Returning an Acoustic B600H bass head to Guitar Center?

[hotsnake]

So I bought this new Acoustic B600H head from a guy who told me it was used for about 2 hours - it looked totally mint and clean and played great for a few weeks but the first time I took it out for a show I loaned it to the opening band who blew it up.

For being a nearly new head with hardly any hours on it I don't feel as ripped off from the guy I bought it from as I do from Acoustic, who are literally impossible to get ahold of as they run all their customer support through an outsourced "Hoffman Group" who wouldn't listen to me unless I gave them my liscensed Acoustic tech number. I'm not a tech, so I took it to a local repair shop here in Portland and was told by the first guy that he couldn't even figure out the problem without a schematic and that he wasn't a liscensed tech either.

Finally I pay 50 bucks for an appraisal through a liscensed Acoustic tech here who tells me it's going to be 350 bucks and the parts are 3 months out.

This is ridiculous. I want some justice but I don't know what to do other than go to Guitar Center, but without a receipt I don't think I have much of a chance.

What do I do? Help!!

[madmatt]

Originally Posted by hotsnake

So I bought this new Acoustic B600H head from a guy who told me it was used for about 2 hours - it looked totally mint and clean and played great for a few weeks but the first time I took it out for a show I loaned it to the opening band who blew it up.

For being a nearly new head with hardly any hours on it I don't feel as ripped off from the guy I bought it from as I do from Acoustic, who are literally impossible to get ahold of as they run all their customer support through an outsourced "Hoffman Group" who wouldn't listen to me unless I gave them my liscensed Acoustic tech number. I'm not a tech, so I took it to a local repair shop here in Portland and was told by the first guy that he couldn't even figure out the problem without a schematic and that he wasn't a liscensed tech either.

Finally I pay 50 bucks for an appraisal through a liscensed Acoustic tech here who tells me it's going to be 350 bucks and the parts are 3 months out.

This is ridiculous. I want some justice but I don't know what to do other than go to Guitar Center, but without a receipt I don't think I have much of a chance.

What do I do? Help!!

Don't buy Acoustic.

[KramerBassFan]

Just take it back to guitar center.

Don't they swap them out anyways?

[spaz21387]

take it back just dont take no for an answer. if the cab is as new as you say it is it should have lasted longer then that. thats definately a factory defect it shouldnt matter they should take it back

[Disaster Area]

Hang on. You bought the head from "a guy"? Does that mean you didn't buy it from Guitar Center?

[Chrisk-K]

Did you buy it from GC? Who is the guy?

[hotsnake]

thats the issue.

I bought it from the original owner but he didn't have the receipt. he told me it was purchased from guitar center. i'm wondering if they can do a serial # check to see when it was bought and maybe see if it would still be under warranty?

the manual says the warranty is effective 3 years from the date of purchase to the "original owner" but says nothing about a receipt necessary.

"Subject to the limitations set forth below, Acoustic® hereby represents and warrants that the components of this product shall be free from defects in workmanship and materials, including implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, subject to normal use and service, for three (3) years to the original owner from the date of purchase. Acoustic will replace or repair defective products at its discretion within the warranty period."

I have tried to contact Acoustic directly online (they have no direct phone number listed ANYWHERE) but they are not returning emails (to me or any of the techs who have looked at the amp)

My hope is that they will swap it out for a new one. is this a pipe dream? i've never had to haggle with a big-name music store over something like this, but I would assume they will understand my dilemna and i do feel justified in at least trying.

guess i'm really wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with returning something they didn't buy to the company it was bought from...

[oldcatfish]

The warranty is voided...because you aren't the original owner. Sorry!

[xring]

I don't see how you might expect GC to be responsible when you bought a USED head from a private owner, and used it for a couple of weeks. They are out of the loop, and certainly not responsible.

[snappytom]

Originally Posted by xring

I don't see how you might expect GC to be responsible when you bought a USED head from a private owner, and used it for a couple of weeks. They are out of the loop, and certainly not responsible.

This ..... you pay your $$ and take your chances when buying used.
If anyone should be held accountable it would be the opening band that blew it up.

[peterbright]

Get the money from the fool that blew it up.

[thumpbass1]

Originally Posted by peterbright

Get the money from the fool that blew it up.

Exactly! I know the OP wants a good working amp head, and I'm sorry for him that his blew up, and I do feel for him on that. However I've no sympathy for him trying to get GC to fix or replace it for free, when he bought it used from a private party, and with no sort of warranty on it that applies to him in any fashion or form, and any end run tactic around that fails. If by chance GC were to finally honor the original buyer's warranty and apply it to the OP, it would be by their good will and grace, given from what the OP has posted as to the wording of the warranty. I'm sorry, but it seems on the surface to say nothing about applying it subsequent owners, if the original buyer sells the amp to somebody else while the warranty is still in force with the original owner. If it were me, I'd be pressing on the person who blew the amp up to see if I could get a little financial compensation from them. On the other hand, maybe the person who blew it up, didn't abuse it, but exposed a dodgy component that was about to fail no matter who was playing through it. Who knows?

It's the same as buying a used car with an ' As Is ' bill of sale. Sometimes you get lucky and things roll along fine for a good long while, or the transmission goes out in a month. I've had both experiences myself as far as used cars go, and it does suck to put it mildly, when one is faced with a costly repair bill that they have no warranty for. Still it was me that took on the risk when I made such deals, and I learned the hard way. I'm sorry for the OP's misfortune. I hope he finds some resolution, but it seems he's just out of luck on this one.

[Jaco who?]

Yep, you're pretty much screwed. lesson(s) learned - If you buy used, buy something with customer service reps that actually give a rats arse- Genz Benz, Hartke, Gallien Krueger, Peavey - there are just too many of them around these days to waste money on GC house brand junk. Sorry if I offend any (GC) Acoustic lovers out there, but I really don't get and never understood the attraction.

When I've let others use my old Peavey gear, there is usually at least a verbal agreement that if smoke comes out of it, they buy it - but Peaveys are tanks, for the most part.

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by peterbright

Get the money from the fool that blew it up.

Assuming the OP loaned his entire rig to the other guy, what could the "fool' have done to blow it up?

[rumblethump]

First mistake was loaning your amp. This is going to be a very expensive lesson. Don't be surprized when GC laughs at you and sends you on your way. I'd find the Fool and present the bill, but if he didn't have his own amp for a gig I'm thinking your chance for any compensation are slim.

[thumpbass1]

Originally Posted by wcriley

Assuming the OP loaned his entire rig to the other guy, what could the "fool' have done to blow it up?

Hard to say. It usually involves running something at 11 if you know what I mean. Some amps don't do too well when pushed to their outermost limits, or beyond. However, the OP didn't clue us in to what the other guy was pushing through his rig, or how loud he was running it.

[rayzak]

Can't hurt to take it in and see what they say. Don't expect to leave with a new one, but it's not going to fix itself Never know, you might get lucky.

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by thumpbass1

Hard to say. It usually involves running something at 11 if you know what I mean. Some amps don't do too well when pushed to their outermost limits, or beyond. However, the OP didn't clue us in to what the other guy was pushing through his rig, or how loud he was running it.

Just my personal experience: Back in my skinny-string days, I ran a 4 watt amp flat-out for years with no problem.

Unless there was a problem with the load impedence, I doubt very much that a properly designed amp can be damaged by "turning it to 11".

[BassScum]

Take it to GC and see what they say! Tell them no receipt! Don't tell them you're the 2nd owner! Maybe they"ll replace it if your lucky because it's within the warranty period and the serial # will be enough to verify.

If they won't do anything, I would hit up the guy who was using it when it blew up! You probably won't have any luck with him, but you can at least let him no how you feel about it!

[steamthief]

Doesn't GC pretty much get your name and mailing info when you buy anything there? If that's their policy, the computer isn't going to show he bought new at GC, thus OP is screwed. Not to mention the bad juju of dishonesty.