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11-21-2011, 01:44 PM
| | | | Basic Black worth saving?
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I have a 17 year old SWR Basic Black that has some issues. Least important the tweet is shot. It can be turned off, but I am weird in that even if I never use it I need to know the amp works 100%. Next is the rat fur is tattery and I'd love to either tolex it or truck-bed liner it. These two problems are fixable, but I'm not sure it's worth it due to the biggest problem. The passive input it really quiet. The active input is far louder.
Does anyone have any idea what would cause an input to have diminished volume but still work?
I'm not worried about this thing being my main amp, but it would be nice to have for quietier gigs. |
11-21-2011, 02:28 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada | | | You could well have a bad op amp or something as simple as a dry joint on the PCB. As to whether the amp is worth a refurbish that's something that only you can decide.
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Paul
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11-21-2011, 02:29 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tallahassee, FL | | | I can attest to the magic in this sweet sounding combo. One of the best sounding stand alone 15" combos out there. |
11-21-2011, 02:33 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Alabama | | | The replacement tweeter is a LeSon. Costs about 15.00. It would be worth fixing. |
11-21-2011, 02:57 PM
| | | | I remember trying one of these in a music store, many years ago. Immediately upon plugging in (without having to play with EQ) I got a deep, rich, satisfying tone.
So if you can manage it, I'd suggest resuscitation. This is no crappy junk. |
11-21-2011, 03:10 PM
| | | | The problem is that this thing went through years of neglect before I bought it. It literally sat in a damp basement for years. There's actually rust on some of the screws. Who knows what that did to the electronics.
I might have to let it sit for a while. I was supposed to Craigslist it after I got my new amp, but that was two months ago and I'm sure my wife either forgot about that or stopped caring. Before I sink any money into it I might have to wait. At least it's now in a dry place.
My main dilemma is that mint the thing is worth about $250-300. I bought it for $175 so I'll end up with an amp that worth less that I have in it, but also an amp that is pretty rare and renown for great tone. If it were a vintage Ampeg or Sunn it would be a no brainer, but thing thing is on the cusp.
My other option to see that it lives on is to sell it on here for cheap enough that someone who is more adept can can rejuvenate it.
Last edited by YuppyPunk : 11-21-2011 at 03:27 PM.
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11-21-2011, 03:26 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by YuppyPunk  ...
My main dilemma is that mint the thing is worth about $250-300. I bought it for $175 so I'll end up with an amp that worth less that I have in it, but also an amp that is pretty rare and renown for great tone. If it were a vintage Ampeg or Sunn it would be a no brainer, but thing thing is on the cusp.
My other option to see that it lives on is to sell it on here for cheap enough that someone who it more adept can can rejuvenate it. | I agree that fixing it up is not a money-making proposition.
It's a tone-making proposition. So if you personally can use the tone, go for it. |
11-21-2011, 03:26 PM
| | | | Rust on screws can come from repeated hand contact.
That is a great combo! |
11-21-2011, 03:49 PM
|  | Total Hyper-Elite Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Groom Lake, NV | | Quote:
Originally Posted by YuppyPunk The problem is that this thing went through years of neglect before I bought it. It literally sat in a damp basement for years. There's actually rust on some of the screws. Who knows what that did to the electronics.
I might have to let it sit for a while. I was supposed to Craigslist it after I got my new amp, but that was two months ago and I'm sure my wife either forgot about that or stopped caring. Before I sink any money into it I might have to wait. At least it's now in a dry place.
My main dilemma is that mint the thing is worth about $250-300. I bought it for $175 so I'll end up with an amp that worth less that I have in it, but also an amp that is pretty rare and renown for great tone. If it were a vintage Ampeg or Sunn it would be a no brainer, but thing thing is on the cusp.
My other option to see that it lives on is to sell it on here for cheap enough that someone who is more adept can can rejuvenate it. | On an amp that old under those conditions, you may want to clean all of your jacks with some DeOxit. I find a .22 calibre bore brush to work well for this. That could be the problem with your passive input jack. I'd fix it up if I were you.
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What is this thing called butthurt? |
11-21-2011, 04:58 PM
|  | Supporting Member | | | | | I had a Basic Black years ago and I really loved it, so much that I talked a friend into getting one - he loved it. After awhile, we both started having problems.
His would cut out mid-set. He had it professionally repaired several times, even replacing the entire circuit board. Nothing worked and he gave up.
Mine had a different issue, it would be operating at normal volume then shoot to what seemed like 10x volume in an instant, completely on its own. I had to retire mine too.
I've wondered since whether there was a period in which a series of Basic Black had some issues. I know many folks have owned and used theirs for years, flawlessly. Our experience was a shame; they are such great sounding, great looking combos.
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Rob Allen -> Acoustic Image |
11-21-2011, 08:53 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Munjibunga On an amp that old under those conditions, you may want to clean all of your jacks with some DeOxit. I find a .22 calibre bore brush to work well for this. That could be the problem with your passive input jack. I'd fix it up if I were you. | I used DeOxit on the scratchy pots when I first got it. I have a bore brush, but I didn't think about using it to try to clean the input jack.
When I opened it up I saw an electronic piece lying on the padding. I looked all over an it doesn't appear to have broken off. It doesn't look used. I know these amps where literally hand built so it's possible that it just fell in the cabinet.
When it comes to electronics I'm really out of my comfort zone. Does anyone know any good repair shops in the Baltimore to Harrisburg area? |
11-21-2011, 11:43 PM
| | | Quote: |
Basic Black worth saving?
| Maybe if it was a Bassic Black...
Just kidding. I need to do the dowel bracing in mine to cure a rattle at louder volumes. Very good tone to these things.
=wr= |
11-22-2011, 07:16 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by wave rider Maybe if it was a Bassic Black...
Just kidding. I need to do the dowel bracing in mine to cure a rattle at louder volumes. Very good tone to these things.
=wr= | For most of the run they were called Basic Black. 1 year they were called Bassic Black. |
11-23-2011, 08:49 AM
| | | | I've come to a decision. I am going to call around to find a repair shop. If they determine that the problem is fixable, within reason, I am going to rejuvinate this thing. But I am not going to restore it to original. I've decided that it's going to get blue tolex (or blue truck bed liner), chrome corners and handles, and a grey/silver grill. |
11-23-2011, 08:53 AM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by YuppyPunk I've come to a decision. I am going to call around to find a repair shop. If they determine that the problem is fixable, within reason, I am going to rejuvinate this thing. But I am not going to restore it to original. I've decided that it's going to get blue tolex (or blue truck bed liner), chrome corners and handles, and a grey/silver grill. | Hope it works out, you'll enjoy it if it does. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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