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793 Views 23 Replies Latest reply: Feb 12, 2012 12:40 AM by jjack972 RSS
rcc_2 Just Startin'
rcc_2
13 posts since
Feb 16, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

Dec 7, 2011 12:47 PM

My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

A while ago I was playing Slipknot - Sulfur on about 30% volume on the Slipknot preset. When I got done practicing I then turned the volume to max and set it to the Mick Thompson preset and just started whaling on the tremolo doing some drop B dives and harmonic screams. Afer a couple dives sparks shot out the back of the amp and smoke started rolling out. I am NOT a happy camper right now. I'm thinking I should have went with a Marshall again. I have been playing guitar for 31 years and this is the first time an amp has caught fire on me at full volume. I have only had the amp for 9 months and don't get to play much because i work 60 to 80 hours a week. I get to play 2 or 3 times a month if/when i get an off day. So yeah, I think after I get my amp fixed I'm going to sell it and get another Marshall.

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Tags: line6, hd150
  • guitars69 Iknowathingortwo
    guitars69
    419 posts since
    Jan 27, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 7, 2011 12:52 PM (in response to rcc_2)
    Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

    I'm not familiar with the ohm setup on those heads and the cab, but did you perhaps plug the amp into a lower ohm setting than recommended?  This will possibly fry a transformer in pretty much any amp.

    • guitars69 Iknowathingortwo
      guitars69
      419 posts since
      Jan 27, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 7, 2011 12:57 PM (in response to guitars69)
      Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

      I'm betting you plugged one speaker output into one speaker intput and nothing else right?

       

      http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-3833/diff?secondVersionNumber=6

      • rcc_2 Just Startin'
        rcc_2
        13 posts since
        Feb 16, 2011
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 7, 2011 1:04 PM (in response to guitars69)
        Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

        No, I think i know what you're getting at. it uses 2 speaker cables because it's in stereo at 8 ohms. the only way that could have happened is if one of the cables were bad and did not have a connection. I doubt that is the case but i will look into it. I will take both cables and have them checked with an ohm meter. Thanks again for your comments.

        • guitars69 Iknowathingortwo
          guitars69
          419 posts since
          Jan 27, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 7, 2011 1:20 PM (in response to rcc_2)
          Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

          Yeah I'm thinking bad cable in that case. 

        • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
          spaceatl
          4,456 posts since
          Jan 24, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 7, 2011 1:38 PM (in response to rcc_2)
          Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

          Check your cabinet...If one of your speakers blew to a full short...That would do it...It's SS...They don't like low ohms so much...

          • rcc_2 Just Startin'
            rcc_2
            13 posts since
            Feb 16, 2011
            Currently Being Moderated
            Dec 7, 2011 2:38 PM (in response to spaceatl)
            Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

            i don't know what SS means but how am i suppose to check my speakers when the amp caught on fire? it has no power now. the head is fried.

            • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
              spaceatl
              4,456 posts since
              Jan 24, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Dec 7, 2011 3:02 PM (in response to rcc_2)
              Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

              SS = Solid State

               

              If you have a little multi-meter (Walmart or Home Depot for $10-$15)...Set it to DC resistance (Ohms), and measure the DC resistance of each cable plugged into the speaker cabinet...Both plugged in at the same time to the cab, but not to the amp...Put the red test lead on the jack tip and the black test lead to the jack sleeve...

               

              If all is normal, each side will measure something close to 8 ohms (+-1 ohm or so)...If you get a 0 ohm reading, you have a short-circuit and that will be what caused the transistors to fry...You can test for shorts in your cable also...If you measure 0 ohms between the jack tip and the jack sleeve on your cable, it is shorted...

               

              TIP #42: You can test your speakers with a 9 volt battery...put the negative terminal on the jack sleeve and tap the positive terminal on the jack tip holding it there for about 1 second with a 1-2 sec rest...You should hear all the speakers make a little splat sound...All should also all move outward towards the drille...If one or more of them seem to not be moving so much, that can indicate which one is blown...It's a sealed cab so even when a speaker is blown it might move a little in this case...Movement is fairly pronouced...poor man's phase tester...

    • rcc_2 Just Startin'
      rcc_2
      13 posts since
      Feb 16, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 7, 2011 12:57 PM (in response to guitars69)
      Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

      No, these have 2 cables that go from the head to the cab @ 8 ohms. there is another option on the cab for 4 ohm mono but not on the head so i have not even bothered to try that. I have only used the 8 ohm out on the head to the 8 ohm in on the cab. But your reply does make sense. Thanks for the comment.

  • JCJCJC Just Startin'
    JCJCJC
    44 posts since
    Dec 6, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 9, 2011 11:27 AM (in response to rcc_2)
    Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

    Hi There,

    I’m really sorry your amp failed.  You should have received an email from one of our service reps, Eric.  We are happy to return the amp here to Line 6.  That being said, I also want to put my two cents in here.  The Spider 4 HD150 uses a high power, monolithic power amplifier that has many internal protections built into it.  Thermal and short circuit protection is part of the suite of protections built into the device.  That being said, we still have an electronic, high powered device and we all know that occasionally electronic devices fail.  When a high power device like that has a failure, you have the possibility of considerable current (and therefore heat) being generated, which could and does cause smoke.

     

    Let me assure you, we do EXTENSIVE internal testing of all of our power amplifier designs and we qualify our designs with all of the required safety agencies, like UL.  So, for piece (just kidding, had to throw in the Iron Maiden reference, peace) of mind, I can say with great confidence that even though the smoke is alarming, I don’t feel that you were in any immediate danger.

     

    Jonathan Collins

    Director Customer Service, Support, Field Quality

    • rcc_2 Just Startin'
      rcc_2
      13 posts since
      Feb 16, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 10, 2011 8:02 PM (in response to JCJCJC)
      Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

      I understand your message. Thank you. Something that I do not understand is why sometimes companies only go as far in safety and protection as UL dictates. If you are aware that these amplifires get hot and all of the electronics are in a small enclosed space do you not have a coolin fan inside?? Such as in a computer. It would probably help to save the product, company integrity and customer satisfaction. What I am saying is, after buying this amp 9 months ago new it catches fire and I am not liking LINE 6 very much at all right now. And many of your customers are able to read this. I am taking my amp to a local repair shop that is authorized by your company to fix it. Once fixed I will sell it and buy something else. I like loud and your product isn't capable of keeping up.

      • TheRealZap Expert Line 6 User
        TheRealZap
        11,829 posts since
        Dec 22, 2006
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 10, 2011 8:35 PM (in response to rcc_2)
        Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

        probably many engineering reasons.... but fans do cause hum... so it would typically be undesirable to have that on your guitar amp....

        even if they didn't you'd probably pick the fan up on mic if you were recording it....

        • rcc_2 Just Startin'
          rcc_2
          13 posts since
          Feb 16, 2011
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 10, 2011 8:45 PM (in response to TheRealZap)
          Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

          in other words... it's better to let it overheat and cause a fire then to have a slight noise? my desktop nor laptop sends static hum through the audio. and as for recording, the fan could be on a separate switch to turn it off during recording. i'm sure not very many people have to have their amps turned all the way up to 150 watts for the mic to pic up the sound. maybe these amps should have a warning on them that states DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IF YOU TUNE TO ANYTHING BESIDES STANDARD E BECAUSE THE AMPLIFIER CAN NOT HANDLE LOW INPUT TONES.

      • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
        phil_m
        4,243 posts since
        Jan 25, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 11, 2011 10:50 AM (in response to rcc_2)
        Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

        UL testing generally only covers products under certain parameters and with standard components. From your description of what happened with your amp it sounds like there was an issue with the power amp that caused it to overheat and burn up. I'd be willing to bet that this is a part that Line 6 buys from another supplier to use in these amps. It sounds this was a defective part. UL testing isn't done on every single part coming out of a factory. It doesn't offer any guarantee that defective parts might not make it into products. It's just a side effect of mass production, unfortunately.

         

        It's like the exploding iPhone batteries that have been in the news. It's not a pervasive issue, but it has happened a few times.

  • jjack972 Just Startin'
    jjack972
    83 posts since
    May 16, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Feb 4, 2012 10:46 PM (in response to rcc_2)
    Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

    Why on Earth would you crank your amp up to full volume in the first place? I mean, the HD150 is so loud with the volume at 12:00 position, (depending on the preset and channel volume, of course) but holy decibels Batman!! It almost seems like you were trying to smoke your amp.

    • Rodrockler Just Startin'
      Rodrockler
      14 posts since
      Sep 10, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Feb 5, 2012 6:41 AM (in response to jjack972)
      Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

      My guess is the dude is seriously into LOUDNESS! lol

      I can relate, I just can't enjoy it that loud where I live and in most clubs, they couldn't take that much volume.

       

      I remember playing a club with no stage and we set up on a concrete floor. I had to turn off all the mics to my drums and go easy on the snare.

       

      Drums have no volume control and even with dampeners it is still loud.

      I play guitar now and can enjoy it without pissing off the neighbors.

       

      @rcc2 Rock ON!

    • rcc_2 Just Startin'
      rcc_2
      13 posts since
      Feb 16, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Feb 7, 2012 4:20 PM (in response to jjack972)
      Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

      I am metal. I like it loud. I was just messing around doing harmonic pull backs and low dives.. well really low dives I guess. Drop B tuning for Slipknot and I was on the Mick Drive setting which is already low and loud. Anyway, I sent it to Line 6 and they fixed it and sent it back. Working like new again.

      • jjack972 Just Startin'
        jjack972
        83 posts since
        May 16, 2009
        Currently Being Moderated
        Feb 7, 2012 4:40 PM (in response to rcc_2)
        Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

        I must admit, @rcc_2, when I first read your post and you said "sparks shot out the back of the amp" I was like. SuhWEEET!!

         

        I mean, it's definitely a bad thing that your amp was damaged. But just the visual of you cranking up the volume to max and wailing on some dive bombs to the Slipknot / Mick setting and sparks shooting out the amp was awesome!! Like something straight out of Spinal Tap. hahaha!! Sorry to make light of your situation, and I am glad you got it all fixed up.

         

        By the way, I am metal and I like it loud too!! Oh, and NICE guitar bro.

        • rcc_2 Just Startin'
          rcc_2
          13 posts since
          Feb 16, 2011
          Currently Being Moderated
          Feb 12, 2012 12:09 AM (in response to jjack972)
          Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

          Thanks. yeah i got the warbeast because of the guitar Mick use to use. i didn't like the way his looked so i got this one. i don't have the EMG's but i just think it looks better. i am getting a jackson soloist with EMG's in a couple weeks though.

          • jjack972 Just Startin'
            jjack972
            83 posts since
            May 16, 2009
            Currently Being Moderated
            Feb 12, 2012 12:40 AM (in response to rcc_2)
            Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

            Honestly, I myself am not completely sold on the EMG's yet. I have a Dean Dime Razorback V255 Explosion with EMG's and I have the matching Razorback with Seymour Duncans. The Duncans have a brilliance and bite to them that I really love, and by conparison I find the EMG's to be a little too smooth. Another thing is that once I set up my presets to sound the way I want them on my amp with the Duncans, when I plug in the V I have to re-tweak the settings to compensate for the EMG's. Just my opinion, of course

  • wowpyro Just Startin'
    wowpyro
    16 posts since
    Feb 3, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    Feb 5, 2012 6:10 AM (in response to rcc_2)
    Re: My HD150 head just caught on fire. :/

    I guess no cause of death yet?

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