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Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:12 pm
by linthat22
Hey gents, got a weird question. After having the amp for awhile, I decided to plug in the foot switch the other day. Soon as I did, no sound came out of the amp. If I clicked around on the pedal it would either provide a faint sound or then go balls ass loud. Very strange.

I reached out to the maker, he had me use a patch cable to run from the effects loop and I got sound. He said "the signal is separated between the preamp and the power amplifier at the loop connectors." And in the same conversation mentioned "I don't know why this is happening. I use high quality connectors. If dust gets on the contacts, then the contact oxidizes and the signal from the loop disappears. insert and pull out the jack several times (send and return)." I did the whole fiddling with the jacks, but it didn't help.

He's been responsive and I get it that bad parts do occur, but does this sound like something that I could easily replace without sending it back or to a tech?

It's just weird how plugging in the foot switch started the dilemma.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:03 pm
by Maddnotez
Weird stuff and I have no idea. I had a MI Audio Beta and the same exact thing happened, except the noise never came back on lol. Plugging in the FS actually blew a fuse and after replacing that there were no issues.

Small builders come with risks I suppose.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:07 pm
by Guitarbilly
So this week Vladimir Putin comes back to post about his new Suhr. At the same time, an Ukrainian amp dies. Coincidence? You tell me :idk:

Anyway...

I am not buying this is due to oxidation on the contacts. The amp is brand new. It takes years for something like that to happen. But just to eliminate this completely, get some Deoxit and spray the loop jacks to see if it helps. But again, I don't think that's the issue. Too soon.

Open the amp up and see if there any blown fuses, like Maddnotez suggested. You could also try some preamp tubes. Other than that, it will have to go to a tech. If the loop is acting up so early, it might be a good idea to get a Metro loop and have your tech replace the stock loop with it.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:14 pm
by linthat22
Guitarbilly wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:07 pm So this week Vladimir Putin comes back to post about his new Suhr. At the same time, an Ukrainian amp dies. Coincidence? You tell me :idk:

Anyway...

I am not buying this is due to oxidation on the contacts. The amp is brand new. It takes years for something like that to happen.

Open the amp up and see if there any blown fuses, like Maddnotez suggested. You could also try some preamp tubes. Other than that, it will have to go to a tech. If teh loop is acting up so early, it might be a good idea to get a Metro loop and have your tech replace the stock loop with in.
Oh man, well hopefully Vladimir is having better luck with his Suhr, but you're right. I guess a tech is in order. Thank you and Maddnotez for giving me ideas. Since the amp maker has gone silent on me (probably over trying to help via chat), I guess a tech might be in order. Of course, for as cheap as this amp was, maybe I can do it without fear of fucking it up :lol:

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:15 pm
by Maddnotez
If it is the loop.


https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/ ... le.331791/


I would snag that asap, almost half price.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 11:06 am
by linthat22
Maddnotez wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:15 pm If it is the loop.


https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/ ... le.331791/


I would snag that asap, almost half price.
Thank you dude, I'll see if I can snag it :thu:

Ended up grabbing a Metro kit from their main site. Looks really nice. I appreciate you guys letting me know of that unit.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 1:05 pm
by Maddnotez
linthat22 wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 11:06 am
Maddnotez wrote: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:15 pm If it is the loop.


https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/ ... le.331791/


I would snag that asap, almost half price.
Thank you dude, I'll see if I can snag it :thu:

Ended up grabbing a Metro kit from their main site. Looks really nice. I appreciate you guys letting me know of that unit.
Np, I don't know much about loops but I know that one is talked about and used by many. Shea Monomyth uses them and I want to say Friedman also for some reason.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 5:59 pm
by heath
It could be the actual relay that changes the channel. I had one fail in a mesa years back. It failed in a way that basically shunted both channels signal to ground. I made a 4ft patch cable plugged into the fx return and on the other side it was an alligator clip and a probe. I was able to play a recorded loop through the in put and trace where the signal stopped. If that sounds deadly and beyond your comfort zone, then I recommend taking it to the tech of your choice Most decent techs are going to be able to track down your issue though.

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 6:59 pm
by I'MAPUNKROCKERDAMNIT
Doses the amp still work OK without the footswitch?

Re: Crab Amp Broke

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 7:17 pm
by linthat22
I'MAPUNKROCKERDAMNIT wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 6:59 pm Doses the amp still work OK without the footswitch?
Not really, not anymore anyway. Now if I do the patch cable from send to return, everything comes to life. And if I remove the patch cable, the sound fades away. Kinda weird, but the maker seems to think it's the fx loop. I guess we'll see.