How (not) to Fix Fender Bassbreaker 15 Piece of Sh@#
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- čas přidán 9. 02. 2021
- Nightmare spawn of satan amp from hell! Impossible to work on. Watch as I get increasingly annoyed with this one! Spolier: Had to give up and it was sold on eBay 'spares and repairs'.
I was looking at this Amp, happy I came across this video. Thanks for the heads-up.
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! czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
Same!
This is AWESOME. You should seriously think about doing a series of videos about crappy gear. Informative and hilarious. Thank you.
Thanks Dan!
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.
Thanks for the info. I WAS thinking about getting this amp.
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! czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
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
Agreed. This is a noce sounding amp, shame about the dificulty of repairing. I like the BJ too. Nice amp.
@@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...
@@Spiritbro77 I've never seen one but I'd be very surprised if they were different.
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 CZcams and you just made my mind up. Thanks for saving me some cash and maybe a lot of agro’
Good call, I really like the Blues Junior.
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 ?
I’m wondering the same!!
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.
I was interested as well on the 30r. No thanks!! Can't afford to take that chance $$$$$$$
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.
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
Great. It's a shame as they sound good.
Hey my friend, is the Bassbreaker 30 combo bad as well???? I was thinking about nuying one when I saw your review/...
My guess would be yes but I've never had one in the workshop. These amps are fine unless they go wrong!
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.
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."
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.
They're great amps whilst they work, it's just a nightmare if they go faulty.
Do you think I’d get the same problem if I buy the bassbreaker head and cab?
Definitely!
Thanks for the vid! Any amp with similar sound clean/dirty you would recommend?
I quite like the Fender Blues Junior.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 I’ll check it out. Thank you!
Do they do the same with Bassbreaker 30?
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
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.
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?
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.
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".
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!
@@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 🙂
@@MifuneCZcams 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.
@@MifuneCZcams So ... Stuart's question is a good one! What _was_ the problem with yours, and what was the fix from your tech? Thanks!
@@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.
Hey!
Does the Fender Bassbreaker 30 have the same problem?
Thank you!
I'm not 100% sure but I'd bet it has!
Thanks for the video. Would you know if the head versions of the same model are similar?
Yes, same I believe.
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.
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!
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.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks Stuart
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.
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.
@@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.
Hi Paul perhaps an experienced technician could copy it? I think it would be worth it, it is a wonderful amplifier
@@NinjerXp hi. When you say copy it, do you mean build an amp to replicate the Bassbreaker?
@@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.
You saved me an enormous headache. Thank you!
Glad to have been of assistance!
Thank you Stuart for the information, I'm subd and I like your videos....thank you for what you do...
My pleasure I'm glad you are enjoying them.
Is this issue true for all Bassbreaker models? I was interested in the Bassbreaker 45...any info on that?
I'm unsure as I havenlt seen one of those.
I have this amp and absolutely love it.
Yes it's a great sounding amp and the owners really do like it. But... if it goes wrong, you can forget it!
At the price I think it's still worth the risk. But not if they raise the prices much higher.
I would buy another traynor ycv 50 blue fender clean marshall style od put the kt 77 and tungsol 12ax7's and be done
What about the head version of the bassbreaker 15? It has the same difficulties on repairs or not? Thank you!
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.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thank you very much for your insight, I was almost torward buying it!!
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.
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?
So glad I researched "fender bass breaker problems". Thank you.
No problem!
This is precisely why I build my own amplifiers! I'm still giging with an amp I built in 2005!!
Nice!
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
Yes one tpo be avoided. The users love them though!
Also is their a similar sounding amp that has a similar price I really like the clean tone this offers
Sorry but I can;t really advise on amp sounds as I am not a guitarist. I just repair them! All the best.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thank you!
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 czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
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.
Yes let's hope it hangs on in there!
I have one too.. will be sure to not forget to turn it off!!
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.
Excelent, I'm pleased.
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?
Hi I quite like the fnder Blues Junior but an amo is a very personal thing. Thankfully most are repairable.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks for replying. The blues Jnr was my second choice so that’s a relief.
Hi all. I’m thinking about getting a Marshall Dsl20/Dsl40 are last longing without issues?? Thank you.
Yes they're pretty good amps and also repairable!
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 In your experience, do they have issues often? Thanks again!
@@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.
I’d love to see Brads amp garage work on this while giving it a good healthy cussing!
Me too!
Hello sir. Have you managed to repair the amp at the end of the day or you resigned? Is this design flaw making it pain in the backside only and maybe more expensive to repair or totally unrepairable for non-Fender mechanic? may it be if you serviced such amps everyday, it takes you much less time as you would learn the trick?
Hi, in the end the client sold it 'spares and repairs' on eBay. I guess that Fender have a technique for repairing these if they do a lot of them. Hard to see how though. Anything is repairable, it's just the time (and hence cost) involved which can often exceed the value of the amplifier.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830thank you for your answer. I went to place an order for this amp today morning and then had a brief last look on youtube and saw your video :D I can imagine if this amp is yours, you wouldn't sell it. I trust they have certain order in plugging, connecting things so they manage to fit it there. Assume they hope it won't need warranty repair. They probably just swap piece for piece and dissasemble the whole thing. Any similar amp.with aimilar sound for home use yoh would recommend that is easy to repair? Continue the good work. Such info nobody tells you. Greetings from Slovakia..
@@Nudanet Hi. There are SO many amps to choose from. For a small combo I really like the Fender Blues Junior.
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.
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.
Would that tube swap do the same thing on a blues junior?
@@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.
How about the head version? Can that be repaired if needed?
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.
I think that's an excellent summary of the situation.
is it the same with the bassbreaker 007 aswell?
I'm not sure tbh.
Any issues with the Fender 30R?
Hi ALfred I'm not really sure as I don't think I've seen one of those.
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.
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.
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.
Oh no! What a nightmare. I think you'll struggle to find someone able to repair it.
Have you checked the tubes?
@@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.
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...
Do you recommend "blues junior" instead?
Yes. I like the Blues Junior. Nice little amp.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Thank you for your opinion.
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..?
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!
You have good taste! I am also impressed by the BB15 amp model in the Fender Mustang Micro...hence watching this video 😂.
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.
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.
Amazing, well done!
What would you recommend instead
The Fender Blues Junior is a pretty good amp.
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...
Yes the amp sounds great, it's just the maintenance which is a nightmare.
You saved me from buying one of these, thank you for the information!
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! czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
Me too
is the bassbreaker 30 the same built ?
Hi Herman YEs I believe it is.
Interesting thanks Jerry
What would be an Amp thats on the same price range which is easy for amp techs to repair?
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.
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 czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
@@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.
Is it the same case for the 18/30 model? So glad I saw this, I almost bought a second hand one 🤙🎸
I'm not totally sure but I expect so.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks so much for getting back to me 🤙🎸
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.
Thanks for sharing this.
Great video! I was looking at the 45 watt 2 x 12 version of this amp. Is that one also bad to repair?
I'm not 100% sure but I expect it will use the same chassis design.
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.
Wow well done you!! Thanks for confirming it's a nightmare! All the best.
is there the same problem with the bassbreaker 30R?
My 30r went to sh!? After 3 days. Returned for a Marshall DSL 40cr.
I have been asked this but I'm not sure as I've never had one in the workshop.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 a ok.. I was just wondering if this particular amplifier as a new model will have solved some old problems...thanks for the answer.
@@dangitdan9938 pff I have a lot of experience about bad unboxing 😭
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.
Nice! I've not heard of that amp before.
@@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
Nice choice!
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
Use it and love it until it goes wrong!
I was seeing these go for some tempting prices 2nd hand so thanks for the warning. Terrible that it is so unsustainable😢
Yes try to avoid!
Will the head be the same?
If this amp is available in head form, then yes it will be the same.
Wow! Thanks for posting this.
I'm not dissing the amp itself. It sounds great. It's just a so-and-so to repair if it goes wrong.
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.
How odd! Glad you got it sorted
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.
When finished playing, my amps get turned off and unplugged from the wall.
Good practice.
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.
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.
Does this apply to the BB15 head as well?
To be honest I'm not sure as I haven't had one of those in to the shop. Sorry.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks for the reply. I ask because I'm interested in the head as my first 'serious' guitar amp, but if it's not a purchase that could conceivably last me decades (with reasonable maintenance, of course) like every other piece of audio equipment I own, I'll look elsewhere.
@@jedidethfreak There's obviously a huge choice out there. For what it's worth I think the Fender Blues Junior is a noce amp. I guess it all depends on what you intend doing with it - private play, gigging etc. Also effects or no effects. So many variables!
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 I'm looking for something a little more "metal" sounding. I really liked the idea of an SLO-30 until I saw the price tag.
I really liked the idea of playing a Fender amp, because not that many metal guitarists play Fender, and I've heard enough demos of the Bassbreaker series to know that it's capable of producing metal tones I really liked, which is why I was seriously considering the head to go along with a 2x12 cab.
@@jedidethfreak Marshall is an obvious choice. This in moving out of my area of expertise though as I don't consider myself to be a guitar player (can hack out a few tunes etc.). Maybe try one of the guitar forums? You'll be overwhelmed with suggestions!
Is this only a problem with the 15 watter?
Yes. It's a good little amp, it's just that it cannot easily be repaired if it goes wrong.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Thank you but I meant if the 45 watt or 18/30 is the same (head or combo) as the 15 watt in terms of repairs
@@SeemoreDunkan Hi Simon, Ah, I see. Alas I don't know as I haven't ever had those amps into the workshop so far.
Thanks for the heads up on this amp! I did wonder about getting one. My "dream amp" is one of those small tweed champ type amps, but they can be a bit rare. What got me onto the Bassbreaker was by some fluke I met someone who explained about the modern "Champ" type amps' "interesting" layout inside. So now it looks like both those and these are ruled out!
Hi. My criticsim of the amp is only on the maintenance front. The amp might give you many years of troble-free service, but if it goes wrong, it's a big problem. I quoite like the Fender B;ues Junior as a noce smallish amp. Fixable too!
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.
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!
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.
Thanks. I have yet to hear from a tech who has successsfully repaired one of these though. Hardly any will even attempt it.
@@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.
You just saved me a huge headache! I was about to pick one up used.
I'll pass.
Thank You
I'll send the bill...
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.
Hi Yes I've done a few classic 30. Not my favourite to work on but they are at least doable, unlike the Bassbreaker!
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!
Ha ha, yes. Tbh a lot of the modern Class D power amps also have this problem - pretty much unfixable if they fail.
Thanks for the heads up
So, I assume all the bassbreakers are the same.
I have the 007.
Seems like a simple amp compared to the others.
I'm not totally certain but I would expect so.
What of guitar amp should I buy?
I'll answer that if you tell me 'What car should I buy?" !!
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 that one car that suits you!
@@donciseau Exactly! So it's a question of trying LOTS of amps until you find the one which suits you.
What's the easiest giitar amp to repair ?
@@donciseau Anything old and point to point wired. 'Repairability' is mostly about 'get at ability'. A 'hard' amp to repair is one where the manufacturer has made it very difficult to get to components to replace them.
Thank you. You saved my money
Great. To be fair, it;s a good amp. It's just that it ever went faulty it would be a big problem.
So helpful to know
I had the 30watt for 3 days and it started blowing fuses. Bad transformer... Did not take it home again.
It's not good, is it?
Are the 45 the same
Hi Randy Not 100% sure but I think so.
Is this the same for the 007?
I'm not sure as I haven;t had one into the workshop.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 ok no worries. I was thinking of buying one...then I saw this 😂
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 thanks for the reply
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 czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
Yes but you'd think it would be a right so-and-so to construct as well!
Ah but if this amp was available in head form, it would still be a total nightmare to work on!
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
i mean i would think this is easier to repair than a digital amp
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.
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?
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.
well they warranty them for 5 years though rite?
YEp, then you're on your own as very few techs will touch them.
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
Hi Dan Ah that's interesting. You're right, I rarely get a LAney in!
Makes you wonder how they get from one end of the assembly line to the other!!!
Exactly!
Thanks, this is great info. Shame on you Fender!
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! czcams.com/channels/T2FbRDYA0PchLSnpYxcGxg.html
Hahah I love my bassbreaker 15 to death but the effects loops adds SO much noise. Ive sent it off to 3 different techs and its never gotten fixed. They either tell me theres no problem or admit defeat
Ha ha! SOunds about right!
I had a similar issue when I first starting using the bassbreaker effects loop. I ended up running two separate pedal power supplies. One for the front end and one for three effects loop pedals and the noise was greatly reduced.
It sounds extreme (and would take a skilled hand with proper tools) but I wonder if it would be possible to cut along one (or more) of the edges of the U-shaped steel bracket piece in a way that would 1) allow it to come apart for easy access to the components, and 2) enable everything to be secured properly back onto the amp? If so, it might be worth that kind of extreme mod to convert the amp to something that will be serviceable from that point on, as they are really great sounding amps!
This is a very useful public service, btw - I hope Fender sees this video and corrects their poor design! I wonder if the other amps in this series suffer from the same flaw?
Hi Rick. Yes I guess that's possible if a bit drastic.
@@stuartukguitarampguy5830 Lol yes very drastic, so let's hope it doesn't come to that. Thank u again.
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.
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!
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?
Good poimt. This is easily the hardest amp I have ever sen in terms of access.