Double Bass Acoustic Image amp repair - any experiences recently ?

[jaybary]

Hello everyone and happy 2024 !
My Acoustic Image Clarus amp head did not work right before NYE gig in New York- the Amp simply does not turn on without any signal light.
Thankfully I could borrow another amp from someone last minute and finished my gig well, but I know AI has been out of business now which is so sad.. Can anyone share any experiences about AI amp repair happened these days? Thanks for reading

 

[Francois Blais]

Seems a blown fuse.
I'd change it first.

 

[RSBBass]

It may be a blown fuse but a blown fuse is a warning. It is not a good idea to just replace a fuse without knowing why it blew. You can do substantail damage to an amp that way.

 

[walterw]

this is a better question for "amps and cabs" in the electric bass section, but it's usually safe to try a replacement fuse once

make sure it's the correct value fuse of course, and if the amp runs then you're fine, the issue was likely just the fuse itself

if the new fuse also pops then you know you have an actual problem, don't turn on the amp again until you get it looked at by an amp tech

 

[walterw]

...aaand i didn't quite read the OP correctly

@jaybary did you check the fuse? is it actually blown? (look at the little wire inside, if it appears broken then the fuse is blown). even better to put a meter on it to test continuity

if the fuse is blown, then my previous advice applies; if the fuse is actually good then you have bigger problems with the amp

 

[byacey]

If the glass is blackened, then the fuse burnt due to an exxessive current draw. A fatigued filament usually just has a broken filament without any discoloration.

 

[Ketbass]

Aside from blown fuses, mine was just a bad power cord. Cheap, easy fix. Check with another cord from a computer or another amp. That’s how I figured mine out. These amps are built to take a beating, so if it’s not the fuse, I’d start with the power cord. Electrical thing are binary. On or off… Just my 2 cents.

 

[Wasnex]

Pretty sure I have seen recommendations for @FUCHSAUDIO

 

[robobass]

Aside from blown fuses, mine was just a bad power cord. Cheap, easy fix. Check with another cord from a computer or another amp. That’s how I figured mine out. These amps are built to take a beating, so if it’s not the fuse, I’d start with the power cord. Electrical thing are binary. On or off… Just my 2 cents.

Absolutely! I'm the free repair dad for anything which goes wrong at my daughters' schools. They asked me to repair a portable powered PA box. The manufacturer had made the thing as difficult to open up as possible. Security screw heads, deep wells, the whole nine yards. After an hour trying to open it up and not getting anywhere I tested the 2-pole power cord. DEAD!

 

[walterw]

we don't want to be viewed as predatory (one customer in the shop made a comment about "being a used car salesman") when my counter guy told him has Markbass would cost $ 600.00 to repair and he suggested our amps "aren't that much more money".

you can come back with "we wish, used cars are usually fixable"

 

[brianrost]

Sheesh…after post #10 I feel like I’m using ticking time bombs. All my current gigging amps except one and what used to be my gigging amps that I keep as backups were made by defunct companies.

I had a scare recently with my WW that turned out to be just dirty pots needing cleaning (after 20 years of gigs). Dodged that bullet

 

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Sheesh…after post #10 I feel like I’m using ticking time bombs. All my current gigging amps except one and what used to be my gigging amps that I keep as backups were made by defunct companies.

I had a scare recently with my WW that turned out to be just dirty pots needing cleaning (after 20 years of gigs). Dodged that bullet

Many of the Woods amps were only dirty switches, pots etc. A testament to his engineering genius/madness.
It's tough when something is this unusual and proprietary. Meanwhile, we fix 1947 Fenders with chewing gum, and wire ties...sigh.

 

[jaybary]

Sorry for being late and thanks for all your comments ! I had family issue in my country right after I posted this so I forgot about this. @walterw yes I don't see any changes inside of it I just decided to buy a new one.

 

[hpoche]

May I ask what you did with the broken amp? thanks -hjp

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Absolutely! I'm the free repair dad for anything which goes wrong at my daughters' schools. They asked me to repair a portable powered PA box. The manufacturer had made the thing as difficult to open up as possible. Security screw heads, deep wells, the whole nine yards. After an hour trying to open it up and not getting anywhere I tested the 2-pole power cord. DEAD!

That's right. I brought my "broken" amp to a tech. He opened it up, stared at it for 10 minutes and then changed the power chord and all was well!

 

[FUCHSAUDIO]

That's right. I brought my "broken" amp to a tech. He opened it up, stared at it for 10 minutes and then changed the power chord and all was well!

Very common on Woods amps. They can only twist so much before they fail....