Enzo many thanks. I think I now got all the info I need to go and see the amp tech. Thanks all, for your input has been pretty crucial for a noob like me (on guitar I'm pretty smart). Plus I got good hope for the amp's repair. This is a fine forum indeed. :tu:

Phatt and Enzo thanks for tuning in again. Last thing, I found some pics of a Stage 185's entrails, the Stage being the 112 version of the 212 Pro, same schematic. You might wanna take a look at these and tell me if you immediately notice any (or a lot, I now fear) apparent weak spots in this amp that I / my tech man should pay extra attention to. You're both knowleadgable, I greatly value your input, even if the conclusion would be that the 185 looks like a piece of shhh to you   

They come from a forum topic (http://music-electronics-forum.com/t13692/) on an ahem dead Stage 185 (that in the end rises like Lazarus btw), and the pics were taken before the necessary repairs/replacements so you're looking at a dead parrot:





No eyelet board, that's for sure.

Guys you call this Fender 185 a modern solid state amp.... I wonder where solid state modernity starts for you... what I do know is that this thing is almost 30 years old, and not nearly as 'modern' as all the hybrid horror these days... or the transtube etc BS before that... yes these Fenders have a reputation for bad soldering, and eh... for great sound as well which is what really matters, and a lot of older Fender amps appear to be great survivors in the end, only hope that mine will be one as well

thanks all for your input btw

Enzo yeah I used both fists in an attempt to fight the buzz, but no change in hum whatsoever and I'm not sure the amp even noticed it for its chassis is built to survive a guerilla attack

Here it is, 66 lbs (not a beauty except for its sound - until recently):

First let me post both the manual and the schematic (plus parts list) of the Fender 185 series, for I noticed that owners of these amps search for them on Internet. Hope these links work:

Manual for the Fender Stage 185, Fender Pro 185 and Fender London 185: http://www.mediafire.com/?i31moqzmzyo
Schematics (and parts list) for the 185 series: http://www.mediafire.com/?i2ywmq2dimy

And then thanks guys for responding. In the meantime I already decided, as you both suggest, to have the amp repaired. Replacing it will cost me more, and when the 185 can indeed be rejuvenated as bry melvin states it will be worth the investment because I love the amp.  I'm happy to hear that there's no good reason yet to fear terminal trouble, and that findings parts shouldn't be a problem.

To jack1962, sure I checked the amp without the OD. It's producing the (very) loud buzz (and this 212 150 watts heavyweight is a very loud amp) without any input now, and everything at zero, right after switching it on. Contact cleaner might do the trick today, though I doubt that, but I need to be sure that its effect won't come to a halt during a gig, so I'd want it to have a check up anyway.

Bottom line for me are the costs involved. I'm in France, not anywhere near Paris, but I just tracked down a guy in the region who has some reputation for amp repair. I'll get in contact with him. I have good hope again after your comments. Thanks for that!

Hi, this is my first post in this great forum. It's wonderful to see some serious dedication to SS amps, for some are truly great sounding machines.

Such as, imho, the Fender Stage and Pro 185. At Harmony Central the old Stage 185 is one of the highest rated Fender amps which doesn't surprise me. I owned one for 6 years and it suited especially my strat perfectly. The 185 amps produce a lush, roomy and warm sound that is very different from say the smaller Deluxe 112 plus that I play in my study. That one is cardboard in comparison to the 185.

A few months ago I exchanged the Stage 185 for a Pro 185 (same amp, but 212 instead of 112) cause I needed its extra power for the kind of gigs I do. Same sound, even more room in it, very happy with it. Until a few days ago the amp got in big trouble, which gave me the blues.

I have some questions that maybe someone here will be able to answer. While I was playing (clean channel, volume at 5, overdrive from the old Boss OD-1) a loud buzz started to come out of the amp, and the distortion of my sound wasn't part of the OD settings. I switched the amp off, let it rest for a while, switched it on, everything seemed to be OK. But after some playing it all started again. And now when I switch it on the very loud buzz is immediately there, also with the volumes or all knobs at zero; no turning of knobs makes any difference. When I plug in my guitar it produces sound, all knobs work as they should, BUT the sound is nastily distorted and barely audible because of the buzz. The buzz seems to react to certain frequencies, such when I play G's... which puzzles me.

So yes I am a total noob when it comes to amp technics. I wish to have the amp repaired, but not at any cost since it's an already old beast from the early eighties and also since my budget is currently limited. On the other hand I never heard a solid state amp produce the lush and rich sounds that these 185's are capable of. I'd love to keep it as my main amp, even though it is VERY heavy.

To cut a too long story short, these are my questions:
- could it be that it's just filter caps or bad soldering that causes the very loud buzz? Or do the symptoms indicate that the trouble is more serious?
- can filter caps etc be replaced by someone who has no access to genuine Fender parts for this amp?
- is there a danger already that there is DC tension on the speakers? is the distorted sound maybe an indication of that?
- will it be normally be a lot of work (ie expensive) to repair an amp like this, is it worth it?
- is there such a thing as a life span for solid state amps? In the HC reviews people will tell you that the 185's are built for eternity, but can it be that after almost 30 years they simply tend to fall apart?

Many questions, I know, so many thanks in advance for answering some of them. 

(btw I have the amp's manual and schematics for those interested)