When is enough enough?

psycholalia · #1 05-06-2008, 04:40 PM

I am pitting this question to the Amps forum because it is trenchant to my situation, but I suppose it could encompass the gamut of bass gear from the strings to the speakers.

What is the point in which you feel you have put enough time, money and physical/mental/emotional strain into a piece of equipment that keeps needing repair, adjustments and/or hauling before your playing and practicing is compromised?

My own personal situation has me at this point after buying a used amp for $600 and investing another $400 into fixing and replacing the power and pre amp tubes and it still isn't quite up to my expectations. I could lug it back to the amp tech for yet another 50-100 bucks and maybe that will fix it. Maybe it won't. I can't rely on it in rehearsals nor at gigs. I am losing sleep. When is enough enough?

RickenBoogie · #2 05-06-2008, 04:46 PM

I think 2 good quality rigs is plenty. If they're both up and running without trouble, you're finished. I'm down to 3 basses, considering selling 1 more, and as far as amps go, I've got 2 that really do it for me, and 2 more that probably should go to someone in need. I've had it with buying/swapping/trading, and always losing money in the process. For once, I'll stop and smell the success of owning 2 really nice bass rigs, and be satisfied.

bassmusic1234 · #3 05-06-2008, 04:51 PM

bin there done that. I bought a head a while back and no matter what i did it would not hold up for anything. it would max out at practices and it was drowned out completely at gigs. my advice? go to a guitar store and brag about how good the head is and ask for a trade in. settle for 400 bucks and invest in a new reliable head. I know its really hard on the wallet but in the long run it is entirely worth it

billfitzmaurice · #4 05-06-2008, 05:40 PM

Reminds me my experiences owning an MGB, Jaguar XKE, Healey 3000, etc. Fun when they worked, but when garage time exceeded driving time I gave up and went with a 240Z. It's even more fun when you spend more time driving than fixing.

pfschim · #5 05-06-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Reminds me my experiences owning an MGB, Jaguar XKE, Healey 3000, etc. Fun when they worked, but when garage time exceeded driving time I gave up and went with a 240Z. It's even more fun when you spend more time driving than fixing.

off topic ... sorta

Bill, it must be reeaaallly fun scooting that little 240Z around in the N.H. winters

on-topic ... when a piece of gear lets me down for the 2nd time (everything gets one failure .. gratis), then it's out the door. Your gear has to support you, not the other way around. Way too much stuff to choose from, new/used/DIY, to puppy a faulty, or not appropriate piece of gear these days.

good luck

cripula · #6 05-06-2008, 10:32 PM

What's the amp?

I know if I was $1000 into an amp and it needed another hundred or 2, I wouldn't give up on it and take a $600 bath. Finish the job, take care of it, and get a cheap, light, used solid state beater for a backup.
Vintage tube amps have often been ignored and abused for a LONG time, so when it's time for proper repairs it can get pricey. But once it's brought back up to spec it should be good to you for a long time.

Last thought: cheap amp techs aren't good, good amp techs aren't cheap, and GREAT amp techs are worth every penny and more. Do you have a GREAT amp tech? If the answer is no, find one!

Maybe get yourself a decent, used solid state head for cheap in the meantime, and keep it as a backup after your tube amp is fixed.

::::BASSIST:::: · #7 05-06-2008, 11:21 PM

I had an amp that had me bring it back to the shop 3 times. This was the best local shop around. After the third time I decided not to tempt fate and sold that sucker before it could break down on me again. That was my beloved Eden WT405. Loved the tone, just couldnt trust it.

Munjibunga · #8 05-06-2008, 11:24 PM

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; enough is enough when it's too much, etc. etc.

Dr. Cheese · #9 05-06-2008, 11:27 PM

GAS has never been a problem I have had with amps. One good 200w+ combo works fine for what I do.

::::BASSIST:::: · #10 05-06-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

GAS has never been a problem I have had with amps. One good 200w+ combo works fine for what I do.

GAS has never been a problem for me with basses. One good P is all I need.

Amps on the other hand....

ErnieD · #11 05-07-2008, 12:08 AM

and prolly a call only you can make. Its gotta be frustrating to hassle with this amp and put more bucks into it on top of that. Im sure alot of horror stories will roll in on this subject so I'll kinda spare y'all mine. In a nutshell a local store in Houston who does not give cash refunds gave me 3 new amps in about 3 years, all different brands. It was like "here then try this one out instead" when I'd bring the broken one back to them, which was sorta cool, at least I took something back home with me each time. I'll just say, last amp they gave me was a Genz and Ive bought 2 of those now.

I just sold 1 of my 3 amps and 1 of 4 cabs today, thanks douchemcgouche.

So now I have the 3 cabs that I use at gigs and a good backup amp. Now Ive gotta thin that herd of 6 basses to at least my 3 faves and I'll be done, well for now.

Good luck with that PITA amp, I'da prolly tossed it out my car window on the hiway in frustration but you'd regret that even more the next day. So hang tough dude.

GreyBeard · #12 05-07-2008, 01:06 AM

As far as amps go, I've settled on 2, a 2x10 combo and a bigger 2x12 cab with pre/power. They are both reliable. As for me, I have a head fixed once but, if it goes down again I usually get rid of it. It just isn't worth loosing sleep over.

Fretlessboy · #13 05-08-2008, 09:35 AM

I think enough is enough when you need to publicly ask the question (I don't mean to offend). What I mean is this...gear doesn't have feelings so you won't slight it by dumping it. I feel that if it repaired and not right, then repaired again and still not right dump it. If you are spending tie carrying around a back up because you know it will fail dump it. Bottom line, as soon as you lose faith in the piece of gear it must go.

This is just my opinion so it should not be take as anything other than that.

::::BASSIST:::: · #14 05-08-2008, 02:54 PM

Sounds like good logic to me. Its just hard to get rid of an amp you really like. Then the question is do you replace it with the exact same model or move on? Thank goodness my LMII has never given me the slightest bit of worry. I'd buy another one of those for sure.

anderbass · #15 05-10-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psycholalia

I can't rely on it in rehearsals nor at gigs. I am losing sleep. When is enough enough?

If your referring to your SVT-II's intermittent volume drops, I'd suggest having your tech preform the factory recommended updates plus eliminate the two crappy plugs and "hard-wire" all the wiring running between your amps preamp and poweramp sections.
These are very cool amps and well worth fixing. If your tech doesn't have access to the schematics and factory recommended updates for this model, every-thing's posted in the (free) link below.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anderbass

In case anyone needs em, here's a link to the factory SVT-II updates and schematics: http://rapidshare.com/files/86169561...rchiv.zip.html

This link is a bit difficult to use the first time. The link is correct, you just have to click "free", on the first page, this will open another page on which you have to choose from which server you want to download the file (unimportant, there all very fast). Than you have to wait for about a minute, so rapishare can be sure you had a look at the commercials that are displayed on the current page, and then the download window should open automatically.

There's more info about the very successful repairs done to my SVT-II in this thread:
Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread
These amps aren't lemons but many do need a few issues correctly repaired.

Deacon_Blues · #16 05-11-2008, 01:01 PM

I don't feel comfortable with any rig showing signs of being unreliable. (obviously...) I would hesitate to buy a used amp unless I was sure it is working flawlessly, is high quality stuff and hasn't needed any repair work the last years. If you buy something new, at least you get warranty on the stuff so you don't have to put in extra money in it if something needs to be done.

One major or a couple minor signs of unreliability and I'd sell. Luckily my Yamaha BBT rig has worked wonderfully since I purchased it a couple of years back.