7 Common PRS MT 15 Problems Troubleshooting

PRS Guitars is one of the most popular names in the music industry as they have well-designed and reliable guitars available for musicians. In addition, they have designed various amps and MT 15 is one of the best ones.

It is a two-channel amp with well-balanced articulation and aggression. It’s a perfect choice for people who want to create bold and large-scale music as it supports heavy rhythms.

However, it’s susceptible to some performance errors like other amps in the market but they are quite easy to fix!

Common PRS MT 15 Problems and Their Solutions

1. Won’t Start

This is the most common problem that users are facing and it’s actually very frustrating as you won’t be able to connect it with the guitar or add effects.

In most cases, it’s caused by a damaged power supply. So, check the power supply and ensure that all the cables are working fine and aren’t damaged.

If you’ve been using the amp for a long time, it’s better to replace the power cord because it might have some internal damages that cannot be repaired.

The second thing you have to check is the fuse. The fuse is added to complete the circuit, and when there is excessive current, the fuse’s internal wire burns and turns off the amp.

So, inspect the amp and locate the fuse. If the fuse is blackened, it indicates that it has blown up and must be replaced.

However, you must remember that the fuse can blow because of the power surges, which is why you need to regulate the voltages of the electricity connection.

It is recommended that you hire an electrician to inspect the entire amp to determine the primary cause behind a blown fuse, or else, the fuses will keep blowing unless you fix the root cause.

2. Buzzing Sound/Static

Unwanted buzzing sound can adversely impact the quality of the music and there are two common reasons behind it. First of all, you must inspect all the connectors and cables to ensure they are intact and are connected tightly.

Moreover, it’s recommended that you disconnect the connectors from the jacks and reconnect them to ensure a tight connection (it’s an apt way of fixing the static issue as well).

The second step is to check if a live wire is touching the body. Since the amp’s body is made from metal, it won’t only create static and buzzing sounds but carry a risk of electrocuting the users.

It is better that you hire an electrician to reconnect the live wire because it will have a higher charge that can harm you.

In addition, when you hire an electrician, it’s best to get the shielding done again because poor guitar shielding can cause a buzzing sound as well.

The third step is to check the grounding. For instance, when you touch the metal parts of the amp, a buzzing sound will be created. In that case, you have to ask the electrician’s help to fix the grounding.

Last but not least, check the amp cable you are using to connect with the guitar and make sure the cable is working properly – you can use a voltage meter to check the cable’s continuity.

3. Volume Suddenly Dropping Out

Since musicians use MT 15 to produce heavy and rock music, dropping volume is a serious issue. The volume issue incurs when there is a bad solder joint in the amp.

You must get the amp properly inspected to identify the bad joints and add more solder. It’s better that you don’t apply the solder on your own because it must be properly applied (the solder joints must be neat and shouldn’t have any gaps or cavities).

Secondly, you have to check the positioning of the amp because it must be installed on a well-leveled surface. In addition, always put the amp slightly above the ground and keep it elevated in the upward position to make sure there are no hindrances.

Last but not least, touch the amp. If the amp is hot to touch, the overheating is causing the volume issue. In that case, just wait for a few minutes for the temperature to normalize and it will start operating normally.

4. No Sound

When there is no sound coming from the speaker section, including hiss, hum, and pop, there are chances that the speaker is damaged and needs to be replaced or repaired, depending on the error.

It’s better to hire a professional to inspect the speaker as he can propose a solution accordingly. On the contrary, if you are hearing a non-audio sound, you must check all the outputs and inputs.

Since this is a two-channel amp, you must check the outputs as well as inputs to ensure the correct wires are connected to the port (you can check the manual to determine the correctness of the connections).

In addition, the connections must be tight to ensure the signal transmission isn’t hindered. Also, don’t forget to check the backend wiring of the jacks/ports to ensure they are able to receive the signals.

Another thing you can try is the output transformer. The output transformer is important to ensure the efficient transfer of audio signals to the speakers and it prevents the excess voltage from passing to the speakers.

However, if the output transformer is damaged, the transfer of audio signals will be hindered, resulting in no sound. The output transformers cannot be repaired, which is why you must get them replaced to revamp the sound.

5. Extremely Noisy

The amp is designed to ensure clean and crisp sound output, so if you are only hearing the noise, you have to focus on the power connection.

This is because a dirty power connection is the most common reason behind noisy output. Start by checking the wires and cables connected to the amp and guitar and make sure they are working well and are tightly connected.

Also, disconnect the amp from a surge protector or a power strip because these electric outlets aren’t suitable for connecting the amp.

6. Burning Smell

The burning smell is hardly good news because it usually means internal component damage or a short circuit in the system.

However, before you focus on the electrical components, it’s recommended that you switch off the amp and use a cloth piece to clean dust from the amp.

This is because when the amp is covered in dust and you’ve been using the amp for a long time, the heated amp will burn the dust, which results in a burning smell.

While cleaning, you should always use a dry cloth because a damp cloth leaves moisture on the amp, which can result in electrocution. For cleaning the solder connections, you can opt for alcohol wipes while other parts can be cleaned with glass cleaner.

On the other hand, if there is no dust, there are chances of internal component damage. In most cases, the internal component damage is caused by excessive voltage or dramatic voltage fluctuations.

So, switch off the amp, take off the chassis, and turn on the amp. Now, use the multimeter to check the continuity of all the internal components.

When you find the component with zero continuity, turn off the amp and get that component replaced. Also, make sure the replacement component is properly connected and soldered on the board.

7. Effects Are Not Working

The amps are used to add effects to the music and when the effects stop working, the music production basically stops. It is usually caused by power-related issues.

So, start by checking the electric connections and make sure they are intact. In addition to this, you have to check the manual to determine the voltage requirements of the amp.

If your electricity connection’s voltage is less or more than the required value, you should call the electricity provider to regulate the voltage.