My primary gigging amplifier is a Tone King Meteor II. A week or so ago, as I leaned over close to the amplifier while holding a cup of water (roughly 4 ounces), the water spilled directly on top.
Most of the controls mounted on top got wet due to the water. It was clear that some of the water had seeped into the pots, wiring, etc.
I just turned on the amplifier with a powerful fan.
I thought that by now the little bit of water that did not cause any damage would have evaporated.
To maximize evaporation, the chassis/circuit should have been open, in my opinion.
At the time of the spill, I would have been inquisitive enough to examine the circuit and determine the water’s likely route.
If any of the tubes appeared to have become wet, I would have pulled them.
A friend’s amplifiers were once submerged in water in a basement.
Was it true that they worked? He uttered, "I’m not sure. I followed your advice and allowed them to dry out."
I too would have opened it right away.
I would have taken out the chassis and started using compressed air to remove as much water as possible. I would have also installed a blow dryer on low heat to dry it out for at least a day, and just to be safe, I might have packed it in a bunch of silica gel packs.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it if you’ve left it alone and it hasn’t been plugged in for a while, but I would definitely test everything out before your gig (and maybe open it up beforehand to make sure everything looks good).
Regarding shorting and current spikes/frying, if there is no power to it, it would be essentially inert when submerged in water, particularly if it hasn’t been used for some time (some parts maintain their charge even when disconnected). It just needs to dry out at that point before you turn it on again.
When you open it up, you should search the amplifier for any paper or cardboard parts, as well as any caps that may be press- or folded-top parts that could expand and "pop." You’re probably clear if you don’t see anything like that—they should be fairly noticeable.
Start it again if a week has passed. Probably all right.
It’s wise to make sure the transformers are dry, and if it were my amplifier, I would take that precaution.
I’ve known people who have previously poured beer into amplifiers and then used water to wash the beer out—essentially hosing down the circuit board to remove the beer (in a controlled manner). It should work just fine as long as you dry the amplifier before anything rusts and make sure it’s dry before turning it on.
Once you’ve opened it and given it a blast of compressed air, wait a few days for it to turn on. I should be good.
I simply wanted to give you an update. He said there is a 99% chance nothing is wrong.
I turned it on a few days ago, and while it functions, the reverb does not.
I’m going to attempt replacing each reverb tube individually in the hopes that this will be the only fix.
Taking it in is the next step.
We’ll find out what can harm an amplifier next.
Common Causes of Amplifier Damage
The two most likely ways for damage to occur are:
- Improper speaker connections
- Excessive load on the amplifier, leading to overheating. One channel typically appears before the other.
putting too much emphasis on the amplifier and damaging the loudspeaker driver(s).
Speaker damage can result from hot plugging and unplugging.
Don’t worry about it if they didn’t prod the speaker with their fingers and everything sounds fine.
Generally speaking, electronic components are not "injured". They function or they burn.
However, what about how to determine if your amplifier is blown?
If the amplifier in your car won’t turn on, there may be a power problem or a blown fuse.
If the amplifier isn’t working, it’s advisable to diagnose the problem before assuming that a new amp is required.
There are several possible causes for excessive bass or distortion in your car amplifier.
Should your amplifier repeatedly turn off on its own, there may be a problem.
In the event that an amplifier produces no sound, there may be a problem that needs to be investigated.
Many factors could be the cause of low sound quality.
There are several signs of a malfunctioning car amplifier, including buzzing, distortion, and low sound quality.