Take it to a qualified tech - not happening

[Lobster11]

I don't know any amp techs but I do know a guy who moved out there and became a dental floss tycoon.

I remember that guy. I know he was planning to go, but can't remember if he ever actually did.

 

[agedhorse]

You've obviously got a component or two overheating and grounding out or sending the amp into protection mode.

Instead of looking for a music specific shop, open your aperture to electronic repair shops.

Interesting perspective from somebody who has clearly not worked on amps for a living. Obviously is not the word I would use with these symptoms.

Experience with these products is important IF the amp is to be repaired properly. What “general electronic repair shop” would you suggest?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

ddnidd1 and mbrain, I found the schematic in less than a minute. Problem for me is I'm not inclined to work on this amp. It's a shame to have it sitting around broken - so many folks here are very fond of Eden amps - but I never really liked the sound of it. Still, at least now I can include a schematic if I find someone to work on it. Many thanks!

if you don’t like the sound of the Eden amp, I wouldn’t bother to repair it. It’s got to be around 20 years old. I’d put it up on Reverb for say $100 as a salvage unit and if you make a buck or two, great.

If you need a replacement, for the likely cost of repair as well as potential repairs due to age, I’d look at the classifieds here, or GuitarCenter online used gear. Guitar center offers a 30 day money back guarantee, extended warranties are available.

We have a very good repair company in St.Louis that was Eden authorized when Eden was in business on the outside chance you are interested.

 

[Philonius]

There’s a guy in Burien called Efex that’s very good, but is a little nutty. He repaired a Roland SPDSX for me and I was impressed with his work, but his people skills were… ahem… interesting.

Ed at Efex in Burien is indeed a character, but he does know his stuff.

 

[tchristian]

I don't know any amp techs but I do know a guy who moved out there and became a dental floss tycoon.

I remember that guy. I know he was planning to go, but can't remember if he ever actually did.

Wouldn't surprise me; we've had a fair few "tycoon" type arrivals in Montana, especially since Covid. Mixes my emotions right the heck up.

 

[tchristian]

Egg250 - I hear that. Unfortunately the shady business I mentioned is the only general electronics shop in town and they hosed me. Still, I have no problem hiring a non-music-gear outfit.

dbsfgy1 - indeed that's about where I'm at on the Eden, although I imagine it could go to someone on TB for cheap.

Philonius - thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Jefenator]

I like how if my Bergantino B|Amp or Quilter BB800 were to need some factory TLC, shipping wouldn't cost me an arm & a leg. Another benefit of the new "cigar box" form factor.
Those companies are known for being able & willing to service their stuff - as is Mesa.
Seems like the better the support, the less often one is likely to need it.
I won't name names, but certain other brands have a reputation for crapping out prematurely & repeatedly, then being a huge PITA to try & get fixed. (Been there, done that. Life's too short...)

 

[tchristian]

I like how if my Bergantino B|Amp or Quilter BB800 were to need some factory TLC, shipping wouldn't cost me an arm & a leg. Another benefit of the new "cigar box" form factor.
Those companies are known for being able & willing to service their stuff - as is Mesa.
Seems like the better the support, the less often one is likely to need it.
I won't name names, but certain other brands have a reputation for crapping out prematurely & repeatedly, then being a huge PITA to try & get fixed. (Been there, done that. Life's too short...)

This is mainly why the Eden is lower priority. The Ashdown, however, has a cool factor that appeals to me. Plus I paid a pittance for it and it came with a matching 410. When these amps failed I bought a new Traynor YBA300. It's awesome in every way except one - kind of heavy. I have a used Ampeg PF50T and I just bought a used Quilter BB800. The Quilter sounds great and is now my primary amp. The Ampeg sounds great too but the DI channel is fubar. A topic for another day. Anyway, thanks for the reply. I hear you.

 

[agedhorse]

Egg250 - I hear that. Unfortunately the shady business I mentioned is the only general electronics shop in town and they hosed me. Still, I have no problem hiring a non-music-gear outfit.

This might be part of why you got "hosed", it might not have been shady but grossly under-qualified.

General electronics shops don't have the experience to repair most musical gear products. For these amps, even general music shop guys are often under-qualified but there are pro shops that have techs experienced with that type of Eden gear. @Rip Van Dan might have some good shops that have the necessary experience to be successful.

 

[Egg250]

Interesting perspective from somebody who has clearly not worked on amps for a living. Obviously is not the word I would use with these symptoms.

Experience with these products is important IF the amp is to be repaired properly. What “general electronic repair shop” would you suggest?

The obvious part is the fact the amps work just fine for a few minutes then fade out. From a diagnostic point of view, something is heating up, overheating and causing the symptoms. Definitely not a fuse or a burnt part. Likely a failing part or loose/dry socket.

Electronics are electronics. Capacitors, resistors, diodes, transformers, rectifiers, chipsets. Any competent electronic technician should be able to diagnose the faulty part(s). They might not have the speed of a "qualified amp tech" who may only be qualified to replace assembled components (i e. control boards) instead of the individual parts(s).

 

[agedhorse]

The obvious part is the fact the amps work just fine for a few minutes then fade out. From a diagnostic point of view, something is heating up, overheating and causing the symptoms. Definitely not a fuse or a burnt part. Likely a failing part or loose/dry socket.

Electronics are electronics. Capacitors, resistors, diodes, transformers, rectifiers, chipsets. Any competent electronic technician should be able to diagnose the faulty part(s). They might not have the speed of a "qualified amp tech" who may only be qualified to replace assembled components (i e. control boards) instead of the individual parts(s).

See, you think it's obvious, yet I am nowhere near that confident and I analyze (and sometimes repair) amplifier defects for a living. I also see the results of attempted repairs by the under-qualified, and frankly it's generally pretty bad. There are a lot of hacks out there trying to make a living repairing things they don't understand.

Electronics are electronics, but how they are used is completely different in different types of products. That's where deep experience with a particular type of product and even specific brands is very helpful in diagnosing defects both correctly and efficiently.

I have recently interviewed potential electronics tech candidates and every one of them was what I would consider well below proficient in their understanding of electronics and especially structured troubleshooting. Taking an internet electronics course or two does not make a person qualified or even marginally knowledgable. Anybody looking to get into the field would benefit from a real education (at least an AA in Electronics Technology), which would put them well ahead of the average job applicant.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Egg250 - I hear that. Unfortunately the shady business I mentioned is the only general electronics shop in town and they hosed me. Still, I have no problem hiring a non-music-gear outfit.

dbsfgy1 - indeed that's about where I'm at on the Eden, although I imagine it could go to someone on TB for cheap.

Philonius - thanks for the confirmation.

Hey @tchristian, I'll see if any of my contacts can make a referral. May take a few days to hear back from them.

That WT405 was a nice amp and it would be good to get it going again. The Eden WTDI stompbox DI with built-in Eden WT preamp is based on the preamp from it and I've used one of those for years when I needed to use a backline, or go direct to the board. Makes anything I plug it into sound like an Eden amp.

 

[Egg250]

See, you think it's obvious, yet I am nowhere near that confident and I analyze (and sometimes repair) amplifier defects for a living. I also see the results of attempted repairs by the under-qualified, and frankly it's generally pretty bad. There are a lot of hacks out there trying to make a living repairing things they don't understand.

Electronics are electronics, but how they are used is completely different in different types of products. That's where deep experience with a particular type of product and even specific brands is very helpful in diagnosing defects both correctly and efficiently.

I have recently interviewed potential electronics tech candidates and every one of them was what I would consider well below proficient in their understanding of electronics and especially structured troubleshooting. Taking an internet electronics course or two does not make a person qualified or even marginally knowledgable. Anybody looking to get into the field would benefit from a real education (at least an AA in Electronics Technology), which would put them well ahead of the average job applicant.

I appreciate the experience you have in this field, especially regarding the under qualified dudes. I'm definitely one of those. However, when hard pressed, I have repaired a few pieces of my own equipment. Fortunately, I didn't need to figure out where the fault was, the resistor was clearly burnt. I certainly wouldn't feel good charging someone to learn on their gear.

Anyway, have a good one.

 

[tchristian]

Hey @tchristian, I'll see if any of my contacts can make a referral. May take a few days to hear back from them.

That WT405 was a nice amp and it would be good to get it going again. The Eden WTDI stompbox DI with built-in Eden WT preamp is based on the preamp from it and I've used one of those for years when I needed to use a backline, or go direct to the board. Makes anything I plug it into sound like an Eden amp.

I appreciate that and I’m in no hurry. Many thanks!

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I appreciate that and I’m in no hurry. Many thanks!

Hi @tchristian,

Well I actually heard back directly from Eden. The only authorized repair station they have now is in Ohio:

Dear Dan ,

Thank you for your email.
The only repair centre we have in the USA is this one below in Liok (***actually it's in Columbus, Ohio***), but it's not close to where you live, I'm sorry.

Abell Repair - Ohio's premier professional audio repair shop
We hope that this helps, however, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Many thanks,

Eden Amplification
Email: [email protected]
Gear4music, Holgate Park Drive
York, YO26 4GN
www.edenamps.com​

I'd highly suggest contacting Abell Repair directly before sending your WT405 in.

Since Gear4Music bought Eden from Marshall under the agreement that that Marshall will continue to handle the manufacturing, Marshall has been extremely slow with manufacturing. Yes they do make the cabs at the Marshall shop, but the amps are still made in China at the same factory that made the WTP, WT, E-series, TN series, and Nemesis series before and since Marshall bought Eden. It just doesn't seem to be important to them anymore.

A big problem with Gear4Music owning Eden is that they don't have the dealer network or the authorized repair network that they did before Marshall sold them. Eden used to have really good distribution in the US and then not so good outside of the US with typically a main distributor for some of the countries and none at all for others. When Marshall bought them, all of a sudden they added all the Marshall dealers to their network and distribution was probably the best it's ever been. But since Marshall sold them, they no longer have that Marshall distribution or repair network.

Anyhow, at least that's one place you can check with. It may very well be worth sending it in to them.

Hope that helps,
Dan

Rip Van Dan

 

[tchristian]

Above and beyond Dan, thank you!

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Above and beyond Dan, thank you!

Happy to help!

 

[tchristian]

Update: I just recently revisited the Eden WT-405 issue after having set it aside in frustration for the last few months. Turns out the speaker jacks were the problem. I found it when I accidentally started to disconnect the cabinet before muting the output. Severely scratchy and intermittent. A couple new jacks and the intermittent output problem is solved.

After practicing with this amp daily for a couple weeks I realized the EQ section developed a hum. This issue might always have been there; I only just noticed it. The noise went away when I bypassed the EQ section. Sh*t says I, no rest for the weary. However, a trace of Deoxit directly onto the switch and a couple dozen on/off cycles and that too is no longer a problem.

Some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you.

 

[agedhorse]

So much for the presumption of overheating…

 

[byacey]

I appreciate the experience you have in this field, especially regarding the under qualified dudes. I'm definitely one of those. However, when hard pressed, I have repaired a few pieces of my own equipment. Fortunately, I didn't need to figure out where the fault was, the resistor was clearly burnt. I certainly wouldn't feel good charging someone to learn on their gear.

Anyway, have a good one.

Ahh, but what caused the resistor to burn? Until you know, you can't really call the amp truly repaired.