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Ampeg BSE 410hlf crossover bulb solution?

J

JoeySimmen

Nov 13, 2021
13
11
#1
I know this topic is covered at least a few times on here, but I have a question that I haven't seen posted/answered.
As per the year/model specs of my BSE 410HLF cab, and I formation I've gotten from an Ampeg rep, this bulb is a 36watt 1.5amp Sylvania bulb. The automotive type, about the size of a fuse and connects at either end.

As anyone in the US who's tried to recently replace this bulb knows, it's pretty much only available in the UK, and about $40 shipped.

My question is, could I theoretically replace this with a more readily available round bulb with the same wattage and amp rating?
Meaning, I'd wire and secure the correct bulb socket to the board for cheap, easy changes down the road.
The bulbs themselves are only a few dollars, and I can't imagine the housing to be much more than that.

Would it have the same protection?
 
#2
It needs to be the proper voltage -- most automotive bulbs are 12V, but that doesn't mean that bulb is. I'm somewhat surprised to hear it's hard to come by, since it's a lamp (bulb) from the American automotive industry. Have you tried contacting Ampeg's service department?

It's not a particularly close-tolerance part, so a substitute should be fairly easy to come up with. In the olden days, a round-base #1156 taillight lamp was used in a fair number of HF driver protections schemes, but I don't know that that's appropriate for your application. I presume you know for sure your lamp is out?
 
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#4
I would bypass that rep and see if you can talk to an engineer or tech at the factory. This single UK source thing for a bulb seems a bit odd to me, but if true, the Ampeg factory guys should be able to give you an alternate bulb workaround. If you can't get help from Ampeg (and I'm sure you will), the Sylvania folks might be able to recommend an electrically identical part you could substitute or wire in.
 
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#5
The rep that I spoke to was the guy I was directed to when I called Yamaha/ampeg and inquired about the bulb (and parts in general).
He said ampeg doesn't carry them for resale, and the only source he could give me was loudtechnologies.eu part number (49-205-01).
It's a $5 bulb, but shipping calculated to over $30.
I contacted Sylvania, since the ampeg rep told me they were the manufacturer.
The Sylvania rep told me they do manufacture that bulb, but they are not sold in/distributed to the US market.
Kind of a crappy move on ampegs part to not make a point to stock these state side.
Seems like a a pretty common part to replace.
So far I've had zero luck with any automotive retailers.

I know $40 isnt a lot of money to most people, but I'm currently unemployed, so I was looking to see if there was a way to achieve the same results on a very limited budget.
 
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#6
JoeySimmen said:
The rep that I spoke to was the guy I was directed to when I called Yamaha/ampeg and inquired about the bulb (and parts in general).
He said ampeg doesn't carry them for resale, and the only source he could give me was loudtechnologies.eu part number (49-205-01).
It's a $5 bulb, but shipping calculated to over $30.
I contacted Sylvania, since the ampeg rep told me they were the manufacturer.
The Sylvania rep told me they do manufacture that bulb, but they are not sold in/distributed to the US market.
Kind of a crappy move on ampegs part to not make a point to stock these state side.
Seems like a a pretty common part to replace.
So far I've had zero luck with any automotive retailers.

I know $40 isnt a lot of money to most people, but I'm currently unemployed, so I was looking to see if there was a way to achieve the same results on a very limited budget.
Click to expand...

Have you checked Amazon and/or EBay? It’s amazing the odd stuff that you can find there.
 
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#7
JoeySimmen said:
I know this topic is covered at least a few times on here, but I have a question that I haven't seen posted/answered.
As per the year/model specs of my BSE 410HLF cab, and I formation I've gotten from an Ampeg rep, this bulb is a 36watt 1.5amp Sylvania bulb. The automotive type, about the size of a fuse and connects at either end.

As anyone in the US who's tried to recently replace this bulb knows, it's pretty much only available in the UK, and about $40 shipped.

My question is, could I theoretically replace this with a more readily available round bulb with the same wattage and amp rating?
Meaning, I'd wire and secure the correct bulb socket to the board for cheap, easy changes down the road.
The bulbs themselves are only a few dollars, and I can't imagine the housing to be much more than that.

Would it have the same protection?
Click to expand...

I believe the Ampeg P/N : Link Removed

Jerrold Tiers used to work at Ampeg. He discusses the specs and proposes a solution here.
Help please!! Horn protection bulb for Ampeg BSE410HLF

If you are in the states, you should be able to order it from Ampeg Tech Support. $40 for the OEM bulb VS rigging three bulbs to get approximate performance. IMHO spend the $40.
 
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#8
JoeySimmen said:
The rep that I spoke to was the guy I was directed to when I called Yamaha/ampeg and inquired about the bulb (and parts in general).
He said ampeg doesn't carry them for resale, and the only source he could give me was loudtechnologies.eu part number (49-205-01).
It's a $5 bulb, but shipping calculated to over $30.
I contacted Sylvania, since the ampeg rep told me they were the manufacturer.
The Sylvania rep told me they do manufacture that bulb, but they are not sold in/distributed to the US market.
Kind of a crappy move on ampegs part to not make a point to stock these state side.
Seems like a a pretty common part to replace.
So far I've had zero luck with any automotive retailers.

I know $40 isnt a lot of money to most people, but I'm currently unemployed, so I was looking to see if there was a way to achieve the same results on a very limited budget.
Click to expand...
It sounds like you ran everything to ground and there isn't a cheap or easy answer. Sorry to hear that, and I hope things on the employment front improve for you soon.
 
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#10
So it is a 36 VOLT, 54-watt lamp, which does work out to 1.5 amps. I'm with @Wasnex that you probably should just bite the bullet. If Sylvania is not selling them here, they're likely to be pretty hard to find. You might look on the British Amazon site... it is different from the American one. And you have a spec now -- a 36-volt, 54-watt lamp. $35 shipping from the UK for a part that weighs about 20 grams or so seems a bit predatory to me, but what are you going to do? I will note the Loud site indicates they have 12 and "Last items in stock, we sell them out". I don't know if that means when those 12 are gone, they won't be getting any more, but it kind of sounds like that.
 
Last edited:
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#12
JoeySimmen said:
I know this topic is covered at least a few times on here, but I have a question that I haven't seen posted/answered.
As per the year/model specs of my BSE 410HLF cab, and I formation I've gotten from an Ampeg rep, this bulb is a 36watt 1.5amp Sylvania bulb. The automotive type, about the size of a fuse and connects at either end.

As anyone in the US who's tried to recently replace this bulb knows, it's pretty much only available in the UK, and about $40 shipped.

My question is, could I theoretically replace this with a more readily available round bulb with the same wattage and amp rating?
Meaning, I'd wire and secure the correct bulb socket to the board for cheap, easy changes down the road.
The bulbs themselves are only a few dollars, and I can't imagine the housing to be much more than that.

Would it have the same protection?
Click to expand...

i wouldn’t know. Mine are supposedly aviation bulbs whatever that means. Does the bulb have any information on it? Sounds stupid to ask, but I’m pretty certain Ampeg doesn’t manufacture them, and most bulbs I’ve run across have some printed information on them.
 
#19
These part#211 bulbs may have a different wattage rating,
but they're available at most any auto parts store:

upload_2022-4-10_6-31-23.jpeg
 

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