Distortion-Fender steel king

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 22 Oct 2007 9:09 am

I bought a new FSK about a year ago. Hook it up and it sounded like I hook a distortion pedal to it. Did anyone ever discover just what was wrong with this batch of FSK amps. I've got time to mess with it now and would like to get it fixed. Too late to send it back. Thanks is advance for anyone's time. Reid

Fred Rushing · Post by **Fred Rushing** » 22 Oct 2007 11:54 am

Reid, Make sure you always run your preamp gain BELOW the power amp output setting. Fred

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 22 Oct 2007 5:57 pm

Put a Black Widow in there and it will cut the problem at least in half.

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 22 Oct 2007 7:39 pm

Thanks, Fred and Michael--I had already tried the pre gain route--Have a NV 1000--Will try the BW in the FSK. Hate to let this amp sit and not be used .Thanks again!!! Reid.

Dennis Wallis · Post by **Dennis Wallis** » 22 Oct 2007 7:59 pm

I've tried mine with a BW. It sounds good but I prefer the Eminence speaker that came with it. Never had a problem.The lows will jar your teeth with NO distortion AT ALL. If there is "distortion" I doubt if it's the speaker.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 23 Oct 2007 4:41 am

Make sure one of the velcro straps in the back of the amp is not touching the speaker cone.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 23 Oct 2007 6:13 am

I ended up taking the plastic shrink wrap off the foot switch and securing it again with the velcro starps, even though I don't use it. Had a hint of plastic sounding vibration going on. So far so good....

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 23 Oct 2007 8:44 am

I'd try running it through another speaker cab (or putting another speaker in it if you haven't got another cab you can just plug it into) and if it's still distorting you know it's the amp and not the speaker.... and if that's the case, take it to the service shop. Sorry if it sounds negative, but there's not much you can do yourself inside a modern transister amp unless you're a tech and have test equipment, IMO.

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 23 Oct 2007 1:04 pm

Lee-- I've never taken the velcro off the foot switch--nothing touching the speaker. Kevin --Plastic feels tight on the foot switch will try that also. Jim and Dennis--Ups just delivered two 115e's so I will try one of them. If none of this works I will have to find a service shop. I got an old Fender Twin that needs new tubes--Caps and probably a whole lot more done to it. Thanks to everyone for your help and time. Reid

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 23 Oct 2007 6:15 pm

Reid Fletcher wrote:I bought a new FSK about a year ago. Hook it up and it sounded like I hook a distortion pedal to it...I've got time to mess with it now and would like to get it fixed. Too late to send it back. Thanks is advance for anyone's time. Reid

You mean it's never worked properly?

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 23 Oct 2007 7:20 pm

Donny--When it came in I came home--made sure it wasn't beat up and would turn on. Hook a tele up to it--sounded ok. By the time I got back home the 45 day return period was over--I hooked a steel up and found it was distorted--It's sat in another room until I pulled it out yesterday--by adjusting knobs and buttons some of the distortion has cut back a little--will try another speaker tomorrow--If that dosen't work its to a shop with it. Sounds like it could be a good amp--Thanks-Reid

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 23 Oct 2007 7:38 pm

You're not using some kind of preamp or effects unit that's putting out a real hot signal to its input are you?

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 23 Oct 2007 7:40 pm

Yes Reid, isolate the speaker vs power amp itself first before messing arouned with much else. Should be able to differentiate easily amp/speaker being bad.

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 24 Oct 2007 12:18 pm

Jim--Nothing in line--steel--hilton vp--Fsk. Kevin--I'll be hooking a 115e to it sometimes today. Thanks--Reid

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Oct 2007 3:37 pm

Try plugging the steel directly into the amp (no volume pedal). Turn the master all the way up, and then ease the volume up to what sounds like normal playing volume.

Reid Fletcher · Post by **Reid Fletcher** » 24 Oct 2007 4:46 pm

Good Evening Everyone--Received an E-Mail from Sam Marshall today. He recommend that I take it to an authorized Fender Service Center. I think there is one in Kinder or Alexandria La. I'm going to follow his recommendation. Thanks a lot for everyone's time and help. I have other systems to pick through so it's no rush to get it working. Have a good night. Reid

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 24 Oct 2007 6:59 pm

Thanks for the update, Reid. Sam is a good man and does monitor the Steel Guitar Forum. In most cases he responds to a problem with a private email.

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