Ampeg combo wedge 210 bass amp

[Antni420]

Hey everyone, I need some assistance please.
I have an Ampeg 210 combo amp, when I turn it on it turns on with overdrive on whether overdrive is turned on or off. If I unplug my bass, I overdrive shuts off but when I plug it back in again it turns on whether button is pushed to be on or off, and no sound.
Any advise would be great, other than the obvious, buy mesa boogie only lol

[Enzo]

Hi...

Um is this a BA210? That has no overdrive that I know of. I am not familiar with a Wedge 210 from AMpeg.

[Antni420]

Yes, they make wedge combo. Scramble mode
which is basically overdrive. ( distortion effect ).
bought in 2016.

[Jazz P Bass]

This must be the 210 V2.
The drive is called "scrambler'
My question would be "do you have the footswitch inserted".
That is the only way to turn the 'scrambler' on & off.
If you do, then there may be an issue with the ft switch.
If not, then you may have a footswitch jack/ circuit problem.

[Antni420]

It's a pre- amp issue. I also have the power on power off issue, it fluxuates upon power on and off.

[Antni420]

@ Jazzpbass, I do not have foot switche. It has a button on combo amp head

[Jazz P Bass]

I do not have the preamp schematic.
I will say that the power supply is of the switch mode type.

[Enzo]

Ah, I see BA210V2 Unless I am confused. Please do not use abbreviated model names. I am trying to look up the schematic.

[J M Fahey]

buy mesa boogie only lol

Not necessarily.
I had to repair the incredibly heavy Mesa 210 Wedge: "200W RMS" , 6 x 6L6, huge transformers, 2 x EVM10L , heavier than the Titanic, close to impossible to move around if it didn´t include built-in wheels and a tilt-back handle.

The problem?

The one all fear and usually "never happens" .... except here it did: blown Output Transformer and fully out of reach here in Argentina: 10000 km away but much worse: 2 "invisible" but very real barriers: Customs and getting US Dollars transferred to USA, since apparently today "everything is money laundering"

Given that it would take 60 to 90 days at triple or quadruple the real cost, I had to wind another.

Why did it short?

Because it uses Family game supply quality "self soldering" wire .... which has NO business inside a Tube amp, period.

[g1]

BA210v2 preamp is same as BA115v2. See attached.

[Leo_Gnardo]

the obvious, buy mesa boogie only lol

Lotta laughs indeed.

Like Juan, I've dealt with Mesa's mighty "Buster" 2x10 wedge with built in super hyper tube amp. Rated as 200W but really turns out more like 120 watts at clip. Which is still plenty. Heavy as a trunk full of bowling balls. I kept it going for its owner a couple years, just maintenance like cleaning pots & fx loop jacks, change a tube every now & then. But what a hippopotamus to move into the . . . well anywhere. Then one fine day Buster's owner shows up with it and there's an ominous "CLUNK!" from inside the amp. Turns out screws holding the output transformer had loosened and there it was dangling by only one primary wire, the others had snapped. Customer wanted a new OT so I ordered one. Mesa was good about providing a replacement. It wasn't especially costly, they had it in stock, and they did not gouge me on shipping. Thank heavens for small favors. In any case off went Buster, and I hope his owner has gotten many more good gigs out of him, along with plenty of heavy duty exercise moving the tyke around.

LOL all you want but from me, you'll get "rotsa ruck!" Especially after your prize has been shipped by any modern methods, which often include dropping the box from a height of 12 feet from one conveyor belt to another. That's how it's done regardless of how many fragile stickers on the box or any promises from the shipper. Buster's not going to get along well with that kind of handling. If one arrives intact, count it as a miracle.

Perhaps you'd be better off with separate amp & cab. An old friend who's a 40+ year touring veteran just picked up one of the newer Acoustic brand class D bass amps cheap. So happy, he bought a second for a backup just in case. Because they are so cheap and light. I'm sure most any of what's on offer now would work OK up until they break. Then - they're DISPOSABLE. Not worth nor worthy of repair. Just toss your prize into the trash and buy a new one. It's the modern way. Everybody's doing it now. Get with the program.

[Jazz P Bass]

So the issue may be with the actual switching circuit.

I would check that you have a steady + 15 & - 15 Vdc .

[Antni420]

Thank you all for your input.
truth of the matter is this.
Ampeg put out a product that is clearly faulty..
I spent my hard earned money on a heavy bulky paperweight. I used to have a mesa boogie big block 750 with power house 4x10 and powerhouse 1x15 rig.
best bass rig I have ever had and played. Can't afford to replace it and the piece of shit i purchased seems to be just that. Until I can get it fixed correctly and finally, that is what it is. A product that should not have been put into consumer hands until all bugs where fixed.
I clearly am not the only one to have issues with this amp.
it's at a shop waiting for death notice.
Repair cost may deem it a total loss.
thanks Ampeg at least you got yours.

Ill keep you all posted.. until then
DO NOT BUY THIS AMP!!!

[Antni420]

Please keep in mind. This amp went in for warranty repairs 4 months after purchase. Repairs took 4 plus weeks. ON A BRAND NEW AMP!!! and hasn't been the same ever since.
anyhoo! goodnight everyone and once again thank you for your input

[Antni420]

Well,
I always say I'm an honest man. Today I will say this. as shamefully but proudly as I can.
I hooked up the amp the wrong way!!!
I have had this amp for 6 years, and hooked it up many times. For some reason, I put it in the wrong hole and didn't even know it.

My bad!!!
i feel some shame, I feel lil 'toopid!
but at least I made myself laugh my ass off.

So, there's all that!

I'm gonna go beat the shit out of my bass.

Godbless
And don't put it in the wrong hole
It's not supposed to go there..

And yes I was 100% SOBER

Sorry ampeg for whatever the "F"
Just happened!!!

Anyhoo!!!

Oh the shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!