Darkglass Microtubes 500v2 Nightmare

[timwoodie]

Woah this is crazy, been having the exact same issues happen to mine. Just seems like the fan doesn't want to stay running. I bought a small fan from target that I put right next to it and it seems to keep it super cool. Wondering if this is actually an issue with "this batch" or if its truly a design flaw.

 

[Carmelo Roman]

Woah this is crazy, been having the exact same issues happen to mine. Just seems like the fan doesn't want to stay running. I bought a small fan from target that I put right next to it and it seems to keep it super cool. Wondering if this is actually an issue with "this batch" or if its truly a design flaw.

I experienced the same issue since the first day I plug the amp, and I was thinking to do the same thing you did. More than that, I was also thinking in opening the amp, and jump his cooling fan, so it can staying running all the time. But I didn't doing that yet. Which kind of fan do you bought, and how many volts?

 

[vince nolan]

Same issue with shutting down on my mt500v2. Worked perfect for about 5 weeks., from that point on it would shut down randomly. Sometimes after 2 mins sometimes 2 hours. I checked with both DG and dealer (thomann) if there was any known issues.., both responded but essentially ignored my question. The unit is back with thomann for "repair" but i dont feel very happy about having a "repair". Never mind the months this process is taking. l would prefer a credit note against an alternative head. For anyone thinking of buying one of these units i would ask., why take the risk?

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

I know this is older thread, but anybody else having problems with DG micro T 500v2? I have just purchased one, IV only used it with speakers , av 8 hrs a week, for last 5 weeks, but,so far, mine is fine. But reading this thread has scared me.
Was it "a bad batch"? Anyone in last 12 months had fan issues?? I really don't need a failure,at the moment!!

 

[vince nolan]

@Old Ozzie Guy - does your fan come on almost immediately (within a few minutes) and is it quite loud ? If so, then you're probably fine - this was the behavior of mine AFTER repair. Before repair, I never really noticed the fan kicking in. Maybe it did and maybe it didn't - but after repair, it was very clear it was kicking in almost immediately and was too loud for home practice use (would not matter in live scenario but I never trusted it enough for Live).

I don't think it was a 'bad batch' as such, the issue spanned too long a period to be 'batch' related - some sort of design flaw or generally "less than appropriate" QC in manufacturing - what disappoints me is that they won't admit to it. When I contacted them asking if there was a known issue., they should have said "Yes, there are some faulty units is circulation, return it for a parts change and then all will be fine" - then maybe I could trust them., but I got the run-around (like I was crazy or mis-using the equipment, or something) - once I was dealing with the retailer, they seemed to know exactly the issue and how to fix it - but no one would admit it and I got no explanation.

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

I haven't noticed exactly when fan kicks in but it's pretty much straight away (I think) I will check tomorrow. Fan is pretty noisy, but dosnt bother me,I only used it with drummer and guitarist at studio, gigs. At home I practice with a little "pos grid sparks", I live in a small unit.
Thank you for your insights, this place is great for info.. personal experience, Im new to it all.

 

[SteveLo42]

Resurrecting this old thread again to see if it's still an ongoing problem?
I just bought one of these used on Ebay and it should be arriving this week. I had seen the odd complaint here and there but kind of wish I'd seen this particular thread! To be honest all this negative feedback really makes me dislike the brand, but I've bought one now so hope for the best. I did ask the seller before buying if he'd had any issues so at least I have it in writing that he had none.

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

Mine shut down ,only once . It did it at a show, so I didn't wait for it to do again. I sold it to a guy who I knew, half price ,with the option for him to return it ,up to 3 months. He hasn't had an issue since. I purchased a Aguilar AG700 it seems bullet proof.. really happy with it.

 

[SteveLo42]

This doesn't sound promising!
How long after you got it did this happen? And did you notice any issue with the fan before it happened? Cheers!

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

It only happened once, about 3 months from new. Still under warranty. My friend still uses without any problems. But he not in a band, only plays at home. Regards fan , it was always noisy, but that never bothered me. I should add, that the power at the gig where it failed, was not the best. To be honest, I wasn't loving the sound I got from it, as much as I did when first bought. It shutting down was my excuse to buy the Agi...

 

[frankie5string]

Resurrecting this old thread again to see if it's still an ongoing problem?
I just bought one of these used on Ebay and it should be arriving this week. I had seen the odd complaint here and there but kind of wish I'd seen this particular thread! To be honest all this negative feedback really makes me dislike the brand, but I've bought one now so hope for the best. I did ask the seller before buying if he'd had any issues so at least I have it in writing that he had none.

I wouldn't read quite too much into the posts in this thread. Far more people have bought them and are using them than this relatively small thread lets on. It sounds like a specific batch may have had issues, but it's hard to tell.

The DG amps are no longer flavour of the month around here, so there's less people talking about them.
Most of the complaints I've heard about them had to do with their tone. Lots of people I know were sold on the idea of the amp but just didn't like the way it sounded when they applied it.

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

I probably agree with the above. I played 6str gtr in bands since the mid 70s. I only started playing bass last year. Microtubes were "the" thing. I first bought a Ampeg svt micro VR, then Microtubes 500 v2, Aguilar TH350, then my current amp Agi AG700, which I'm more than happy with. I prefer DG pedals into good clean amp than MT500v2..don't get me wrong theMT was good, but I'm always chasing Great..
Mine shuting down , could have been result of power spike, as the stage I was on was having problems. It gave me an excuse to spend even more$s on a replacement ...

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Wait to receive yours , it may b the best thing u ever played... there would b thousands out there, being happily played/abused. .

 

[SteveLo42]

Cheers for the input, everyone. I'm sure it will be fine but just makes me feel disgruntled that so many people have had the same issue.

I will see how I get on with it, and I'm sure I'll love it. Though I may still keep my eye on those new Ashdown Rootmaster heads coming out very soon.

 

[deff]

Cheers for the input, everyone. I'm sure it will be fine but just makes me feel disgruntled that so many people have had the same issue.

I will see how I get on with it, and I'm sure I'll love it. Though I may still keep my eye on those new Ashdown Rootmaster heads coming out very soon.

Two things, if you like the sound of the rootmaster you won't like the sound of the DG. Those two amps are not at all alike. Second, DG has had a target on it's back for awhile, then with the sale to Korg it became even worse. They probably rushed the 500V2. Probably shouldn't have done that. That doesn't at all mean that they are all bad. There are tons of brand new amps with issues galore. A friend had a PV minimega that shut down on him so many times while on tour, they carried a backup, which at times also shut down. I hear horror stories all of the time, even about your beloved Ashdown. Rebecca Burchette amazing bassist of the band Multicult uses Ashdown and if you go to .44 of this video you see she has two Ashdown amps stacked, with only one on. That's because she brings two to every gig because they shut down all of the time.

People say that old amps never do this. I was using a PV Mark 4 to do some live recordings halfway through the recording it crapped out on me. Luckily there was another one in the room and we used that to finish up the session. Amps break, I'm not sure that the vast majority of DG users out there have had this issue.

 

[agedhorse]

Two things, if you like the sound of the rootmaster you won't like the sound of the DG. Those two amps are not at all alike. Second, DG has had a target on it's back for awhile, then with the sale to Korg it became even worse. They probably rushed the 500V2. Probably shouldn't have done that. That doesn't at all mean that they are all bad. There are tons of brand new amps with issues galore. A friend had a PV minimega that shut down on him so many times while on tour, they carried a backup, which at times also shut down. I hear horror stories all of the time, even about your beloved Ashdown. Rebecca Burchette amazing bassist of the band Multicult uses Ashdown and if you go to .44 of this video you see she has two Ashdown amps stacked, with only one on. That's because she brings two to every gig because they shut down all of the time.

People say that old amps never do this. I was using a PV Mark 4 to do some live recordings halfway through the recording it crapped out on me. Luckily there was another one in the room and we used that to finish up the session. Amps break, I'm not sure that the vast majority of DG users out there have had this issue.

Just for clarity and accuracy, there are old and new amps with a history of unreliability and there are old and new amps that are extremely reliable. The key to a reliable amp is making good choices by choosing an amp that players in general don’t have problems with.

 

[deff]

Just for clarity and accuracy, there are old and new amps with a history of unreliability and there are old and new amps that are extremely reliable. The key to a reliable amp is making good choices by choosing an amp that players in general don’t have problems with.

I mean, I kind of assumed that was a given, but for sure. The point bears repeating.

 

[SteveLo42]

Yeah it seems there are problems with a lot of stuff. I'm still new to the bass game and don't really know what "sound" I'm after. I use compression and distortion pedals at the moment through whatever heads are in the practice room. I figure the only way is to try different options based on my feelings towards certain brands. I came across darkglass early on and liked the cut of their jib, so let's see.
Ashdown are an English brand (I'm based in London) with, from what a gather, excellent customer support. I'll wait and check out reviews and demos when the Rootmasters come out. I realise it's possible to get a range of tones from amps and that cab choice can also impact this.
Man, being a drummer was much more simple