# Fender G-Dec junior problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741 "2010-10-20T04:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/1 "2010-10-20T04:08:13Z")
I decided to save some money and bought this used but supposedly like new amp on Ebay. Had it shipped to me in México and it arrived today. I plugged it in today at 6:30 and played around with the different features. It seemed pretty cool. I practiced for an hour or so and turned the amp off. I came back about an hour later and turned it on. Nothing happened. I plugged it into a different outlet and it still won’t turn on. It seems strange that it worked fine the first time I turned it on and now it is completely dead. . Anyone have any ideas before I take it in to repair? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/2 "2010-10-20T04:27:11Z")
It seems somewhat likely that the fault is with the power to the amp, rather than the amp itself. Does the amp use a direct plug to a wall socket, or is there a transformer (i.e. “wall wart”) in between? Do you have some way to test the (120 AC or converted DC) power cable? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/3 "2010-10-20T05:02:27Z")
I agree with **squeegee** ; it sounds like the outlet has no power rather than a problem with the amp itself. Make sure the outlet has power: plug a lamp into it and see if the light comes on. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/4 "2010-10-20T11:10:41Z")
My guess is a blown fuse in the amp. Most likely there will be a screw/socket thingy near where the mains cable attaches the amp. Unplug the mains un-screw the thingy and have a look at the fuse. If it is is not blown you’ll see a wire running down the middle of the little glass cylinder. If there is a break or you don’t see a wire at all it’s blown. This could be due to a fault elsewhere but sometimes they just die. Get a _correct value_ replacement and try again. If there is no external fuse there will be one inside the chassis. Are you up to taking the amp apart? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/5 "2010-10-20T11:19:46Z")
Nothing to add; all good advice. G-Dec’s are solid state and considered pretty rugged, to my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/6 "2010-10-20T11:27:36Z")
This amp apparently has an internal fuse. On page nine of the [owner’s manual](http://support.fender.com/manuals/manuals_elec/guitarpdf//G-DEC%20JR%20718ICT007_A.pdf), it lists a fuse, but the pictures of the controls and back panel do not show a fuse socket like Small Clanger describes. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/7 "2010-10-20T12:36:33Z")
Thanks for the replies. The oulet isn’t the source of the power. I have a lamp plugged in there and it works fine. Plus I had plugged it into another outlet and it still doesn’t turn on. I wanted to switch the power chord with another amp but they aren’t compatible. I’ll power a tester today. I took the back off but saw no fuse . But it was late and didn’t look too hard. I’ll try again today. It does make a small noise when I turn it off. Kin of like brief thud coming from inside the amp box. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/8 "2010-10-20T12:47:52Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > Thanks for the replies. The oulet isn’t the source of the power. I have a lamp plugged in there and it works fine. Plus I had plugged it into another outlet and it still doesn’t turn on. I wanted to switch the power chord with another amp but they aren’t compatible. I’ll power a tester today. > > I took the back off but saw no fuse . But it was late and didn’t look too hard. I’ll try again today. It does make a small noise when I turn it off. Kin of like brief thud coming from inside the amp box. Stupid observation - when you were in the back of the amp, any chance you disconnected the speaker? I often stuff gear into the back of my amp to carry and sometimes knock a connection loose - often leads to a lot of frantic searching and then a :smack: moment… ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/9 "2010-10-20T13:26:31Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Stupid observation - when you were in the back of the amp, any chance you disconnected the speaker? I often stuff gear into the back of my amp to carry and sometimes knock a connection loose - often leads to a lot of frantic searching and then a :smack: moment… No, I didn’t move any wires. But the power indicator light doesn’t even come on. I suspect a fuse (I pray) or the power chord. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/10 "2010-10-20T14:12:19Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > No, I didn’t move any wires. But the power indicator light doesn’t even come on. I suspect a fuse (I pray) or the **power chord**. I’m imagining Marty McFly right now 😉 Si ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/11 "2010-10-20T16:29:30Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > I’m imagining Marty McFly right now 😉 > > Si Power cord! LOL My power chords need some work also. Damn English spellings. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/12 "2010-10-22T19:04:00Z")
It was a fuse but one that had to be soldered. Not the small filament type in a glass cylinder. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/13 "2010-10-22T19:07:09Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > It was a fuse but one that had to be soldered. Not the small filament type in a glass cylinder. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/14 "2010-10-23T17:02:30Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > It was a fuse but one that had to be soldered. Not the small filament type in a glass cylinder. OK, you’ve got me curious – what did your (blown) fuse look like? I’ve only ever encountered the “glass cylinder” style in small electronics. And how did you figure out that that was the problem? ETA: did it look something like [this](http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/electronics_fuse_pico.JPG)? ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fender-g-dec-junior-problem/557741/15 "2010-10-24T19:56:29Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > OK, you’ve got me curious – what did your (blown) fuse look like? I’ve only ever encountered the “glass cylinder” style in small electronics. And how did you figure out that that was the problem? > > ETA: did it look something like [this](http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/electronics_fuse_pico.JPG)? In searching for a picture I found what are called fusible resistors. That is what the tech showed me but simply called it a _fusible_ which is the name for fuse in Spanish. [http://www.sureelectronics.com/ssa.jpg](http://www.sureelectronics.com/ssa.jpg)