Fender Ramparte - Review, issues, and upgrades

[GERPUD]

Since I found gear review very useful in the past, I decided to make mine on the Fender Ramparte.
To look of this amp is awesome! This is why I bought it. The simplicity is what I was looking for.

However, this amp have several issues that that would explain why it is so unpopular.

1 - This amp sounds terrible stock out the box.
It's main problems turn out to be the speaker. It's the worst speaker ever make for a fender amp. Only good for science project of my kids. I've replaced it by Eminence V1228 Legend. Big improvement! Even with the new speaker, it still sound a bit boxy. This is due to the fixed (no tone control) settings inside the amp that are producing a bit too much mids frequencies. I've put a Joyo 30$ equalizer pedal before the amp and it definitely solved the problem. The equalizer pedal removed that boxy sound and also clarified it (ever with flat setting). The equalizer also allow to control the gain of the preamp. With a new speaker and equalizer, I highly recommend this amp. Be aware that the speaker is a mess the change. Two bolts has turned inside the wood so I had to pull them through the plywood and add new wood screw. The case is made by solid 3/4 plywood.

2- The amp is noisy.
I'm still figuring out how to correct that. It is not an issue when playing, but in a home context, when not playing, it is annoying to me.
Fender seemed to be aware of that problem because they made a correction the the PCB. See pictures. The PCB has been scratched at two places around the second power filtering cap (22uf-450V). A jumper wire has been added.
I make some other research. I found that guy that took a picture of the inside of his amp for an other reason. He seems to have that same reparation.
http://www.soulman.fi/2014/04/ghsh-httpswww.html
That meens that this reparation is "standard" on all Ramparte.

Most interesting, a tech pro guy (Rat Valve Amp), as done several mod on this amp. He's talking about the buzz and Hum of this amp:
"4. - Another 'Issue' with the Stock Amp is the HIDEOUS Level of Background Noise (Severe Buzz and Hum). There are three main problems (1) The Output Transformer (OPT) is too close to the Mains Transformer and Causes a Pronounced 'HUM' when the Amp is first switched on, even before it warms up - Simple Fix, Move the OPT away from the Mains Transformer - Done. (2) Not enough Smoothing in the Power Supply which causes the Amp to 'BUZZ' - I have Corrected that. (3) A Design Error on the Main PCB has caused an 'Earth Loop' in the Circuit, which is responsible for most of the Buzz and Hum in the Amp. Unbelievable in a Fender Amp and totally unacceptable. Fender know there is a problem because they have made a 'Half-Ass' effort to correct it by cutting PCB Tracks here and there and adding lengths of wire to the Board, with no success. It took awhile to Find the Error, but I found it and corrected it. The Result - The Amp is now 'SILENT' - NO Background Noise, it's so Quiet that it is difficult to tell if the Amp is On or Off."
http://www.befr.ebay.be/itm/RAT-HOTR...-/351010654625 Rat


Finally, it is also possible the put a KT66 instead of 6L6GC. The PT can handle it with no problems. You will have to change a resistor to make sure the tube will last. see this thread. Thanks to Matt H.
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... 155#327155

[matt h]

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