Evans Took a Poop

Al Moss · Post by **Al Moss** » 23 Jul 2005 6:35 am

Playing a gig in a hot/steamy club on Thurs, second set, my '89 Evans 1-15, FET 500 Custom LV abruptly stopped, mid-intro, on 'Down in the Boondocks' and it refused to be revived. The power switch refused to remain in an "on" position and even when the amp cooled down a bit it still would not power up. At home on Friday I replaced the 6 amp fuse with a new one and it blew instantly upon switching the power on. The amp felt really hot when it stopped working, the volume was not the least bit loud, the band is pretty darned acoustic and the club is intimate anyway. I've used the amp many times on outdoor gigs in direct sun without incident so this turn of events took me by surprise.
Any likely suspicions of what might have happened and how extensive the damage might be on this guy? My repair guy has just gone on vacation for a bit and I'm also curious, due the vintage and specificity of this amp that it might be a bit of an enigma to most repair guys anyway.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Jul 2005 7:29 am

Without a schematic it's a hit and miss situation. Whoever repairs it will need the schematic(s).

An option is to contact Evans amps about sending it to them for repair.

ADDED: Hard to tell what the problem is, could be a power supply problem, power amp problem, preamp problem or even a bad speaker. In other words there is no telling until a tech gets into it. [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 23 July 2005 at 08:31 AM.]

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 23 Jul 2005 8:13 am

One of our Forumites has made available the schematic for that amp. I just don't remember who it was. You might do a search.

Lee, from South Texas

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 23 Jul 2005 8:16 am

I did the search for you.

Click Here

Lee

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 23 Jul 2005 1:04 pm

I have a mid-80's Evans LV 500. I was having constant problems with the fuse blowing. I talked to Derrel Stephens at his Evans booth at Scotty's. He wanted to know if I was using the fuses that have the strip of metal that looks like a lightning bolt. I said yes, so he handed me a box of fuses with the little wire instead of the metal strip. He said that should take care of it. Well, IT DID!!!! Never had a problem after that.

My Evans has the power to heal itself! About 6 months ago, the treble was almost gone and it was very noisy if I gave it any volume at all. So, I was ready to send it to Evans for a tune up. I kept procrasting for a few weeks, then a miracle occurred. It started working fine again. I guess whatever the problem is will return, but knock on wood, so far, so good.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 23 Jul 2005 1:24 pm

When an amp instanlty blows a fuse after being cooled down there is a problem. The fuses referred to above as a replacement are 313 series, Slo Blow as opposed to the a 312 series, Fast Blow.

I would first disconnet the speaker, in case there is a shorted output transistor and try again. With no load a shorted output transitor will have no place to dissipate power, then the fuse will hold. I doubt this is the problem, as a shorted output tranny typically burns the voice coil open in a second or so! So there would be no load there anyway.

If it still blows a fuse, then suspect a shorted diode or transistor in the power supply circuits.

The fact that that amp was running hot would make me suspect a shorted output transistor first, but not necessarily the problem.

Those are some things to consider, but not necessarily all inclusive![This message was edited by Ken Fox on 23 July 2005 at 02:33 PM.][This message was edited by Ken Fox on 23 July 2005 at 02:34 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jul 2005 1:52 pm

Playing a gig in a hot/steamy club on Thurs, second set, my '89 Evans 1-15, FET 500 Custom LV abruptly stopped, mid-intro, on 'Down in the Boondocks' and it refused to be revived. The power switch refused to remain in an "on" position and even when the amp cooled down a bit it still would not power up

You put me in a hot steamy club and make me play "Down in the Boondocks", and I won't be revived either. I shall refuse to remain in the "on" position, and even after I cool down, I will not power up again. Seems to me that Evans and I share similar values...

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 23 Jul 2005 4:48 pm

If you've never had the output transistors replaced in that amp,you might think about sending the chassis back to the factory. Earlier this year I bought a FET500LV amp and it blew 2 of the outputs. I replaced all 4 and in a few weeks it blew 2 of those.
I sent the amp chassis back and they replaced the power supply board and output transistors. The amp has been working and sounding great!

Al Moss · Post by **Al Moss** » 25 Jul 2005 6:51 am

Thanks to all, including Jim, for the advice. -didn't know that Ed at Evans was available for repair duties. I talked with him on the phone and shall send the amp back to Evans for repair. -and- perhaps a bit of sensitivity training/anger management, if, in fact, as Jim suggests, it was a reaction to the song that we were playing that caused the amp to throw a tantrum. I'll try to be more sensitive to my amps needs too.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Jul 2005 1:18 pm

Attaboy.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 25 Jul 2005 1:33 pm

Down in the boondocks
Down in the Boondocks
People put me down
'Cause that's the side of town
I was born in....

c'mon everybody, sing along!!

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 26 Jul 2005 6:14 am

I love that song...

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http://home.comcast.net/~stevehinson

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 26 Jul 2005 12:06 pm

I love her
She loves me
but I don't fit her society
Lord have mercy on a boy from
Down in the Boondocks

I don't know if I love it but it is certainly etched in my brain and it sure takes me back.
I could see covering it.

You know...another song that for some reason is linked in my mind with this--maybe they were from the same year...I'll have to look it up;
"Concrete and Clay"
Anybody remember that one?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Jul 2005 7:07 pm

The sidewalks in the street,
The concrete and the clay beneath my feet
begin to crumble
But love will never die
Because we'll see the mountains tumble
Before we say goodbye
My love and I will be in love eternally
That's the way, oh, that's the way it's meant to be...

Remember it? Naaah...

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 26 Jul 2005 7:18 pm

Hey Al,

I met you at Wheatland a few years ago when you were there with Hillbilly Idol and you very graciously let me play a couple licks on your push/pull through your Webb. Thought I'd died and gone to heaven the tone was that good.

Good luck on your amp.

Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3