Anyone else do this with new and used gear?

[Coot]

I have a tendency to crack open every piece of new and used gear I get home . To see the workmanship (or lack thereof).I'm incredibly impressed with the Mesa Subway D-800 +, looks like a work of art in there. GK MB 800 very good, well put together..Fender Rumble 500 head ..a lot better than I though..I do the same to my cabs as well..and basses. I'm interested to know if anyone else does this ? Or only when a problem occurs?

 

[JimChjones]

I used to - until I learned about cumulative static damage...

 

[Coot]

I open it to check it out and it gets left alone. Tell me about cumulative static damage...I'm always up for learning something new.

 

[Coot]

Put on a precautionary anti-static wrist strap first by what I've just read..really good to know.

 

[Kro]

I used to - until I learned about cumulative static damage...

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd assume that the risk of ESD from just taking off the lid, having a peek inside, and then closing it back up again is pretty low... I'd personally be more concerned with any anti-tamper measures that the manufacturer may have included that would void whatever warranty you might have.

 

[JimChjones]

Tell me about cumulative static damage...

Lots on line, for example... Link Removed

 

[saabfender]

When I was younger, of course. Less these days. Not disparaging either then nor now, just don’t really have the time for that anymore.

“No user-serviceable parts inside” used to be an invitation to look and see the magic forbidden mechanisms. Seen enough; I’m good.

 

[Hundred proof]

Don't mess with ESD sensitive circuits ... I deal with them everyday building 3D printers the above link pretty well nails it. We use special tamper resistant screws to seal the electrical components and seals that we can tell if they have been tampered with which voids warranty.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Of course, everything gets opened.

 

[two fingers]

Maybe someone like @agedhorse can clear this up for us. My gut says that most bass amp circuits wouldn't be that susceptible to static, but I could be wrong.

I have opened up every piece of bass gear I have ever bought and poked around to see what makes it tick.

 

[gidbass]

I have a tendency to crack open every piece of new and used gear I get home . To see the workmanship (or lack thereof).I'm incredibly impressed with the Mesa Subway D-800 +, looks like a work of art in there. GK MB 800 very good, well put together..Fender Rumble 500 head ..a lot better than I though..I do the same to my cabs as well..and basses. I'm interested to know if anyone else does this ? Or only when a problem occurs?

Only when it is out of warranty and not working...

Good Luck!

 

[Rapisme]

Maybe someone like @agedhorse can clear this up for us. My gut says that most bass amp circuits wouldn't be that susceptible to static, but I could be wrong.

I have opened up every piece of bass gear I have ever bought and poked around to see what makes it tick.

+1 @agedhorse he’s the go to when it comes all things electronic to me.

 

[hennessybass]

I like to open things up and have a look. It's fun to see what's inside.
Also like to take things apart... sometimes that doesn't work out so well.

 

[Kro]

My gut says that most bass amp circuits wouldn't be that susceptible to static, but I could be wrong.

My gut instinct is the oppostite, at least with most commercial amps of the past few decades. I'm curious as well though, and since most amps still don't have anything nearly as complex or miniaturized as modern microprocessors (at least to the best of my knowledge), you may be right.

 

[fhm555]

Used basses get torn down and gone through, amps and cabs? As long as they are working i’m GTG. The only moving parts in my amps have been a fan and i’ve seen a fan before so there’s that. When my preamp tube went bad i opened the thing up and replaced the tube. Same for scratchy pots, i’ll open up the amp and clean the pots but beyond that i leave it to the paid pros. Never had a cab mess up so i never opened one up. I did take a small amp apart to refinish the box but it was strictly dismount parts and put them back in when the refin was done.

 

[chris_b]

No. I have no interest in how it works as long as it sounds good.

 

[MrLenny1]

I use to until I found that it voids the warranty. lol

 

[JakobT]

I never do it if I can help it, certainly not with new gear, as it voids the warranty. And I won’t open up an amp under any circumstances - I’ll leave that to a qualified technician.

 

[tgriley62]

The only thing I do with every bass I buy is take off the cover that hides the wiring and the pots and put the last 4 of my SSAN number in it for ID purposes

 

[bassfran]

Not when it's new. If it ain't broke...

But old gear? Always. Do some cleaning up, tighten screws, what-have-you.