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DT50 112 Blowing Main Fuses


intelman07
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Just wanted to put this out there. I have had my DT50 112 combo for about 3 months. I was playing the other night and it blew the main fuse. I have changed power tubes and fuses to make sure it wasn't just an easy fix with no luck. It immediately blows the main fuse when powered on.

 

I know there were a lot of issues with power transformers going bad in these amps, but I hadn't seen any postings on this issue here for a few years. Mine has a build date 4/2014.

 

Support wants to service the amp which is a huge pain for me since the closest service shop is 3 hours away. Just curious if anyone has any other quick fixes I could try before taking it in?

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I called Line6 when I bought my DT50HD. They told me the serial number I gave them was after the transformer problem, which is before your dates. Not sure what is going on.

They told me that mine wasn't one of the affected amps either, but that's what the technician ended up replacing. So who knows?? 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Intelman07,.... yours doesn't fall within the time period. Those were earlier ones, 

it was a batch thing. Yours isn't one of them. So transformers going out on later ones

would be for different reasons than the earlier ones. Something else is going on there

with it.

 

Have one at my bench going on 2-years, works great, no problems.

 

Changing power tubes without proper biasing can create problems. Changing out to

something other than the specified power tubes can have issues.

 

Many of the ones that come across my bench have different tubes in them because

they want to hot-rod the hot-rod, (using Mesa, JJ, or Groove Tube,... without correct

biasing) and end up blowing something. One bias doesn't fit all. These aren't the same

kind of tube amps like in the 1960's, you can't go swapping out power tubes, drop-in-and-go.

It's a different beast.

 

Changing a fuse out won't correct the reason for the fuse going out in the first place.

The root cause will have to be checked out by an authorized service center that knows the product.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Fuse blew in my DT50 2x12 for the first time yesterday, right after sound check at a gig, the worst possible scenario.  I've had it for almost two years, bought it new, so it's out of warranty.  I called Line 6 and they said my S/N was not included in the original Tech Bulletin #059 lot.  So maybe the transformer issue has not gone away.  I'll find out after I bring it to the nearest service center.

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Well apparently the power transformer issue is still there.  I was just told by my service center that I need a new power transformer.  Line 6 is not covering it under warranty, $120 plus $80 labor.  Line 6 told me my S/N was not covered by Tech Bulletin 059, so I guess that means they didn't fix the design or supply chain issue.

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The fuse thing was solved some time ago, as was the transformer thing.

They were separate issues that got resolved some time ago.

 

There are several ways to pull down a transformer in a tube amp. Not sure

what occurred with yours that got it to fail.

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How often do you gig?

How long has it been since you changed out the tubes?

What tubes were in them?

Amp was used 5-10 hours/month over the last three years in rehearsal room and only gigged out twice. It was moved very infrequently, as it is a bear to move due to its weight. Tubes are factory original.  I have a Fender Twin Reverb that is 12 years old with original factory tubes that is still going strong, never been worked on.  If a tube were the issue the fuse would blow to protect the transformer. According to your local service center the transformer blew (shorted out) taking out the fuse.  So, it seems the transformer thing was not solved some time ago as Line 6 suggests. Either the transformer power rating was under-designed or your transformer supplier had a quality issue.  I hope it was not the former as then I could expect another transformer failure in the future.  Then again, if the latter and the replacement transformer is from the same lot, I can expect another failure.  I have lost confidence in this amp.  No wonder Steve Howe keeps a spare behind stage.

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I made sure Mr Howe's amp had all it was suppose to have.

But his issue was different.

 

Typically, in general, as I mentioned in a prior post here, tube ought to be changes out

12-18 months for gigging musicians and 20-24 months for weekend warriors. You look

like somewhere in between.

 

I knew a guy with a Phase Linear tube amp, got by without a tube change for 15-years.

Changed the tubes, blew in two weeks, change the tubes again and went on for the next 5-years

(at which point I lost track of him, so I don't know how much longer they went). Tubes ar

always the variable in these things.

 

Xformer going before the fuse,....  odd, your serial number should be able to do that,... which fuse went?

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I made sure Mr Howe's amp had all it was suppose to have.

But his issue was different.

 

Typically, in general, as I mentioned in a prior post here, tube ought to be changes out

12-18 months for gigging musicians and 20-24 months for weekend warriors. You look

like somewhere in between.

 

I knew a guy with a Phase Linear tube amp, got by without a tube change for 15-years.

Changed the tubes, blew in two weeks, change the tubes again and went on for the next 5-years

(at which point I lost track of him, so I don't know how much longer they went). Tubes ar

always the variable in these things.

 

Xformer going before the fuse,....  odd, your serial number should be able to do that,... which fuse went?

The little fuse in the power plug assembly (I think it's 6 amp), not the tube protection fuse.

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The receptacle fuse,.... that side of the transformer. 

Not related to the fuse in the bulletin.

 

I have a little bit of history with Yes, back in the late 70's when

I crewed for Iron Butterfly. The two bands were long time pals.

Interesting times.

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  • 2 weeks later...

It's been two weeks, my repair shop (Audio Magnetic Professional Services in Wellngton, FL) has not yet received the replacement power transformer for my DT50.  Psarkissian or someone else at Line 6 please help!

 

 

I'll look into that.

 

 

Transformer is being prepped for shipping as we speak.

 

 

I've just been informed that it will ship today.

 

 

Psarkissian .... we all appreciate you being here.

 

 

Now that's COOL! :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just got the worst possible news on my DT50 2x12.  The repair shop called and said that they replaced the transformer.  The amp now powers up but there is no audio output just high frequency noise.  The tech suspects the main processor board is bad.  He's going to call me back with the cost but at this point the amp is probably not worth repairing.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 6 months later...

The amp works fine after the power transformer and two power capacitors were replaced.  It cost me $250 out of pocket.  Will it work forever...only time will tell.  I really like the tones out of this amp, especially the Marshall tones.  My knock against the DT50 2x12 is the weight.  It is a beast, almost too much for one person to load into a vehicle by himself.  Unlike Steve Howe, I don't have roadies moving my gear for me.

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Lol! The weight my man. I backed out of a deal on a 2x12 just because of that. I scored a Duoverb 2x12 a bit ago and my nuts are still on the floor from dragging that 70 lb beast around (up a flight, to the truck, down a flight: reverse).

 

TBH the tone is worth it and I should have got the DT (nuts be damned). :)

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The amp works fine after the power transformer and two power capacitors were replaced.  It cost me $250 out of pocket.  Will it work forever...only time will tell.  I really like the tones out of this amp, especially the Marshall tones.  My knock against the DT50 2x12 is the weight.  It is a beast, almost too much for one person to load into a vehicle by himself.  Unlike Steve Howe, I don't have roadies moving my gear for me.

 

Glad ya got it working. May I ask where you got it fixed?

 

Ooooops, sorry I see it was fixed in Wellington in one of your previous post's.

Edited by Brazzy
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I am with you guys on the 212 weight issue especially when you get into the "old fart arena" ... lol

 

I have a DT25 head and 2 cabs since the weight is split up, and I prefer the sound of a cab over an open back combo.

 

I believe these Line 6 DT amps will go down in history as true classics? NOTHING else does exactly what they do. I am betting they will be worth big $ down the road. Beautiful amps once you get your head around the way they work. I still love my SV212. Not the finesse of the DT's but still a great amp IMHO. Yes I bought the SV when I was still lifting weights .... LOL !!! It lives happy in my house now with a lovely cover to keep the dust off. I turn it on every once and a while to prove I am still "king of loud".

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