’ve done mods on a few Peavey Classic 30’s. They’re difficult but that looks even worse. I’ve also done mods and repairs on a Panama Loco and Traynor YCV20. They’re a little time intensive too. I’m guessing any small modern amp is going to be a pain to work on.

[@rchavez2112]

I bought the 7 or 5 watt version of this amp It sure sounds great But I looked at it And you're right. What were they thinking?! There's gotta be a way to reverse the assembly process. Maybe it's like the ancient pyramids of Egypt where upon completion, they withdrew a single block and that triggered an entire process of locking the entire system down with moats of sand! Seriously I think you can make a pretty penny if you could figure out its assembly process. I wonder if there is a way to cut out swaths Of the chassis With a Dremel To be able to access components?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Rick. Yes I just cannot figure out how they made the thing in the first place! But the really annoying thing is that they obviously knew it would be almost impossible to repair - and didn't care! That tells you a lot about what they really think of their customer care after they've made the sale.

[@darklight4815]

I was able to spray the pots by taking that chassis out just a bit but that's about all ...my reverb was hissing and got louder the more you turned it up....somehow spraying the pot with contact cleaner fixed it... really wasn't expecting that to be the case,but glad it did.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

How odd! Glad you got it sorted

[@nickaltieri6180]

I dunno, are you an amp "repairman" or not?. If it's hard to fix... fix it any way. I've had my BB15 for 6 years gigging out and rehearsing. No trouble what so ever. Great amp, incredibly versatile. By far,, the best amp in that price

[@thejusticeization]

i mean i would think this is easier to repair than a digital amp

[@robertkorn]

I was cringing watching him strip out the heads of the screws as he was taking this thing apart with that pos driver. He doesn't impress me as being that skilled, so have to take this opinion with a grain of salt.

[@grahambambrook313]

Makes you wonder how they get from one end of the assembly line to the other!!!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Exactly!

[@grangerousdesigns4678]

I was thinking about buying this amp .I'm glad I saw this warning.Thanks man, I'll pass on this amp and I'll be super sceptical concerning any new Fender amplifiers.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

They're great amps whilst they work, it's just a nightmare if they go faulty.

[@electrolytics]

They make this junk down in Mexico where people get paid 3-5 dollars an hour. It's a shame but if a person wants a good tube amp nowadays they have to spend extra dough on a good handwired amp from one of these boutique outfits. I've really been paying close attention to Dr. Z amps. They are looking real nice. Pricey though.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes agreed. You have to be prepared to pay a fair bit.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I am so impressed with the Fender BassBreaker 15 tone on my fender micro I started shopping for the real deal and Im glad I came across your PSA video. Thanks!

[@SaxJockey]

You have good taste! I am also impressed by the BB15 amp model in the Fender Mustang Micro...hence watching this video 😂.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Thanks for the vid! Any amp with similar sound clean/dirty you would recommend?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I quite like the Fender Blues Junior.

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 I’ll check it out. Thank you!

[@stratplayr6997]

THANK YOU!! I'm so happy that I came across this video today. I have been looking for a small amp to use for band practices & as a gig backup, and had seen one of these advertised locally. You just saved me from making a colossal mistake, I'm definitely going to look at other options.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Excelent, I'm pleased.

[@motokev2727]

I just bought a used BB 15 head for $400. The amp sounds great. The gain is very good, also. I like the digital reverb, also. After this video, maybe I should return it to GC.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Yes great sounding amp. I'd keep it. They are fairly reliable and it could be many years before it breaks down. AT that point you might find a tech with more patience than me!

[@blackie75]

They're selling them by the truckload too, I enquired to a few stores in Australia about buying one recently and they were sold out all over the country, with a September ETA. So glad I changed my mind and bought a Hot Rod Deluxe.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

That's a reat amp. It has two problems in my view. First the weight - insane! Second it's hard to get the thing off '1' without deafeing the neighbours. If this is an issue, swap V1 for a 12AY7 and that will tame the gain allowing you to run it at 3-4 instade of 1, or whatever.

[@fattommy4436]

Would that tube swap do the same thing on a blues junior?

[@blackie75]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Cheers, I've had it (HRD) for 12 months now, it's a nice amp and takes pedals really well, but yeah, difficult to push at home that's for sure. We have no neighbours, but it's rattling the windows on 4 😂😂. I ended up buying a little Mustang GTX 100 for practicing at night.

[@rogerblack4603]

Its almost as if Fender went out of their way to make it difficult to troubleshoot. I wonder what happens in the factory when a new amp fails the initial tests? Guessing they might just "recycle" it?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Good poimt. This is easily the hardest amp I have ever sen in terms of access.

[@Shiloh7377]

Thank you Stuart for the information, I'm subd and I like your videos....thank you for what you do...

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

My pleasure I'm glad you are enjoying them.

[@Javier-qk7ms]

How about the head version? Can that be repaired if needed?

[@thebudgetguitarist9721]

Is it the same case for the 18/30 model? So glad I saw this, I almost bought a second hand one 🤙🎸

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'm not totally sure but I expect so.

[@thebudgetguitarist9721]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks so much for getting back to me 🤙🎸

[@telecasterbear]

When finished playing, my amps get turned off and unplugged from the wall.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Good practice.

[@TheBluesine]

Hey my friend, is the Bassbreaker 30 combo bad as well???? I was thinking about nuying one when I saw your review/...

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

My guess would be yes but I've never had one in the workshop. These amps are fine unless they go wrong!

[@gabrielelissia]

What about the head version of the bassbreaker 15? It has the same difficulties on repairs or not? Thank you!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Gabriele YEs I believe it's an identical chassis just put into a smaller box! Fine when they work, virtually impossible to repair when they don't.

[@gabrielelissia]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thank you very much for your insight, I was almost torward buying it!!

[@paulleach1480]

I've had this amp for 4 years roughly. Play maybe once a week sometimes less as I use another practice amp around the house as its portable. Couple years ago had the amp red plating, took to an experienced amp tech, who fixed and serviced but he did struggle as it is very hard to work with and he cursed many of times. Real shame it is poorly designed for maintenance because I love the sound. What would you recommend as a replacement for this amp as close to being like this amp?? Cheers.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

He's a brave man! Do you remember what he charged? A really great amp of about the same size and power is the Fender Blues Junior.

[@paulleach1480]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 He was a real calm one paced sort of guy, I think you need to be. His knowledge on amps was fascinating, quite like your videos. He was working on the amp from 9am until 1pm and he charged £100 which what I saw that he had to do I thought was very good. He also took out a resistor somewhere so that the amp would work better, something that was causing the valves to red plate. Thanks for the recommendation, I'm aware of that amp and I do quite like. Cheers.

[@なんて悪い名前だ]

Hi Paul perhaps an experienced technician could copy it? I think it would be worth it, it is a wonderful amplifier

[@paulleach1480]

@@なんて悪い名前だ hi. When you say copy it, do you mean build an amp to replicate the Bassbreaker?

[@chrisbalding3128]

@@paulleach1480 Yes, he meant to copy the circuit onto a more maintenance-friendly platform. For example, there are amp builders out there who will convert a tweed Fender Bassman reissue into a hand-wired amp. I know a builder who does the same with the Pro Jr. and Blues Jr. amps, too.

[@doa1001]

Good job I watched this video as I tempted by this amp. Could you name any similar amps that you would recommend from an ease of service point of view?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi I quite like the fnder Blues Junior but an amo is a very personal thing. Thankfully most are repairable.

[@doa1001]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks for replying. The blues Jnr was my second choice so that’s a relief.

[@theceo1]

Do you think I’d get the same problem if I buy the bassbreaker head and cab?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Definitely!

[@hoagietime1]

Funny this video didn't come up when I was reaching this amp a couple months ago. I've got one now and love the way it sounds, haven't a clue what to do with it now

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Use it and love it until it goes wrong!

[@jaremisajkowski2417]

Well .. I'm not sure about your motifs here but I think you are not entirely right in your criticism. First, right in the beginning, I was surprised with the way you handled chassis mounting screws, using a heavy duty power drill (!) and possibly (it's quite audible) stripping the screw heads. Ouch! You also dropped the chassis .. I would edit this part out if I were you - very unprofessional. Fender is a big company; there are many engineers involved in design and logistics (i.e. repair) and at the end, if it can be assembled, it can be taken apart and repaired. Fender has to be able to repair these under warranty. Would they design something that costs them a lot to fix .. I don't think so. It's possible that they now use sub-assemblies that incorporate many parts that need to be replaced as whole units. That's a different story .. a sign of the times.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Jaremi. I like to leave my videos as authetic as possible rather than edit out the errors to make me look amazing. I've never stripped a thread yet and I've removed thousands of chassis screws. The drill has a clutch of course and so cannot provide too much torque. Finally, you're right, everything CAN be repaired and if my life depended upon it, I could have repaired it. The problem is the final bill for a the customer,. There is such a thing as 'beyond economic repair'. If you look at other amp techs they too, will not touch this amp. Maybe you could do better, in which case there's a tasty living to be had being the Bassman Repair Specialist!

[@tad5920]

Wow! What the hell was Fender thinking? Sounds great until something fails, then throw it in the trash bin and buy another. What crap! Thanks for the review!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Ha ha, yes. Tbh a lot of the modern Class D power amps also have this problem - pretty much unfixable if they fail.

[@darrenp2344]

I was seeing these go for some tempting prices 2nd hand so thanks for the warning. Terrible that it is so unsustainable😢

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes try to avoid!

[@preciseaudioblog]

Do they do the same with Bassbreaker 30?

[@chumbo]

Is this issue true for all Bassbreaker models? I was interested in the Bassbreaker 45...any info on that?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'm unsure as I havenlt seen one of those.

[@hhattingh]

You saved me an enormous headache. Thank you!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Glad to have been of assistance!

[@sunriseshell]

I would think a 1/4" drive socket wrench with a short socket would have made quick work of that ground nut. Agreed it's tight compared to anything I've seen. I think if you left the switches and connectors wired up but removed their nuts from the panel you could get the piece of metal out of the way.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Thanks. I have yet to hear from a tech who has successsfully repaired one of these though. Hardly any will even attempt it.

[@sunriseshell]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 It's asinine design thinking with ZERO regard for anyone down the line who might have to work on it. No thought for longevity or maintenance. More and more cars are being built this way too. I think if I ever end up with one of these some sheet metal modification would be in order if it ever needed repair. Despite the limitations I'm still tempted as it's really hard to get this sound and versatility at this price point and size.

[@gib412]

When I see designs such as this one, I have to think that the intention here by the designer/manufacturer is that when a problems develop with the device (and they will), hopefully the customer will just ditch the device and by a whole new unit. This is how things are viewed in a "throw -away" society.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Good point but I don;t think this is WHY they design it like this. I think it is other reasons which are almost certainly cost related. BUT ... I don't see how they can have made this thing easily either!

[@jaysorensenIBEW]

It's a combination of all these reasons. Guys like Stuart cause them losses by repair over replacement. Don't think that the pencil pushers and bean counters at fender don't have these discussions. Also, Stuart is right, in that they will have it easier and quicker putting these things together with that shitty design.

[@jaysorensenIBEW]

I'm sorry, I see that Stuart suggested that it must have been a pain in the ass for them to build as well. This kind of goes back to the original post's point, no disrespect to you, Stuart. 👍

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

At 800 bucks that is unexceptable. If it was a 300 or 400 bucks and I got 5 years out of it that would be one thing.

[@bandsbikesandboozereviews]

Looks like matey from Aus took it apart and found a reasonable fix. Terrible design though and I do not blame you at all for not having a go at fixing. Looks like it was designed by a Citroen or Renault designer! LOL!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Ha ha. Yes that's about right!

[@bluesbondsman]

You just saved me a huge headache! I was about to pick one up used. I'll pass. Thank You

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'll send the bill...

[@JeighNeither]

Will the head be the same?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

If this amp is available in head form, then yes it will be the same.

[@saleseng]

I must say I do not like the design either but I do like a challenge however it would be nice if somebody from Fender manufacturing would chime in to show exactly their method of disassembly to open up that chassis and remove those boards to be able to troubleshoot and repair or replace components

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's thank you and have a nice day! kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@shane011471]

It's not really about the how to it's about the time it takes to do so VS the cost of the amp. I do not care what ESD Audio says as in the end it's a total SHIT design from the get go plain and simple! Look this is not a expensive amp to begin with and when something does go wrong (And it Will) the cost could be just as much as the amp itself which comes out to nothing more than LANDFILL... Sorry but it's a POS plain and simple...

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

Interesting video!! Seeing as Fender make the EVH stuff ... i wonder if that stuff is more tech friendly.😎 I think i will stick to my first choice & buy a LANEY Super Cub. I had to sell my Iommi TI-15. ( lack of LANEY products on your channel. that´s a GOOD thing right. 🤠 Cheers

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Dan Ah that's interesting. You're right, I rarely get a LAney in!

[@Fotosaurus56]

I bought an old Kalamazoo Model 2 in remarkable shape after a good cleaning. It needed a fuse, contact cleaner on the pots and on/off switch, three new filter capacitors and a three prong grounded cord. I paid $100 for the amp and $3.86 for the caps. For a vintage 1966 tube amp it sounds warm and sweet. It also keeps me from wanting anything newer.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Nice! I've not heard of that amp before.

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@stuartukguitarampguy5830I have one as well, it's a 5 watt el84 amp, which was unusual for an american amp in the 60s, and it has a 10" alnico speaker, but the cabinet is cheap small garbage which would fall apart if it gets wet...I run it through an ext cab and it sounds much better

[@smoothassmooth]

The amp sounds good I did see one video of a guy fixing it but he said it was hell. I went back to that video by d labs electronics he just replaced the tubes and did not work on the board.

[@jayjayftw07]

Hey! Does the Fender Bassbreaker 30 have the same problem? Thank you!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'm not 100% sure but I'd bet it has!

[@macleod41069]

What would you recommend instead

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

The Fender Blues Junior is a pretty good amp.

[@markg9254]

Hiya Stuart, what amps are the easiest to repair and best build in your opinion. I was gonna get one of these but this has put me off big time

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi MArk. This is SUCH a personal thing and you'll need to have a look and see what suits. In this size of amp I think the Fender Blues Junior is a great little amp.

[@ernestschultz5065]

Makes me wonder how Fender even assembled it in the first place.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

My thoughts exactly. I honestly don't know how they made this.

[@jjcale2288]

Chinese kids have small hands😉

[@SirenaWF1]

This is a lot like a new car where when you ask for a lot of stuff to be put into something and there isn't a lot of space. Older amps generally last longer because there's just less to go wrong with them, or they're given a lot more space and parts don't get as hot from normal operation. I bought my amp from a former Fender engineer who said it's hard to put a lot into a small space. You have to make sacrifices.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes that's a good observation. There's a lot crammed into a very small space.

[@Andrew-ry7iw]

That would make a great project for an enthusiast who bought it dirt cheap and has plenty of spare time. For a tech who has to charge by the hour it makes absolutely no sense as the repair would end up costing a fortune.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Andrew. Yes you've summed it up perfectly. Anything is fixable given unlimited time and resources, but amp fixing has to be done to a budget which the customer will pay.

[@antonioqm5579]

Do you recommend "blues junior" instead?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes. I like the Blues Junior. Nice little amp.

[@antonioqm5579]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Thank you for your opinion.

[@PeterVories]

Why doesn't Fender just do a Mark II and fix the issues?? Such a great sounding amp. I recently bought a Jazzmaster Ultra. I mean, why do they use the tiniest friggin hex wrench on earth for the bridge adjustment? Also, the switch gets scratchy after having out of the case for just a day or two. My Gibsons don't. JM's just have a large, open ball that love dirt, I guess. I am also not sure if the trem lock even works. It does nothing. But it came with no instructions, so... I think maybe Fender USA needs to coordinate with their Japanese counterparts on how to do things correctly.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes it's REALLY frustrating for me as a tech to see tired old problems in design which were known about 50 years ago but new generation of designers don't seem aware. E.g. very hot power resistors mounted straight onto the pcb, HT tracks without sufficient spacing and so on..

[@sebastian993]

amp techs, like all techs, are the same. they want a job that takes them 15 minutes but 1 they can charge the customer 2 hours of labour for. My hybrid VOX is the same. You need to pull out the entire board to change a tube (which is precisely what I did). Doesn't mean it's "impossible" to fix. What you need to say is that the Bassbreaker is indeed a "piece of shit", but also it's not cost effective to have it serviced because it'll end up costing more than the amp itself. I do however thank you for the video as it saved me a lot of money. For that I will give you a thumbs up & leave a comment.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Sebatsian. It's usually the opposite for me! E.g. my just posted video I spent 4 hours on the amp and only charged for one hour. Yes, of course nothing is 'impossible' but the customer simply would not be willing to pay for the time it took to fix this amp. I haven't yet come across a tech who will take these amps on. A lot of the vid is just my frustration at the poor design.

[@PJSScotty]

Any issues with the Fender 30R?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi ALfred I'm not really sure as I don't think I've seen one of those.

[@pttrent123]

You saved me from buying one of these, thank you for the information!

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's thank you and have a nice day! kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@AntCesZA]

Me too

[@jcd13able]

Out of curiosity I would be able to fix it only one time and that's it! The next time there is a problem with the amp I would hate to be getting in there again. And that's the problem with these disposable amps. I read the new chinese made peavey classic 30 have different design but I can't find a picture online.

[@jacobbockover1628]

This may be a design created to make it so only fender can work in it. Auto makers do that a well as other companies

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Jacob. Nice idea but I honestly don't think Fender, Marshall etc want 'repair business'. It's a total pain in the ass for them and there is no profit in it. I honestly have no idea why they designed it like this as it must also be fairly hard to manufacture. nice idea but I honestly d

[@pepuletrz]

well they warranty them for 5 years though rite?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

YEp, then you're on your own as very few techs will touch them.

[@motokev2727]

So, I assume all the bassbreakers are the same. I have the 007. Seems like a simple amp compared to the others.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'm not totally certain but I would expect so.

[@smartquark]

Has fender sold its soul to the Devil at the crossroads? An arduous and frustrating repair attempt by a professional - Clearly shows that Fender does (at times) manufacture non-user and tech serviceable Valve amps - An absolute disaster with environmentally unfriendly consequences due to a very poorly (deliberately?) designed chassis access that translates to quick obsolescence and landfill. Compared to their quality vintage valve amps this is shameful! What is going on with Fender's design department, along with their artisan pride in workmanship - These amps should last a lifetime, and not include obsolescence in their design! Fender shame on you! The Valve amps i was brought up with proudly convey confidence in workmanship whilst inspiring creativity in music.

[@samfarrow441]

is it the same with the bassbreaker 007 aswell?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I'm not sure tbh.

[@Matthew_Scan]

Mine broke down straight away from the factory

[@Rick_Erickson]

If you own one of these (Bassbreaker 007, 15, 30R) amps, have a qualified tech remove the zener diode across the power tube(s) cathode resistor, BEFORE it fails! (DO NOT REMOVE THE R3000 FLYBACK OR ANY OTHER DIODES!) This zener is the major cause of bias loss and tube failure in the Bassbreaker series. Fender engineers really dropped the ball installing a zener there. The amp will work fine without it. If this diodes shorts, which it eventually will, it can not only take out the power tube(s) but also the output and power transformers.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

USeful info thanks Rick. Can that diode be reached without a major strip down?

[@greenh609]

I read reviews but problems with these amps, but I bought a Bassbreaker 15H about a year ago used on craigslist. I haven't had any issues yet and I gigged with this amp a few times, left it in my car a few weeks at a time for gig and practices. I'm guessing these amps had QC issues which is too bad because in my opinion these are great sounding versatile amps.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi. I don't think this amp is particularly badly made or anything, or suffers badly from QC issues. It's just that IF it goes wrong, it's extremely hard to repair.

[@greenh609]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Aloha Stuart. I only say bad QC because I read reviews about people having problems with these amps brand new and then Fender not being able to fix them. Now I know why not even Fender could fix it. But I really love this amp using it was a clean amp platform that take pedals very well. If I was able to mic or line out this amp for every gig this would be my main amp. Now I know that I need to make sure I get it's worth out of it just in case it does have an issue that can't be fix and needs to be tossed.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

@@greenh609 Yes you may be fine for many years with it. Let's hope so!

[@FLdb-wj4wc]

Lol. There's no way I'm getting rid of mine. It's friking amazing!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Oh yes they do sound good but you can pretty much write it off if anything goes wrong!

[@johanpauwels7894]

Commenting just to make sure more people see this

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Thanks Johan.

[@cesarcamacho2266]

What would be an Amp thats on the same price range which is easy for amp techs to repair?

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Hi Cesar - almost anything. 99% of amps are repairable and it's most unusual to have a design like this which makes it virtually impossible.

[@esdaudiodarwishholding9430]

Infarenes this model was nice, the only down side is about the technical side which should be take care by the repairing technician but not the user. In my experience repairing a fender brand for almost 15 years, I encountered a different issues but I manage to fixed them with perseverance in finding the faulty parts, First impression on this model was difficult to diagnose due to the structure but when you in to it doing the diagnosing I realize it was easy. I always applied the basic trouble shooting I always applied the basic trouble shooting with technic. Please watch my video's ALLAN ROTONI kzbin.info/door/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

@@esdaudiodarwishholding9430 AGreed it's a nice sounding amp and if it doesn;t go wrong, no problem. Also of course ANYTHING is repairable. The problem is the cost to repair this. There's nothing 'rocket science' inside, it's just that you can't GET to the inside! At least, not economically.

[@soapboxearth2]

I recently started building amp kits. Previously I've owned vintage hand wired traynors. People who buy anything with modern pcb need to be in straight jackets

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

I guess it's all about costs. Disposable amps! USe for 5 years then throw away.

[@soapboxearth2]

@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 it's sad that people are duped. I'm in Canada and you can pick up vintage hand wired Traynor amps for 600-800 dollars. They are similar to a 5f6a or jtm45. Currently I'm building my second amp, a hand wired 5f6a with a jmp channel using a 410 fender deville cab , iron and chassis .

[@Kaoson73]

"I don't even know how they manufactured it" I think this might be a good thing to figure out for a way in.

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Agreed. There MUST be a way in but I think it would take a lot of time and patience = big bill for customer.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Designed by accountants!! Messy Boogers suck to repair also!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Yes but you'd think it would be a right so-and-so to construct as well!

[@stuartukguitarampguy5830]

Ah but if this amp was available in head form, it would still be a total nightmare to work on!