Madison Abraxas- The Atlantis of Bass Heads

WorldCarver · #1 07-01-2011, 11:48 AM

Ages ago I bought a Madison Abraxas off Craigslist. Sounded great every time I used it but then I let a friends band use it and it stopped working. Sent it in to a local music shop and it would turn on for about 30 seconds and produce NO sound. After the 30 seconds of silence, the fuse would blow. Any input on what could be wrong? If you own the schematics or know where I can find them YOU ARE A GOD!!!!!! To make this situation more difficult than it is, Madison Amps is no more, meaning their tech support is gone as well.

RickenBoogie · #2 07-01-2011, 12:00 PM

Find a good qualified amp tech, take it in, and NEVER loan gear out again. In fact, whoever "borrowed"it, should pay for the repair.

MAMMOTHvolume · #3 07-01-2011, 12:07 PM

is it rocking bulbs in the back?

WorldCarver · #4 07-01-2011, 12:16 PM

Just 1 tube and I believe its in the preamp.

WorldCarver · #5 07-05-2011, 03:17 PM

Bumping out of desperation!

kayakbass · #6 07-05-2011, 03:27 PM

My guess, transformer.

BassmanPaul · #7 07-05-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayakbass

My guess, transformer.

Could be, but a transformer is a hefty item to fail. It's more likely to be either in the power supply or the output stage.

It needs to be seen by a qualified tech and the person who was using it should be the one to pay for the repair.

WorldCarver · #8 07-05-2011, 06:26 PM

I guess my next question would be what repair shops do outstanding work? Id be willing to ship it since no one in a 50 mile radius of where I live was able to fix it.

Bass_Pounder · #9 07-05-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldCarver

I guess my next question would be what repair shops do outstanding work? Id be willing to ship it since no one in a 50 mile radius of where I live was able to fix it.

Actually the real question should be "is it even worth the time and money to get it fixed" ?

WorldCarver · #10 07-05-2011, 06:39 PM

That subject has come up a lot with people Ive talked to about it. The tone I originally had from the Abraxas was brutally heavy and fit the style of music I was playing so in my opinion it is. If I sold it now Id be lucky to get $100 bucks, if I fixed it and decided to sell it, it would be worth a great deal more.

Bass_Pounder · #11 07-05-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldCarver

That subject has come up a lot with people Ive talked to about it. The tone I originally had from the Abraxas was brutally heavy and fit the style of music I was playing so in my opinion it is. If I sold it now Id be lucky to get $100 bucks, if I fixed it and decided to sell it, it would be worth a great deal more.

Even after fixing it, you probably would not be able to get back all you put into it. It is afterall a relatively unknown brand that folded for a reason. I myself had occasion to purchase and use some Madison cabs and raw speakers. They got my money once, and I swore never again.

It is your amp, so do with it as you wish. I just feel you will probably be throwing good money at a bad amp.

KramerBassFan · #12 07-05-2011, 08:05 PM

I'd throw a nickle that theres a problem in the output stage, but it could be many things.

IMHO its going to be easier, less of a hassle, and even cheaper just to get a used GK400rb or something along the lines of that.

fdeck · #13 07-05-2011, 08:10 PM

A tech might be able to fix it without a schematic. There are a lot of similarities among tube amp designs.

Bass_Pounder · #14 07-05-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

A tech might be able to fix it without a schematic. There are a lot of similarities among tube amp designs.

It's not a tube amp.

Stuff I was able to find about the amp shows it to be similar to the Carvin B1500 (except it only was rated for 4 ohm use, and cost $1,200).

ETA - My suggestion to the OP would be to look for a used Carvin B1500 or a used B2000 (if you really want the pre tube in it). Both can be had at reasonable prices, and far exceed the Madison on all tech specs. The Carvins can still be serviced, and have schematics available.

hrgiger · #15 07-05-2011, 10:23 PM

Any bass amp they made a movie about, starring Jesse Ventura no less, is an amp worth keeping, at whatever the cost!

hrgiger · #16 07-05-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

It's not a tube amp.

Stuff I was able to find about the amp shows it to be similar to the Carvin B1500 (except it only was rated for 4 ohm use, and cost $1,200).

ETA - My suggestion to the OP would be to look for a used Carvin B1500 or a used B2000 (if you really want the pre tube in it). Both can be had at reasonable prices, and far exceed the Madison on all tech specs. The Carvins can still be serviced, and have schematics available.

Dang man, you were trying to talk people out of a Madison Abraxas back in 2008 telling them to buy a Carvin B1500, did you just step out of a time machine? Or is your internet connection tied in a mobius or something? Who do you work for?

2008 anti-Abraxas propaganda> Info on NEW Madison Abraxas 1200 Bass Amp

The man said he wants to fix his amp, not buy a Carvin...

WorldCarver · #17 07-05-2011, 11:36 PM

I heard that the Carvin B1500 was similar as well, checked out there gear, and it looks quite good and is definitely affordable. After all the input here Ill probably look around a bit more to see if there are any techs up for the challenge, if not Ill keep it as a souvenir and pick up that B2000 (it looks shiny). Thanks for all of your help everyone!

Bass_Pounder · #18 07-06-2011, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

Dang man, you were trying to talk people out of a Madison Abraxas back in 2008 telling them to buy a Carvin B1500, did you just step out of a time machine? Or is your internet connection tied in a mobius or something? Who do you work for?

2008 anti-Abraxas propaganda> Info on NEW Madison Abraxas 1200 Bass Amp

The man said he wants to fix his amp, not buy a Carvin...

No.......I don't work for Carvin. I don't even remember that post, but I can say at the time that I was in the market for a new amp and was looking at both - comparing specs at the time it seems like a "no brainer".

Guess my assumption back then was right since the B1500 is a well respected amp that has been bench tested and recieved rave reviews - whereas the Madison amp...........oh yeah, thats right, it hardly sold, and the company is nothing more than a distant memory

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldCarver

I heard that the Carvin B1500 was similar as well, checked out there gear, and it looks quite good and is definitely affordable. After all the input here Ill probably look around a bit more to see if there are any techs up for the challenge, if not Ill keep it as a souvenir and pick up that B2000 (it looks shiny). Thanks for all of your help everyone!

From what I understand, the B2000 may be more to your liking. The B1500 is a great amp, but it is large and heavy like the Madison. The B2000 is only 2 spaces, lightweight, and incoporates a pre-tube to drive the power section. I have not personally heard one though, but there are some reviews and owners on this forum.

PDGood · #19 07-06-2011, 12:10 PM

Mike E's guitars in Nashville has a tech that enjoys the challenge of working without a schematic.

Recently they closed their store front and switched to an on-line business, but they still do repair work and did a nice job on an old Acoustic 370 I took to them.

Personally, I love old gear and having something unique that gets the sound you want is worth the effort to fix imho. However, I'm a believer in also having a new piece of gear as a back-up for when things like this happen.

hrgiger · #20 07-06-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Guess my assumption back then was right since the B1500 is a well respected amp that has been bench tested and recieved rave reviews - whereas the Madison amp...........oh yeah, thats right, it hardly sold, and the company is nothing more than a distant memory

I have to agree with you there. Once I found a good picture of this Abraxas amp, the whole "Tube Bass Amplifier" nonsense on the front of it sure rang in my ears like Bugera, having 1 12ax7 or something and calling it a tube amp