Fender Hot Rod socket replacement

[drewl]

Anyone replace the PC board mount sockets in a Fender Hot Rod type amp or have a link to a source before I go searching?
Customer is looking for better quality than the stock ones, if there are any.

Thanks.

[52 Bill]

Anyone replace the PC board mount sockets in a Fender Hot Rod type amp or have a link to a source before I go searching?

I've replaced a few of them, but always used new ones from Fender. Are you looking for 8 pin octal or 9 pin sockets?

There was a problem with some of the 9 pin sockets a few years back. The wrong metal was used for the contacts and they would loosen up and stop making contact with the tube pins. It was so bad that new amps would come in and all of the tubes would be rolling around in the bottom of the cabinets.

The problem sockets had black plastic bodies with bright chrome plated contacts. The new ones have a grey plastic body.

[drewl]

Both, he wants them all replaced.

Found some pc mount Belton sockets that should fit, just need to double check the sizes.

Thanks.

[52 Bill]

Both, he wants them all replaced.

Why?

[drewl]

Why?

You never get odd requests?
I do all the time.
The customer is (never) always right! Especially if it bills more $$$$$

[52 Bill]

You never get odd requests?
I do all the time.
The customer is (never) always right! Especially if it bills more $$$$$

Okay, then ceramic sockets with gold plated contacts it is.

[Enzo]

I try to educate my customers, especially when they come to me with solutions they have already decided upon.

Too many of the Hot Rod series amps come in with cracked solder on the sockets, in particular the octals. The customer has no way to know that it isn't his sockets, it is his solder. Some people notice that in some tube sockets, the socket pins are free to move some, so the tube also can move some. They incorrectly assume that if the tube can wiggle, then the socket is loose.

When I hear a customer wants them ALL replaced with BETTER ones, that tells me he is convinced all his troubles are due to the sockets being crappy.

have you looked at the solder on the socket pins closely? Are there cracks? Have you tried the amp and found the symptom of which he complained?

it isn't my shop, so take this for what it is worth: If you do see cracks, try just soldering all the socket pins. Then offer the amp back to the customer "to use while the new sockets are on order" After all we need to get a minimum order together or face higher prices, right? Ask the customer to comment on how the amp now works. Customers may always be "right", but customers also appreciate honesty, and saving them money. I'd rather build a loyal customer base, than rip people off on the first visit.

Good customer service is giving them what they need, rather than just what they want. You can never win an argument with a customer, but you don't need to accept blindly just everything they say.

I once had a guy come to my counter wanting a half dozen audio adaptors. He had a list. He wanted a 3.5mm male to RCA female, and a RCA male to 1/4" female. Seems to me there was another step or two, but this is good enough. Seems he had figured out he could stack those adaptors, then plug a guitar cord into it to connect some small audio thingie to his guitar amp. I suggested that instead of all these adaptors sticking out of the device, why not use this cord (I handed to him), that has a 3.5mm male on one end and a 1/4" male on the other. "Oh, I didn't know they made things like that."

Just my opinion.

[drewl]

I had already reflowed the sockets last year, they seem okay to me.

Mind you this guy had a bunch of other mods done to this amp before.

Better quality filter caps and some coupling caps, panel mount input jacks.
Still sounds the same.