How to repair replace Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube guitar amp input jacks

[@marccarter1350]

Made in Mexico. Cheaper parts. All of that range. The Blues Jr, Hot Rods, Delux Reverb, even some of the cheap 65 Twins. Nasty modern boards. Made in the USA Fender stuff is still great of course! I sent my Silver face Delux reverb back. £1100 is not cheap. I took the back off when it came, hated what I saw! It was an amp with insides just like that. I settled on a Vox AC15HW1. Its made in Vietnam, but hand-wired. Decent specs. Decent board. Very decent specs, layout. Decent wood used. Very decent parts. The price was also great. Money left over for some decent Mullard valves, plus a celestion 15w blue. It's twice the amp of some of those not so cheap Fenders. Watching you fix amps has given me a clue now as to what to look out for. I can spot junk now! I even changed the speaker and valves myself :-) Love as always!

[@domenicmirto7351]

Thanx I just picked up a Hot Rod Deluxe. Previous owner said it cuts out... You read my mind... Your video is just what the Doctor odered..! Enjoy all your guitar amp videos ... Keep up the good work...! Domenic

[@d-labelectronics]

Cool deal man. I hope that this is the fix for yours. TD

[@cfboneslum]

Amazing video! I followed this and changed out the input jack on my hot rod as it was cutting out. I've worked on my 5e3 before but that's all handwired and easy to change parts but this was the first time on a PCB and this video helped so much especially buying solder wick, cleaned up the solder perfect 🎵🎸 Thanks again 👍🏼

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Thanks again. We need your expertise because these amps are found in every rehearsal room, bar, club, church and the homes of thousands if players and on my part you have given the knowledge and calmness I needed to fix some issues. Now I am getting to really like this amp even though it is supposed to be a budget priced choice for a fender valve amp. My next move is to replace the master vol pots for better quality CTS .

[@flockoglock]

Excellent video as usual. I've worked on more Fender Hot Rod series amps in the past six months than I have in the past six years. Mostly bad jacks, filter caps and bad solder joints. The vast majority are twenty years old, with no issues previously. Not bad for a mass produced amp.

[@d-labelectronics]

What was the filter cap failure? I need to watch for that. TD

[@flockoglock]

+D-lab Electronics A couple were physically leaky at the Anode, corrosion, and some were open, reading zero capacitance. Typically only one was bad of the bunch, but all were replaced because of age, 20 years or more, and it was cheaper for the customer in the long run, to do them all while the amp was open.

[@djefferson5669]

If you do a job like this on the older hot rod deluxe you should ask the customer if they want the volume pot changed as well to give you a gradual volume change rather than it going to near full volume when the pot is only on 3.

[@judges69]

Lots of good tips, I though you would of replaced the resistors and raised them up of the board for better air flow?

[@djfrank59]

Hi Terry, good video as always. These amplifiers have been problematic since day one. One of the issues I always encounter is the ribbon cables. On many of the HRD's, I've eliminated them and replaced them with hookup wire for better reliability. Another serious issue that comes to mind after seeing that darkened area on the board is, the slide down terminals from the filament and B+ supply. Those are notorious for melting. I've had to remove those connectors and solder them right to the board. they tend to get loose from vibration and once they come loose as you know, resistance becomes an issue and current draw increases. The other common problem is the tube sockets being mounted on the PCB. I've had to replace many char broiled boards. (not my idea of an afternoon BBQ) :) Keep 'em coming...:)

[@aerostoon]

I have seen guys raise those high current resistors off of the board to get some airflow around them and prevent them from burning the board. I would recommend doing this as well.

[@smokepeddler]

100%

[@thomashamiltom]

This was a fantastic video! Thank you for being so concise, I wish you were in my town! Fantastic teaching!

[@SendARope]

Another cool video. Learned something. Next to order: Solder Wick. I've known I was missing something. Also liked the look inside the delux. I had one and loved it. Heavy sucker but great amazing wonderful sound.

[@MuscleDad420]

I opt to replace the board-mounted jacks completely with chassis-mounted shorting jacks. Addressing those 16v +/- power resistors are a must too.

[@rjake61]

I see some problems with those flex cables on occasion. Especially when the boards get pulled out frequently for mods or joint repair. My permanent fix was to tear the "circus" boards out and replace them with a turret board Fender Pro circuit.

[@manuelfraiman5534]

good job! just one thing: these input plastic sockets always end up breaking, so i 'll have to swap them for more traditional ones , if they allow me the proper switching function

[@jamesmillard5884]

thanks this is exactly what i needed now to find the original part

[@dhpbear2]

Curious that you didn't space those resistors away from the board!

[@TerryLHampton]

Thanks Terry, love the channel, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@d-labelectronics]

Thanks man, Guys with our first name need to stick together!

[@TerryLHampton]

I'll drink to that!

[@modernmusicentertainment2127]

Wondering if anyone has better instructions for replacing these jacks with Switchcraft shorting jacks. There’s a popular manual online, but it’s riddled with mistakes and inconsistencies regarding where to solder the leads on both the jacks and PCB.

[@garyeggleton1142]

I had my jack changed with a switchcraft and a couple wires soldered to the board....never failed again :)

[@d-labelectronics]

That is the best way, I agree

[@dykeneuk]

Your channel has been a joy for me to watch. I love it. I wonder if you would think of doing a video on troubleshooting the hiss that many of the new Fender 'Custom' Vibrolux amps have? or look into performing 'Moyer'mods? I love the amp but hate the hiss.

[@d-labelectronics]

I had 1 of those in the shop years ago. Ended up, gutting it and installing an eyelet board. I do have a video of that conversion on my channel. Will look into Moyer. 1st I've heard of it. Thanks for the kind e-mail. TD

[@dykeneuk]

Wish I had the courage to install an eyelet board. Info on the Moyer mods: www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=719412

[@creightonha8725]

Great video D-Lab, let's get some more solid state repairs!

[@d-labelectronics]

I could fix your phone with a hammer. Then your Poke-mons would all escape!

[@bartmeijer1059]

Again a Nice job! Well done! Customer happy, amp happy..... 🍷

[@d-labelectronics]

Thanks for your faith in me man

[@backlineguy]

Great work and video...just bought a HRD and although the resistors have not burned the board, I can see that the main caps are leaking...using your solder wicking method to remove the solder joints and replace the caps myself, can you tell me how to discharge the thing so I don't get "surprised".....also how to get the polarity correct on the new caps...thanks!

[@manuelfraiman5534]

use a resistor and two jumpers

[@6AM_YT]

You really should have replaced those power resistors with new ones, lifted off the board to prevent further heat damage. It's going to have the same issue, or worse, in the future.

[@scottbaillargeon9197]

Hello, I was wondering what the temp of the soldering iron was when you were using the wick to desolder the connections? You said use approx 700 degrees to solder, does the same temp work to desolder? Thanks in advance!

[@TerryMasri]

I'm about to change the input jack on my '97 BJ with an all metal SwitchCraft input jack as per the recommendation of just about every single soul that's graced the web. So when you recommend to replace the rickety, flimsy Fender OEM plastic input jack with the same rickety, flimsy Fender OEM plastic input jack in order to get a "longer life" out of it, I have to wonder what you smoked before you made that video! The infamous OEM plastic input jack on my BJ miserably failed after a few months from purchasing the amp brand new despite my due diligence in carefully inserting the guitar cable into the jack (being quite aware of the issue). Looking inside the input jack, I can see a broken off metal "tongue" and a small spring just floating around inside, not to mention the separated solder joints on the back of the PCB because the nut threaded on the plastic body of the jack on top of the control panel cannot handle the mechanical stresses from normal use. These jacks are PURE JUNK and I would NEVER recommend anyone reinstalling the same input jack Fender sells for these amps, unless, and in your own words "you want to do the job again in a few month."

[@videogameattic]

Do you have a video on taking out the tube socket boards to service them?

[@drchamp1902]

any tips on where the issue might be if i get a crackling noise when the volume goes up and the guitar is played

[@starterplanet]

Great job man!

[@Neridog]

Works like a champ! ;) Love it. This was really informative, thanks for doing this video. Very cool seeing the insides of my amp. Also great soldering tips!

[@jonnybeck6723]

Hi, Terry... To your knowledge, has anyone ever tried taking a little CPU jelly and strapping a heat-sink to those 5 watt resistors to increase heat dissipation or is that just overkill (?) Thanx in advance, thanx for another cool video and... cheers

[@manuelfraiman5534]

no doubt this would work and lower the temperature

[@dekzan]

How about raising the cap a little distant from the board ?

[@spaceorbison]

is this basically the same principle with an audio interface headphone jack? Mine is loose I opened it up and the jack look basically the same

[@mrbigg7255]

My old hrd is popping and hissing. I have some old rca black plates in the preamp. Swapped known good tubes in and same problem. Did the same on power tubes. No difference. Would you be interested in working on it? I could remove the chassis and mail it to you. It’s the USA version so I’m guessing it could use a cap job. Circus Board is burnt by the resistors also.

[@jvin248]

I've found some of the high standing ceramic resistors vibrate so much (they are in an amp) that they crack the solder joint over time. Too high, too low. It's such a common problem area ... any good design or repair tips to make sure the amp is fixed permanently? Like little standoffs/clips/etc?

[@d-labelectronics]

I agree. Normally, I install ceramic stand-offs. Great Q.

[@mrrhee2467]

The better repair involves removal and remote suspended mounting of the 470 ohm resistors with new replacement 10 watt parts. You simply resoldered the same flawed, overheating design that will eventually damage the PCB and nearby components. Replace that cheap plastic input jack with a real, metal Switchcraft part.

[@alessandroale8126]

Great video,but i'll like see thermal bias solution for jcm2000 tsl 100...

[@rhykko77]

You obvious are a pro and know what you are doing .....but regarding the resistor .....why didn't you replace the resistor with a new one that stands off of the board a bit ?

[@mgautraud]

I greatly enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing them! I have a Deville that's near 20 years old and getting ready to replace the filter capacitors due to noise. I was also considering replacing all of the plate resistors with new and wondered if you had any thoughts on metal film vs the original carbon film that it was made with?

[@sergeantsodom6969]

Are the rectifiers on the HRD SS?

[@HBSuccess]

Terry nice work as always - some of those traces look cooked. If one burned through from hear could you jumper around a burned up trace -point to point wire it - or will that not work ? Thx !

[@HBSuccess]

From heat not from hear. Stupid spell-check.

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, Yes, Has heat damage, but the traces are OK. I use 22 ga solid conductor wires for jumpers.

[@rdicos1]

what temp did you use on your iron

[@scootertrasher1369]

let's not forget to discharge the filter caps

[@texwest65]

I noticed he touched one of the diodes. Definitely need to discharge before you do that.

[@brucelittle3958]

Excellent and thank you!

[@fredcom1]

Very nice job. What is the value of the dummy load resister?

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, it is a 8 ohm non-inductive, 10 watt type sold by Parts express

[@down19992000]

D-lab Electronics . Or if you have a radio shack nearby they carry a 8-ohm 20 watt non-inductive resistor for $2.59. Well at least my local Radio Shack carries them. anyways

[@down19992000]

D-lab Electronics . Or if you have a radio shack nearby they carry a 8-ohm 20 watt non-inductive resistor for $2.59. Well at least my local Radio Shack carries them. anyways

[@gbass7328]

Fender cheaped out by using the bias tap for the the op amp supply rails and they are too high so those resistors drop that voltage and heat up badly. The new Mk III & IV amps have a lower tap winding from a new xfmr causing 15vdc less drop across those pwr resistors. Thx Fender lol.

[@kenwalterssr.8523]

what do I replace the R97 Resistor with in 2002 HRD ?

[@hendrix050]

Does the amp need to be drained somehow before working on it? I don't want to electrocute myself, but don't want to pay a tech for such a simple job. I also need to replace or clean out the treble pot

[@ORDER4STU]

Was wondering if you could help me out with a simple spring reverb issue. I have a fender vaporizer amp, and my reverb tank feeds back and is basically unusable. Tank isnt mounted tight to the cab, and its not getting much vibration from the amp itself. Not sure whats causing this, any info on it would help me a ton. Thanks!

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, sorry, I have not worked on that model. I have heard lots of complaints regarding its design. Hopefully soon one will show up and I can gather more info on the issue.

[@ORDER4STU]

Thanks for the reply! I actually love this amp. It's weirdly designed but it sounds fantastic, and the reverb tank is the only issue i've had yet. Cheers!

[@neutrodyne]

Try moving the reverb tank to different spot until you find the spot that works best.

[@paigehawkins1945]

I’m having the same problem, but I’m a disaster waiting to happen with a soldering iron. Not enough hands on 😯😯😯

[@DeadKoby]

Ha ha... I commented on the marshall about the resistors that cook the board... and the next video in Queue is exactly what I had to do...

[@stevelueb7787]

Love your stale humor "Champ"

[@Stratocastering]

Man you're awesome!

[@d-labelectronics]

Love you, man. Thank you

[@vonzigle]

Great vid!

[@LuisHernandez-dy1rq]

Great job! If I wanted to send you my amp for repair, what is your contact info.?

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, go to my website, d-labamps.com, there is a contact page there. Be glad to help you out. TD

[@LuisHernandez-dy1rq]

D-lab Electronics awesome! Thanks Just bought a USA Hot Rod Deluxe and I haven't gotten it but if I have issues I know where to send it. Should I send just the chassis or the whole amp?

[@d-labelectronics]

Cool deal. Yes, just the chassis, much cheaper to ship

[@LuisHernandez-dy1rq]

D-lab Electronics got it

[@matthewschad6689]

Really good video I just thought it would be easier haha

[@AdrianRP1]

Thanks man!

[@carl_valentin]

Just recapped a HRD. Also replaced several reistors. The "circusboard" is really poor quality.

[@reverendg5937]

Preparation is 90% of every weld. The better the fit-up the less time spent welding.

[@cminor9]

Why not replace the input jack with a 12A type jack? That crappy plastic jack is just going to fail again someday. Fender should be ashamed for putting those jacks in there.

[@ebookpioneers]

Can you tell me the reason why Fender doesn't hand wire all their amps? I found an article from a Los Angeles newspaper in the late 1990's that said Fender paid their typical workers in Mexico $60 per week. Let's say by now they might be up to $80. That's still just a little over a dollar an hour. It takes less than 8-hours to hand wire most any amp. Sure they'd have to retool (no more jacks built into boards etc.), but I still have to think that they could hand wire every amp for less than $30 more than it cost them now using circuit boards. Who wouldn't pay an extra $30 or even $100 to have their Hot Rod Deluxe or whatever hand wired? I just don't get this business plan. They could probably quadruple their sales in a year if all their amps were hand wired and didn't cost much more.

[@robertjamesrobson2907]

Like most large manufacturers, Fender has always been driven primarily by economic concerns. Leo was an accountant, not a musician or craftsman. Hand wiring and other techniques now regarded as evidence of overall quality were only used at Fender until cheaper options became available. This trend will continue across manufactured goods as long as people base their buying decisions on price (or brand loyalty) instead of true quality. Think about that the next time you step into a Walmart or order something from Amazon. That's where it all starts.

[@Haassan1]

Could you please move your lab next door to my house? Ill be the best neighbour ever. Ps. I live in the Netherlands

[@Bipeuh001]

Have a question for you @D-lab Electronics. Not related to the issue described in this video though. I moved in Europe few weeks ago and decided to bring my little baby amp with me. I have a step-down voltage transformer from acupwr.com/ This allows me to convert european 240V AC to 110V AC. Now Europe runs 50Hz. I checked the plate at the back of the amp and it says 60Hz and not 50/60Hz and of course 110V AC. I haven't tried yet and wanted to ask you whether I would destroy anything if I was to use my Hot Rod Deluxe amp with the above configuration I've mentioned above: 110V AC @ 50Hz. Thanks! and well done for the video.

[@daveogarf]

"Circus Board" - a 1950s TV series, starring one Mickey Braddock (later known as Micky Dolenz) as Corky the circus boy, and Noah Beery, Jr. (later known as James Rockford's dad) as Joey the clown. What? Ohhh, BOARD! Sorry. I get a little mixed up sometimes.

[@yeoldepirate783]

I have the same amp, and I am no tech,, I am getting horrible noise and it seems to crack and pop if I touch the guitar cable, I have tried it with two guitars and am wondering if its my amp?

[@d-labelectronics]

Hello, That issue sounds like either a damaged input jack or bad solder connections. I have seen both issues on the PCB based design

[@yeoldepirate783]

Thanks for the fast answer ! I will get it checked out do you know anyone in the Wash, Metro area, as in a Maryland suburb

[@kxmrock]

nice vid

[@Wrguitar941]

what does it mean when the pilot light goes dim whats the problem anybody>?

[@d-labelectronics]

What make guitar amp is it? If a Fender, could be a loose bulb connection or your 6VAC filament circuit is having issues.

[@Wrguitar941]

Yes hotrod deluxe 3 hardly used too:(

[@joemamma4324]

These are good amps..Sure they are not perfect but show me a better amp for the money,Yet one that sounds as good as this one.The problem is these companies dont give a crap about you,Just look at the taper vol pot used instead of a audio taper pot.FOR YEARS..I really think this is a gimmick..When people HAVE to be greedy to afford that Kalifornia life they pass all the overpriced overhead ,mortgages and taxes from Kalifornia on to you.The first time I opened an amplifier I was pissed,Car audio has way more tech involved and I can Buy U.S.A made car amps for a fairly reasonable price..

[@midnightraiin4035]

the bigger the blob. that is so funny

[@julianrodolfo]

😂 like a champ

[@dimebagtribute]

Why have you not relocated those resistors in higher place before to resolder them? It will overheat again, isn't it?

[@redjapes]

Great video!

[@williammg9135]

Thank you for this.