Ampeg Heritage 8x10 - Quality Check Question

[oinge]

Looking to hear from anyone that has purchased a new Heritage 810e. Mine was built in 2010 and came with a quality check hang tag signed by a bass player. Of the 4 check categories, only 2 are marked with blue check marks. 2 of the categories, "phase test" and "cosmetics" have red x marks. Cabinet sounds fine to me, just found it odd that it apparently left the factory without clearing QC. Anyone else notice this with the Heritage cabinets or any other Ampeg products?

I would assume if there was a phase issue that I would notice. Could try the old 9v battery test. Not sure how to remove the grille to view the speaker cones, however.

 

[coreyfyfe]

The red marks may just be different people signing off on them, I doubt they would let one of those slip out with bad QC considering they only made a few hundred and they were all hand assembled.

 

[Buster Brown]

That would be my guess......mine was built in 2010 also and the tag was completely filled out in black ink.....but I doubt that they would have let a "dud" go (especially in the first year of production)

 

[Wes Whitmore]

You don't have to see the cones, although it would be nice. Just get close to the drivers, centering your nose in the center of the cab. You should be able to hear that something is out of phase. Phase will sound center focused. Work your way down through the 4 pairs. They should all sound the same. If you get any weird changes, something is out of phase as a whole, and it's time to pull the grill and investigate. If someone else can play a single not for you, it will make it easier to diagnose.
Wes

 

[gnjpowell]

If these new ones are like my 1995 MIUSA Geezer Butler example the grille is just held on by velcro and pulls off.

 

[oinge]

Thanks to all who have replied. Yeah I suppose it could be two different testers. If I was a tester, however, I'd refrain from using red X to mark something as complete.

What's the best way to pull the grille off? Maybe a flat head screw driver on the top part of the grille and lightly pry?

 

[Musicman20]

Contact Ampeg!

 

[coreyfyfe]

Thanks to all who have replied. Yeah I suppose it could be two different testers. If I was a tester, however, I'd refrain from using red X to mark something as complete.

What's the best way to pull the grille off? Maybe a flat head screw driver on the top part of the grille and lightly pry?

That's what I've done with mine, conversely you could also slightly unscrew the logo plate (just a few turns so you can grip it) and then pull on that. Not sure how deep the screws go, probably not very, so that method certainly could lead to stripping the wood, but would also avoid damaging the tolex.

 

[zone1]

Is the date of manufacture printed on the Ampeg 8x10's? Or do you have do use the serial number to determine the date?

 

[JimmyM]

Serial. 12th digit from left corresponds to the date...

2008 = A
2009 = B

etc.