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Post new topic LTD 400 with very low output
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Author Topic:  LTD 400 with very low output
Joe Kaufman

 

From:
Lewiston, Idaho
Post  Posted 25 Jul 2021 8:55 pm    
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I have a new to me Peavey LTD 400 that has been sitting for a while. I fired it up tonight and it only had a very faint output. I could hear the guitar through the speaker when it was turned all the way up but it was still pretty faint. Any typical things to check before taking it in to the repair shop?

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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 12:54 am    
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take it apart and clean all the internal and WHITE plastic ( molex) connectors , don't forget the reverb connector under the cassis.

Also the 1/4 jacks on the front and rear panels must be cleaned and most likely burnished.


Don't be alarmed, this is very common for older PV amps.

good luck !
.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website


Last edited by Tony Prior on 27 Jul 2021 12:00 am; edited 1 time in total
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 3:45 am    
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There are no effects loops on this amp or a Session 400. Just a thought

Could be anything from inputs jacks to the speaker or anything in between

I just has a session 400 in the shop and it’s problem was two 2.2uf caps in the first preamp stages. One was open and the other display a very high ESR on my ESR meter
The Session 400 is the same circuit as your LTD 400

Without that type of test gear there is not a good way to check electrolytic capacitors in an amp. I don’t use the “shotgun” approach to fix amps. That’s is replacing parts till it works


As mentioned above a good cleaning of jacks and pots is a great place to start for sure
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Dennis Detweiler


From:
Solon, Iowa, US
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 5:11 am    
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Yes, usually the molex connectors. Cleaning as prescribed above. Sometimes a slight fist on top of the cabinet will get a temporary connection. Rarely, I've also had a few of the 6 power transistors pin connections fail similar to the molex connections. In that situation I've pulled the power transistors and lightly crimped the female connections for a tighter fit, plugged them all back in and brought the amp back to full power.
_________________
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 7:52 am    
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Be sure the speaker leads are firmly set into the connectors on the speaker. I had this issue a few times with the original PV/JBL in my '77 LTD 400 before the speaker blew. Hasn't been an issue since I replaced the JBL with an older BW 1501-4.
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 9:18 am    
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and make sure the speaker cone is free to move.

They ALL seem to eventually suffer from the very sticky, tar-like black goo that happens when the rear foam insert degrades. This goo will literally freeze the speaker in place and cause a very quiet output. You can gently push on the cone from behind the amp, if it doesn't move freely and easily, that's likely the culprit.

Brad
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 9:39 am    
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Good one Brad! I’ve seen that several times as well. Had not thought about that one. Great call!
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 11:55 am    
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Ken Fox wrote:
There are no effects loops on this amp or a Session 400. Just a thought



Yep, my bad ! I knew that... sorry ! I was in The N400 mode.

Also love Brads comment, I totally overlooked that ! Very Happy
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
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Joe Kaufman

 

From:
Lewiston, Idaho
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 8:57 pm    
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It’s working again after cleaning the jacks and retentioning a couple RCA jacks. None of the pots scratch and it sounds great!

Last edited by Joe Kaufman on 26 Jul 2021 8:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Joe Kaufman

 

From:
Lewiston, Idaho
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 8:57 pm    
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Thanks for the help guys!
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 26 Jul 2021 11:59 pm    
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excellent ! Very Happy
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

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