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Building an Ampeg Heritage

#101
Yeah, listen to John D. If every stupid bass player could fix their amps, I'd be out of a side-job. Realistically, though, the caps are discharged enough (for my taste, anyway) just by sitting on standby until the light turns red before you turn it off. It's the older CLs that bite. But, you know, it's only enough zap to make you feel alive and make that next cup of coffee optional. I can drop a new OT in in less than 10 minutes, a PT in 15, but then again this is my day job. If your local repair techs found me telling you how simple it REALLY is I'd be lynched.
But I feel it is my duty to tell you all that any modifications you do to your Ampeg CL, VR, and Heritage models voids the warrantee.
 
#102
So, before I go to bed so I can do it all over again tomorrow- here is something for everyone to mull over: Would a $300 to $400 bump up in price for the Heritage be worth it if we were putting in some nice Heyboers? Would enough people still buy the Heritage to make it a viable business choice?
 
#103
hodgy said:
Would a $300 to $400 bump up in price for the Heritage be worth it if we were putting in some nice Heyboers? Would enough people still buy the Heritage to make it a viable business choice?
Click to expand...

You are preaching to the converted. So yes, I would pay more for upgraded transformers. It can always be offered as an option.

You should sign the inside of the chassis. You could wind up being Ampeg's version of Abigail Yabarra.
 
#105
hodgy said:
So, before I go to bed so I can do it all over again tomorrow- here is something for everyone to mull over: Would a $300 to $400 bump up in price for the Heritage be worth it if we were putting in some nice Heyboers? Would enough people still buy the Heritage to make it a viable business choice?
Click to expand...

Can't speak for anyone but myself on this, but if Heyboers really do make a "significant" difference I'd pony up a little more cash. The reason to buy a Heritage in the first place is for the best sounding SVT available, and if I've already committed to spending $2,300 on a Heritage another few hundred probably isn't going to break the deal.
 
#106
So would the $400 be for all 3 transformers being Heyboers or just the OT? Seems a little high for just the OT if you guys get to keep the original OT ;)

There is always going to be a market for the finest SVT money can buy with nice American transformers. Compared to what other companies get for tube amps with less wattage, it's still a pretty good deal for the Heritage, and an absolutely super deal for the regular CL, so I think the market would stand it. Might price out a small handful of folks, but you'd probably gain a few more on principle alone. I'm interested, I can tell you that. Wish you guys were making a Heritage VR you could stick them into, but since I already have a Blue Line, maybe a CL would be a nice change of pace, and if the ot made it sound more like a Blue Line, I could get behind it.
 
#107
hodgy said:
So, before I go to bed so I can do it all over again tomorrow- here is something for everyone to mull over: Would a $300 to $400 bump up in price for the Heritage be worth it if we were putting in some nice Heyboers? Would enough people still buy the Heritage to make it a viable business choice?
Click to expand...

I would be a lot more likely to spend extra cash on something sonic rather than something visual... Those transformers sound like they would be worth spending the cash on. As opposed to an extra $200 for sparkly grill cloth and easier to tear tolex :p

seamonkey said:
Ampeg should offer a special Hodgy version
Click to expand...

I think they currently do, they just aren't allowed to call it that
 
#109
MetroAmp sells a drop in replacement OT for the VR, CL, 2-PRO. It is mfg. by Heyboer and specd from an original SVT. It comes wired with the appropriate connectors, so it is a drop in replacement. Its not listed on the website, but they usually do have them in stock. I purchased mine from there about 3 years ago.
 
#110
hodgy said:
Yeah, listen to John D. If every stupid bass player could fix their amps, I'd be out of a side-job. Realistically, though, the caps are discharged enough (for my taste, anyway) just by sitting on standby until the light turns red before you turn it off. It's the older CLs that bite. But, you know, it's only enough zap to make you feel alive and make that next cup of coffee optional. I can drop a new OT in in less than 10 minutes, a PT in 15, but then again this is my day job. If your local repair techs found me telling you how simple it REALLY is I'd be lynched.
But I feel it is my duty to tell you all that any modifications you do to your Ampeg CL, VR, and Heritage models voids the warrantee.
Click to expand...

I never said it was difficult if you know what you're doing. If you have to ask, I have to assume that the task is a little above your talents. I'd hate to see anyone fry a $300+ xformer. No offence, Jimmy. I can't touch your bass playing. ;)
 
#111
I'm not an Ampeg guy, but this is the best read I've seen on here yet. Makes me want to BECOME an Ampeg guy...and maybe thats why they let Hodgy do the interveiw to begin with. Those marketing guys, they think of everything.

Now if Hodgy really WAS a douche, it wouldn't have happened. Well done.
 
#117
bjabass said:
I'm not an Ampeg guy, but this is the best read I've seen on here yet. Makes me want to BECOME an Ampeg guy...and maybe thats why they let Hodgy do the interveiw to begin with. Those marketing guys, they think of everything.

Now if Hodgy really WAS a douche, it wouldn't have happened. Well done.
Click to expand...

+100...I too have never been a Ampeg guy but after reading all of this and having Hodgy be soo open and down to earth with us everyday bass players.....it make me want to try one of these Heads Through My fEARful!! O deer the GAS is Back!!:eek:
 
#119
John D said:
I never said it was difficult if you know what you're doing. If you have to ask, I have to assume that the task is a little above your talents. I'd hate to see anyone fry a $300+ xformer. No offence, Jimmy. I can't touch your bass playing. ;)
Click to expand...
None taken. You are right..a guy who has a hard time soldering two wires together should not be even asking about doing a DIY transformer replacement. And thanks for the compliment...I should stick to only playing. Even a pickup change never goes well for me.

BTW, this is great to see Hodgy reach superstar status so soon. I knew the second I heard that he had a band named after Joey Buttafuoco that this is someone you want representing Ampeg. You just get a hunch about these things, you know?
 
#120
JimmyM said:
None taken. You are right..a guy who has a hard time soldering two wires together should not be even asking about doing a DIY transformer replacement. And thanks for the compliment...I should stick to only playing. Even a pickup change never goes well for me.

BTW, this is great to see Hodgy reach superstar status so soon. I knew the second I heard that he had a band named after Joey Buttafuoco that this is someone you want representing Ampeg. You just get a hunch about these things, you know?
Click to expand...

Now if I could only get people to actually listen to and BUY my music and put it in TV commercials and get Adele to cover it on a Grammy-award winning album...
 

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