Line 6 Flextone support & repair issues
Cornelius J Rat
it's a modelling preamp with two 50W IC amplifiers hanging off the end. It
has this habit of spontaneously changing the settings. I've heard mention
of this problem from somebody elsewhere in the UK too.
Now, I could just plug a Pod into the FX return and use the thing as a
stereo power amp, but it would be nice to actually fix it.
The answer at the Line 6 forums to any problem seems to be "Do the factory
reset; if that doesn't work, spend £200 ($380) getting it fixed by a dealer.
Or don't get it fixed, it's up to you." No schematics available, only one
authorised repair centre in the UK, a bit of a monopoly.
Is there anyone who's had this problem and had it fixed? Is it the
decoupling/smoothing caps? Dirt/oxidisation in the rotary switches? Faulty
RAM? Any useful suggestions welcomed, including where I'd be better off
asking these questions. How are the natives over at alt.guitar.amp? Seems to
be full of OT posts from JP. I'm wary of leaving the well-known waters of
RMMG to become a n00b elsewhere.
o<8O~
Alexander Dorian
from their website. Contact Line 6 directly and ask them what are your
options first.
On 2008-07-03 10:59:06 -0500, "Cornelius J Rat"
<cornel...@yahoo.co.uk> said:
Cornelius J Rat
> "Cornelius J Rat" said:
>
>> Someone's given me a Line 6 Flextone Duo 2-12 combo. If you didn't know,
>> it's a modelling preamp with two 50W IC amplifiers hanging off the end.
>> It has this habit of spontaneously changing the settings. I've heard
>> mention of this problem from somebody elsewhere in the UK too.
>>
>> Now, I could just plug a Pod into the FX return and use the thing as a
>> stereo power amp, but it would be nice to actually fix it.
>>
>> The answer at the Line 6 forums to any problem seems to be "Do the
>> factory reset; if that doesn't work, spend £200 ($380) getting it fixed
>> by a dealer. Or don't get it fixed, it's up to you." No schematics
>> available, only one authorised repair centre in the UK, a bit of a
>> monopoly.
>>
>> Is there anyone who's had this problem and had it fixed? Is it the
>> decoupling/smoothing caps? Dirt/oxidisation in the rotary switches?
>> Faulty RAM? Any useful suggestions welcomed, including where I'd be
>> better off asking these questions. How are the natives over at
>> alt.guitar.amp? Seems to be full of OT posts from JP. I'm wary of leaving
>> the well-known waters of RMMG to become a n00b elsewhere.
>>
>> o<8O~
>
"Alexander Dorian" wrote
> You should probably try first software reset and any software updates from
> their website. Contact Line 6 directly and ask them what are your options
> first.
Thanks, Alexander, but did you read my third paragraph? FYI, the Mk.1
Flextone is not updatable, unlike the Flextone II and III.
I was given this amp because the last repair (replacing an LM3886 power amp
module that I can get for £4.43 +VAT) cost £200. The amp is worth less than
that, maybe because of its reputation for poor reliability. That's why I'm
looking for hints and tips like "check for high-resistance through-holes".
o<8O~
Alexander Dorian
that particular amp was not updateable. I've owned a few Line 6 PODs
that I hated but they were updateable via USB, therefore I assumed the
same with this amp.
Maybe this will be a more viable suggestion - I've had similar issues
with losing settings in a midi controller, swapping the inside battery
that holds the memory did the trick.
You might write Line 6 anyway and request a schematic diagram - sounds
like you're a bit more techy than I am so might be able to make some
sense out of it. You could also check with them about replacing the
failing component. Oftentimes manufacturers have sent me the part free
of charge if they had it in their repair facility.
Cornelius J Rat
"Alexander Dorian" wrote
> Cornelius, As I am not a huge fan of modelling technology I didn't know
> that particular amp was not updateable. I've owned a few Line 6 PODs that
> I hated but they were updateable via USB, therefore I assumed the same
> with this amp.
>
> Maybe this will be a more viable suggestion - I've had similar issues with
> losing settings in a midi controller, swapping the inside battery that
> holds the memory did the trick.
>
tiny rewritable "serial EEPROM" IC, a bit like the SPD chip on your stick of
PC RAM that tells your PC the RAM parameters. I imagine that's only read
when you press a button to select a preset and written when you press
"store", so I'm thinking (with the random changes of channel and parameter
while you're playing) that it's probably not that. It raises a good point,
though - I should check whether power cycling restores to the last saved
settings; that would be one more clue.
> You might write Line 6 anyway and request a schematic diagram - sounds
> like you're a bit more techy than I am so might be able to make some sense
> out of it. You could also check with them about replacing the failing
> component. Oftentimes manufacturers have sent me the part free of charge
> if they had it in their repair facility.
>
Line 6's FAQ and checking around says that schematics are only given to
authorised service centres and guarded jealously. There is a post on
alt.guitar.amps from someone who eventually managed to get a service centre
to sell him a pot. Line 6 apparently don't deal with the public (apart from
on the forums, where their techs repeat the dual mantras "Follow the factory
reset procedure" and "Take it to your nearest Line 6 Authorised Service
Centre").
So far I've just dipped my toe in the water at alt.guitar.amps, but I think
I'll go ahead and ask about people's experiences over there.
Nick
o<8O~
Alexander Dorian
they don't have support, like the North Pole or something :)
Seriously though - most manufacturers have given me the scematics on
request. So far: Marshall, Laney, Ashdown, Roland, ART and so on...
On 2008-07-07 06:50:47 -0500, "Cornelius J Rat"
<cornel...@yahoo.co.uk> said:
Cornelius J Rat
"Alexander Dorian" wrote
> Nick, who says that you can't be a guitar tech from say a place where
> they don't have support, like the North Pole or something :)
>
> Seriously though - most manufacturers have given me the scematics on
> request. So far: Marshall, Laney, Ashdown, Roland, ART and so on...
>
You could be right. I just got some handy information in the email. :)
o<8O~