old problem with old Peavey amps

Hans Holzherr · Post by **Hans Holzherr** » 6 Jun 2004 9:15 am

I have a Session 400 LTD which is about 12 years old, and an older 400 LTD. Both amps, when they haven't been used some time are near-dead when switched on. Very low-volume, distorted sound. It takes striking a chord at full volume to "kickstart" them, which is sounds like an explosion. Very disturbing. What's the cure for this?

Hans

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 6 Jun 2004 10:04 am

Molex connectors?

bob

Hans Holzherr · Post by **Hans Holzherr** » 6 Jun 2004 10:15 am

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 6 Jun 2004 1:21 pm

Hans--your problem is most likely dirt or corrosion/oxidation on some contact points. I would spray your input jacks with contact cleaner and insert a plug in/out a bunch of times. Do the same with the jacks in the rear--preamp out, amp in, etc.--it doesn't matter if you use these or not. They can affect the signal flow. And finally, as Bob suggests, find the plastic reverb connector harness in the back---this is called the molex connector and it is a known issue with Peaveys. Disconnect it and spray it with cleaner. I expect that everything will be good as new.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 6 Jun 2004 2:12 pm

Bad cold solder connection. Amp tech can check for this. You can also bang the top of the amp with your bar to fix it temporarily.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 6 Jun 2004 5:00 pm

I had an Artist with a 15" BW that was frozen, due to the foam rubber that is in the back of the magnet. It had fallen apart and into the voice coil gap. The particles got heated and actually had the voice coil stuck! I cleaned the gap out with compressed air, then alcohol and finally after drying I used brown tape stretched over a business card to clean the gap.

Dennis Wallis · Post by **Dennis Wallis** » 6 Jun 2004 8:19 pm

I've had the same problem with almost every Peavey I've ever owned. Just recently had a Vegas 400 fixed by a good tech. The circuit boards,etc. are mass produced and eventually will develop weak spots and cracks,etc. The only way to get them working properly is to have a good tech fix it. TRUST ME !

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 7 Jun 2004 2:06 am

Take the amp out of the cabinet, clean all the connectors with a good clean non corrosive electronic cleaner, also clean the back panel effects in 1/4 connectors.

clean everything . The Reverb and Speaker connectors are #1.( molex)

You may want to spray all the pots with cleaner at this time too.

Great amps, they just require a tad of maintenance now and then.

t

Uwe Haegg · Post by **Uwe Haegg** » 7 Jun 2004 2:24 am

Cut off the molex connectors and solder
the leads. That is the only solution that will work over time.
Peavey really ought to find a solution, when
designing amps, that does not contain any molex connectors.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 7 Jun 2004 11:17 am

Yes, we have had our problems with Molex connectors, but to be quite honest with you, "I" haven't had that problem with the almost 30 years of playing Peavey products! As a matter of fact, I rarely have problems with my gear at all.

However, for those of you who have experienced problems with this connector, we are phasing out the Molex connector use.

Most posts that mention this connector are referencing Peavey amplifiers which are literally 10 years or older, ie; Vegas 400, etc.. Any electronic piece is suseptable to corrosion if it is not used for a period of time. You know what they say, "You don't use it, you lose it".

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation[This message was edited by Mike Brown on 07 June 2004 at 12:22 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Brown on 07 June 2004 at 12:31 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Brown on 07 June 2004 at 12:32 PM.]