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How to Troubleshoot My Peavey Bass Touring Amplifier

Peavey is an American musical equipment manufacturer, best known for its guitar and bass amplifiers. The Tour series of bass amps are marketed as rugged, reliable amplifiers ideal for the touring musician. Amps from the Tour series are available either as fully integrated combos that integrate preamp and cabinet or as an amp head. The amp head contains the preamp and is connected to an external speaker cabinet. If you plan to use your Peavey Tour amplifier on the road, you must know how to troubleshoot it.

Things You'll Need

  • Replacement guitar cable
  • Screwdriver
  • Flashlight
  • Replacement fuses
  • Cotton cloth
  • Plastic-safe contact cleaner
  • Soldering iron
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Instructions

    • 1
      A blown fuse in the power section can cause the whole amp to cease functioning.

      Turn on the power supply. The troubleshooting process must begin at the power section of your amplifier. If the amplifier fails to power up or initially powers up and then intermittently cuts out, the plug or the power amp section is likely the problem. Replace the fuse in the plug and try to power the amp up again.

    • 2

      Remove the back of the amplifier. You can now access the preamp and the power section. If the new fuse did not fix the problem, replace the fuses in the power section. Look out for fuses that are discolored; a brownish tint is a sign that the fuse has blown.

    • 3

      Replace your cable. Crackling and hissing caused by damaged guitar cables is often mistaken for an amplifier problem. Eliminate this item from your inspection by troubleshooting with a brand new cable. If the amplifier powers up and remains on, but you are unable to generate any sound, the problem is likely to be in the preamp section.

    • 4

      Inspect the inside of the amplifier with a flashlight. Look out for any loose wiring or solder blobs. Solder blobs are caused when the solder drips from the iron on to the amplifier. This can cause a bridge in the circuit that diverts audio signal away from the intended terminal. If you spot a blob, melt it off with a soldering iron and brush away the residue.

    • 5

      Clean the amplifier's potentiometers with a cotton cloth and plastic-safe contact cleaner. Chose a contact cleaner that contains lubricant. If your amplifier is powering and creates sound, but there is interference, there may be a problem with the preamp. The potentiometers often collect dirt and dust that can cause crackling and hissing. Amps in the Peavey Tour series feature a graphic equalizer. The open slots that house the sliders can also collect dirt, so be sure to clean inside the slots.

    • 6

      Inspect each of the four speakers of the Peavey Tour 410 combo for loose wiring. A poorly connected speaker can result in a weak sounding amplifier. A completely disconnected speaker can result in damage to other speakers. Re-solder any loose wires to the speaker. Inspect each speaker cone for rips and holes. A ripped or loose fitting speaker will cause a flapping or rattling sound when in use. If your speaker is ripped, replace it with a new one of the same spec. If it is loose, tighten the bolts that attach it to the cabinet.

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