After much debate between pickup up a new Mesa Strategy or a new Ampeg Heritage SVT
(See full back story here Tube Head Problems: Mesa/Boogie Bass Strategy Eight:88 Vs Ampeg SVT-CL / Heritage | TalkBass.com)
I decided to get a new Ampeg Heritage, since my USA made Ampeg SVT-CL had treated me so well up until it had been plagued by problems and has been in and out of multiple shops for the last year with some problem or another.
It treated me really well for two gigs and then on saturday night, playing at moderate volume, it just started smoking and died. I had it plugged into a power conditioner, and nothing bad happened to any of our other equipment. Am I just unlucky or have I been cursed? I never had any problems with my Mesa 400+, and I have been babying these things.
Now Ampeg wants me to send it to an authorized repair center, and pay the shipping.
Am I wrong for wanting them to swap out the head for a different one? I don't need something that's breaking the 3rd time i used it since i literally just paid for it.
I hate being without a tube head and both my SVT's are going to be in the shop.
I have a markbass TTE 800 that I've been carrying around for a backup and it works ok, but just it is just exactly that. A backup.
I've played with a simple rig, the cab is matched correctly, it always has good clean power, and is always babied.
Anyone had a similar experience lately or some advice?
Thanks,
-CT
(See full back story here Tube Head Problems: Mesa/Boogie Bass Strategy Eight:88 Vs Ampeg SVT-CL / Heritage | TalkBass.com)
I decided to get a new Ampeg Heritage, since my USA made Ampeg SVT-CL had treated me so well up until it had been plagued by problems and has been in and out of multiple shops for the last year with some problem or another.
It treated me really well for two gigs and then on saturday night, playing at moderate volume, it just started smoking and died. I had it plugged into a power conditioner, and nothing bad happened to any of our other equipment. Am I just unlucky or have I been cursed? I never had any problems with my Mesa 400+, and I have been babying these things.
Now Ampeg wants me to send it to an authorized repair center, and pay the shipping.
Am I wrong for wanting them to swap out the head for a different one? I don't need something that's breaking the 3rd time i used it since i literally just paid for it.
I hate being without a tube head and both my SVT's are going to be in the shop.
I have a markbass TTE 800 that I've been carrying around for a backup and it works ok, but just it is just exactly that. A backup.
I've played with a simple rig, the cab is matched correctly, it always has good clean power, and is always babied.
Anyone had a similar experience lately or some advice?
Thanks,
-CT
. Power tube flashover tends to take out other components when a tube fails and it gets expensive and stressful. I'm really happy with my Aguilar TH-350, close enough in sound that it's ultra-reliability makes up for any real (or imaginary 
) tone loss IMO.
