Aguilar TH500 just blew up

[ShadowGroover]

Some ideas about bass amps:

1) Buy new with a warranty, like Mesa, which is 5 years

2) Buy used, with age, operating stresses, or previous repairs being unknown

3) Whether new or used, make sure there is an authorized repair center operating, preferably at the factory level, in your country

4) Realize that many parts for old amps are no longer being made. Some parts for current production items are no longer available

5) Production supply chain issues continue worldwide

6) For a broken amp, it is often cheaper to buy a "new" used version of the same model than fixing the broken one

 

[jzucker]

Or buy an amp that is properly/currently supported by the manufacturer.

Some ideas about bass amps:

1) Buy new with a warranty, like Mesa, which is 5 years

2) Buy used, with age, operating stresses, or previous repairs being unknown

3) Whether new or used, make sure there is an authorized repair center operating, preferably at the factory level, in your country

4) Realize that many parts for old amps are no longer being made. Some parts for current production items are no longer available

5) Production supply chain issues continue worldwide

6) For a broken amp, it is often cheaper to buy a "new" used version of the same model than fixing the broken one

 

[ShadowGroover]

Or buy an amp that is properly/currently supported by the manufacturer.

Yep, point 3 above

 

[jzucker]

i just heard back from Korg again. No answer as to why their authorized repair shops can't get parts. They wouldn't sell a board to me but said the price for a replacement P/S board would be somewhere around $350-$400.

To the land fill this goes...

 

[agedhorse]

i just heard back from Korg again. No answer as to why their authorized repair shops can't get parts. They wouldn't sell a board to me but said the price for a replacement P/S board would be somewhere around $350-$400.

To the land fill this goes...

If that's really the problem, the cost is less than that. Otherwise, e-waste recycling.

 

[jzucker]

If that's really the problem, the cost is less than that. Otherwise, e-waste recycling.

Some shops are probably marking up their cost. I know you mentioned $250 but 2 shops quoted me the $350ish price

 

[agedhorse]

Ok, $250 is with the markup, but maybe I’m out of touch, being older school and such

 

[jzucker]

I guess to some its like undercoating

 

[LiptonJigglers]

you're missing the point. both boards are throwaway. If you have a problem, you just replace them. The point is that a repairman can't even get a replacement preamp board. Aguilar/korg is basically saying if you're out of warranty and it's not the power amp board or the rubber feet you're SOL.

And the other point is THERE ARE NO DOCS. There is no schematic, no repair information, no test point measurement reference.

If you're under warranty and the preamp board is bad, you'll just get a whole new amp.

Otherwise, they don't give a you-know-what.

Class D
Disappointing
Disintegrating
Damaged
Disposable
Duped
Done

 

[agedhorse]

Class D
Disappointing
Disintegrating
Damaged
Disposable
Duped
Done

I find class D easier to repair, just as (or more reliable than) class AB, and less expensive to repair. Otherwise, I wouldn't be servicing the Genz Benz and Mesa Boogie class D amps. The class D amps generally run about 40% less expensive than repairing class AB amps.

 

[staccatogrowl]

Class D: Disappointing, Disintegrating, Damaged, Disposable, Duped, Done

Hopefully, you're never in need of Mosfets for an original Walkabout. They're unavailable, so you'd be disappointed. Welcome to the top of your list, the tip of the iceburg for many older amp parts, not to mention the growing unavailability of tubes.

Meanwhile, my experience with Acoustic Image and Genz Benz class-D amps has been stellar. They are mainstays, outlasting my prior tube amps and solid-state class AB amps. Each have been repaired once, one free of charge, in factory-support programs. So, for the stated list of class-D attributes? Disagree

And, just like all other amps with their share of junk regardless of topology, class-D is no different. However, there are plenty of great class-D amps, happily used by countless satisfied bassists worldwide.

 

[mmbongo]

Class D
Disappointing
Disintegrating
Damaged
Disposable
Duped
Done

You forgot:

Displaced obsolete technology.

 

[jzucker]

Don't forget that unlike aguilar/korg, AcousticImg pretty much gives you a lifetime warranty and will repair amps (almost always for free) even when you aren't the original owner.

Hopefully, you're never in need of Mosfets for an original Walkabout. They're unavailable, so you'd be disappointed. Welcome to the top of your list, the tip of the iceburg for many older amp parts, not to mention the growing unavailability of tubes.

Meanwhile, my experience with Acoustic Image and Genz Benz class-D amps has been stellar. They are mainstays, outlasting my prior tube amps and solid-state class AB amps. Each have been repaired once, one free of charge, in factory-support programs. So, for the stated list of class-D attributes? Disagree

And, just like all other amps with their share of junk regardless of topology, class-D is no different. However, there are plenty of great class-D amps, happily used by countless satisfied bassists worldwide.

 

[jzucker]

class D is not the problem. IcePower has seen to the fact that class D amps are incredibly robust, debugged better than almost anything else out there. The problem is when folks integrate custom amplifier designs into their own board and then sell off to a big conglomerate.

Markbass is just as bad and their stuff is super flakey. I know so many people that - like myself - had similar experiences to what I'm describing with Korg. Except in the case of MarkBass, you aren't dealing with a sell-off situation.

 

[msb]

I’ve had a GK Class D amp repaired and a GenzBenz Class D amp serviced. Money well spent.

The only hitch is finding a qualified repair person. Some brands are harder to find service though. I’ve read many posts about MarkBass being difficult , Aguilar had an excellent reputation though , so these recent blips are not good news.

 

[dabis]

Class D
Disappointing
Disintegrating
Damaged
Disposable
Duped
Done

Not IME. If it’s yours, please share and elaborate.

my Aguilar Amplification TH-500 just blew up. I was smelling something burning the last few days and then the fan started making a really bad noise and today, the blue LEDs started flickering and just went out along with the output.

Anyone know the best way to reach them for service? Their email goes to korgusa

Do you know why it blew up? I’m corious as a TH350 owner. Thanks and good luck.

 

[jzucker]

Not IME. If it’s yours, please share and elaborate.



Do you know why it blew up? I’m corious as a TH350 owner. Thanks and good luck.

I don't know although for a couple of weeks, the fan was making a funny noise. I'm wondering if one of the fans was going bad and because it's such a tiny enclosure, it was just overheating to the point of failure. Poor design IMO.

One thing that always bugged me is that the fans are not only ridiculously loud but generate a big EMR pulse when they first come on so if you happen to be recording, you just trashed the track.

 

[jzucker]

I located a tech who used to work for aguilar. He told me that aguilar uses an off the shelf ICEPOWER 250ASX2 board which is $352+shipping direct from ICE. But factor in shipping, labor, tax, etc., and it's likely to run about $500ish to get it repaired.

And unfortunately, this particular module is out of stock from IcePower...

 

[agedhorse]

This is a part that many qualified, authorized service centers should have in stock. I have always stocked this line of modules, and haven’t had any difficulty getting them either.

 

[msb]

I don't know although for a couple of weeks, the fan was making a funny noise. I'm wondering if one of the fans was going bad and because it's such a tiny enclosure, it was just overheating to the point of failure. Poor design IMO.

One thing that always bugged me is that the fans are not only ridiculously loud but generate a big EMR pulse when they first come on so if you happen to be recording, you just trashed the track.

My GK MB200 blew the ICE chip after the fan stopped working. Some complain about fan noise , now I love to hear it come on.