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New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:47 am
by trxr515
Hi all. I just brought home an amp last night that I got from a friend and as it turns out it is a Mosrite BG-500! I had never heard of it before so I started doing some research and came across this forum. It seems to work fine and is in excelent condition except it is missing the metal frame that came with. It is also missing the foot switch so I cannot access the Fuzzrite function. Does anyone know if there is a way to turn on the Fuzzrite without the foot switch? I found the schematic so I should be able to make one. The connector for the foot switch on the amp looks like a microphone plug, does anyone know if it is the same as a standard microphone plug? I am very excited to learn more about this very cool amp. I will upload a picture if I can figure out how...

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:50 pm
by Mr. Bill
Welcome to the place.

Based on the schematic, unless you want to try and short two of the pins together on the foot switch jack, there is no way to turn on the Fuzzrite without an external switch. The pins that turn on the Fuzzrite are actually turning on a small relay inside the amp. Be careful if you do try shorting the pins together, as there is 30 volts dc from the power supply on one of them.

As far as I know, it is a standard xlr jack with 4-pins. Ampeg and Kustom used these jacks and plugs on their amps as well, and I know that they are still available.

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 10:07 am
by trxr515
Looking at the schematic it shows a .1mfd/200v cap in parallel with the switch for the fuzzrite I believe. What kind of cap should I use for this and why is it needed?

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:58 am
by Nokie
I have some info on the Mosrite Award BG-500 and BG-1000 amps at my site:
http://www.planktones.com/PageAward.html

and a video at


-Marty

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:39 pm
by Mr. Bill
The cap across the switch is used to reduce the contact wear and to reduce the noise when the switch is activated. As I stated earlier this switch is turning on the power to a small relay, so there is actual power supply voltage on the switch terminals.

Any sort of cap can be used, I would guess that the original one was a ceramic disc, because it was cheap and it didn't need to be anything better. Just use whatever you can find that meets the specs.

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:47 pm
by lalacurf121
What kind of cap should I use for this and why is it needed?
sbobet333

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:06 am
by Haole Jim
'Recently became more interested in Mosrite amps; really enjoyed your playing, showing, stats, comparing.

Most enlightening, thank you for sharing the goodies and your skills.

'Been happily using small '65 Reissue Fenders with Mosrites, sometimes with an Electro-Harmonix Hum De-Bugger to wipe away the single-coil hum.

(There is a big sodium vapor streetlamp about 50 feet from the house and it "sings" to the guitar pickups.")

Re: New member in MN with BG-500

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:14 pm
by Sarah93003
Pics and detailed information or it didn't happen!! :D