When it comes down to amps and audio equipment, Bugera remains the top manufacturer in the industry and has an exceptional range of amps and studio monitors. Bugera 1990 Infinium is one of the best all-tube amp heads designed by the company and is integrated with the Infinium technology that improves the sound quality.
In addition, it has pentode switches to select the power modes. Also, there are separate control knobs for reverb and master volume on every channel, but it also creates some performance errors that users need to know about.
Resolving Problems With Bugera 1990 Infinium
- Amp Is Not Powering On
The amp not turning is a common error and is usually caused by a faulty power switch and damaged connections. First of all, you must examine a power switch because if it has some moisture and/or dust buildup, it restricts the functionality. The simplest solution is to clean the power switch with a clean and dry cloth.
However, a blower is a more effective solution as the high pressure helps remove the dust. On the other hand, if cleaning doesn’t work and the amp is still not switching on, you must check the connections. In particular, you have to check the connections connected to the amp and make sure all the cables are securely connected.
In case some cables are damaged, you must replace them. It’s recommended to opt for a heavy-gauge cord for the power connections. The third solution is to check the internal circuit of the amp because if there are some loose solder joints on the circuit board, it’s likely to cause powering issues.
To inspect the circuit board, you must take off the amp’s chassis. When you identify the broken or loose solder joints, add more solders to ensure secure solder connections. However, if you don’t have experience in handling the electronic connections, you must hire an electrician to redo the solder connections.
Last but not least, you must check the power button and standby buttons. That’s because, in some cases, people turn on standby mode mistakenly, which impacts the connectivity. So, before you connect the amp to the power connection, you must ensure that the standby mode is switched off.
- Knobs Not Responding
There is an array of knobs placed on the front side of the amp, which help control the amp’s functions. This means that if the knobs stop responding, you won’t be able to customize the volume, gain, and other music settings. In case the knobs are not responding, you must inspect every knob and make sure the head is not loose.
This is because a loose knob head fails to turn the knob properly. Keep in mind that loose knob heads must be replaced because they cannot be tightened up. On the other hand, if the knobs are still not working, it’s likely that there is a grim buildup in the knobs, which has to be cleaned to ensure knobs rotate properly.
For this purpose, you have to turn off the amp and remove the front chassis to disconnect the knobs. Once the knobs are out, clean them properly with a contact cleaner as well as the place where they are connected. When the knobs are cleaned, reconnect them and screw in the chassis again.
However, make sure that the knobs are fully dried before you install them and use them. In case the knobs are already clean but are still not responding, you have to check the circuit connections of the knobs.
In particular, you must inspect the circuit board and make sure the solder points are properly secured – you can apply more solder if the connections seem loose.
- Crackling Sounds
The crackling sounds are extremely common with amps and are caused by overheated tubes; the tubes are an essential part of the amp. So, touch the amp, and if it’s too hot to touch, you must turn it off immediately to let the amp rest and achieve room temperature. Once the temperature is regulated, consider the following points;
- Never install the amp in an enclosed space because it restricts the airflow, resulting in a rise in temperature. So, if you have installed the amp in such a cabinet or shelf, take it out and put the amp in a well-ventilated area as it helps prevent overheating.
- Secondly, you should turn on the fan while the amp to make sure it doesn’t heat up. In particular, you can turn on the stand fan and put it right in front of the amp’s back to keep it cooled down.
- Thirdly, you must not place the amp on the floor, such as carpet and pillows, because it blocks the ventilation holes, causing overheating. Instead, you should invest in a tripod or an open stand as it helps optimize the airflow.
On the other hand, if overheating is not the issue, you must check the cables. That’s because loose connections and damaged cables can lead to crackling sounds as well. You must inspect all the connections associated with the amp and make sure they aren’t damaged.
The damaged connections/cables have to be replaced but always make sure that the connections are tightly connected to the respective jacks.
- No Sound
The amp has to be connected to the speakers to perform well. However, if you aren’t hearing any sound coming from the amp, you must check the speaker connections. Ideally, you must ensure that the amp is connected to a compatible speaker.
In particular, you have to check the impedance of the speaker and amp because they must be the same for the amp to produce sound. Also, once you determine the speaker’s impedance, change the output socket accordingly. Secondly, you need to be particular about the cable you are using.
The amp comes with a variety of cables, and to connect the speakers, you must use a speaker cable rather than using microphone and instrument cable. However, before you follow these troubleshooting steps, make sure that the volume is turned up on the amp and all the inputs are connected, including the aux cable and tuner.
- Cables Are Not Connecting
The amp has been designed with multiple outputs and inputs to make sure the users can create connections. However, if you are unable to connect the cables, you must check the cable’s tip. This is because this amp has mono jack connectors, which is why you must opt for a compatible cable to make sure it connects to the jack tightly.
- Sound Is Clipping
When the amp starts creating clipping in the sound output, it’s likely caused by insufficient speakers or an insufficiently powered amp. To resolve this problem, you have to downgrade the speakers (you can compare the power rating of the amp and speaker before purchasing the new speakers).
On the other hand, if power is not the issue, there are chances that the speaker wires are damaged and need to be replaced. Ideally, you should use the speaker cable that comes with the package rather than using third-party cables.
- Distortion In The Sound
The majority of guitarists and musicians connect the amp to the audio source for real-time addition of effects and loops. So, if the amp starts creating distortion, it will directly impact the quality of the music track.
In this case, you must examine the speaker wires and patch cables as these cables/wires are susceptible to picking up interference, which results in distortion. It is recommended that you reroute the wires to make sure that they aren’t near the ground or power cables.
In addition to keeping the speaker cables away from the ground and power cables, make sure you don’t put your amp near wireless devices, such as microwaves, smart TVs, and voice assistants.
The Bottom Line
Bugera 1990 is a well-designed amp and doesn’t create many issues for the users. However, these issues are common, but the solutions are even easier to follow. In case you need more help, Bugera’s customer support is pretty responsive!
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