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Dropped Tube amp help

Justin Tuskey

Justin Tuskey

Mar 24, 2007
1,698
5
37
Richmond Hill, GA
#1
Hey guys, I just received a Fender Bassman 300 Pro today. UPS store packed it up, and apparently someone dropped it along the way, because all of the 6550 power tubes broke out and 2 of them shattered, but all 6 of them are not usable. Here are a few pics: http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/jusballs13/Fender bassman/

It was shipped from a TBer, who is a really cool guy, and is sticking with me on this one, until the situation is righted, as we traded amps. He took it to the UPS store, had them pack, and told them how to pack it....and they failed to do it correctly...the packaging is horrible for a tube amp. So far he has filed a claim with UPS, and Monday someone will come by and pick up the package, to take for inspection. This is where I am confused. What the heck are they going to do with it? What am I supposed to do? I guess in my "dream" situation I would like to send the amp to a Fender certified repair place or something and have it retubed and inspected and make sure it works....then have UPS foot the bill. But I dont think its going to work like that. There is $1100 of insurance on the amp, so will I get a new amp, or a fixed amp, or $1100?

I am just confused by this new crazy situation. Just figured I would post what happened and see if anyone has had an experience, or some insight....or something really. Hope someone can help.
 
#3
jusballs13 said:
Hey guys, I just received a Fender Bassman 300 Pro today. UPS store packed it up, and apparently someone dropped it along the way, because all of the 6550 power tubes broke out and 2 of them shattered, but all 6 of them are not usable. Here are a few pics: http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/jusballs13/Fender bassman/

It was shipped from a TBer, who is a really cool guy, and is sticking with me on this one, until the situation is righted, as we traded amps. He took it to the UPS store, had them pack, and told them how to pack it....and they failed to do it correctly...the packaging is horrible for a tube amp. So far he has filed a claim with UPS, and Monday someone will come by and pick up the package, to take for inspection. This is where I am confused. What the heck are they going to do with it? What am I supposed to do? I guess in my "dream" situation I would like to send the amp to a Fender certified repair place or something and have it retubed and inspected and make sure it works....then have UPS foot the bill. But I dont think its going to work like that. There is $1100 of insurance on the amp, so will I get a new amp, or a fixed amp, or $1100?

I am just confused by this new crazy situation. Just figured I would post what happened and see if anyone has had an experience, or some insight....or something really. Hope someone can help.
Click to expand...

If UPS packed it you will get the full value plus the shipping back.
 
#4
Looking at that transformer, that amp might be a write off since the chassis will forever be deformed. I hope you get the 1,100 it was insured for so you can go buy a brand new one.

Either way, it will cost some money and a lot of time before it ever becomes playable.
 
#7
bassmodder said:
Looking at that transformer, that amp might be a write off since the chassis will forever be deformed. I hope you get the 1,100 it was insured for so you can go buy a brand new one.

Either way, it will cost some money and a lot of time before it ever becomes playable.
Click to expand...

So the inside pretty much looks that jacked up? The transformers did look a little bent/crooked. A good older friend of mine, and manager of my local music store (oldschool tube guy too) said that it must have been dropped upside down like 5 feet for it to be so messed up, as these are tough amps.

This is my first broken thing with shipping. It was packed by UPS, and insured for $1100, so they should take full responsibility. Its just nervewracking. Im not so upset that I dont have an amp, its just the hassle...thanks for the insights so far. I guess if it really is that damaged....Ill take the money and get a good deal on a new one via my friend....ugh. It just kinda bothers me how this one will be a waste? Like....what will happen to it? I think too much
 
#8
ALWAYS buy insurance!!

I bought a nice jazz guitar last year and it was shipped UPS. The street address it was shipped to was "723," but some genius typed "123" on the label. "123" on that street doesn't exist, so the driver left it in an alley between 121 and 125. Thank goodness 125 was a business. They saw the truck stop outside, but nothing came into the store. When the truck drove away, the owner came out to investigate. She called UPS to find out what was going on.

Don't just buy insurance...buy MORE than you've paid for it...so that if it does get damaged, you'll be able to replace what was broken, and not just have to find another used one for the same price.

Z
 
#11
Whoever allowed it to be packed and shipped with the tubes in place is an idiot. Even if it wasn't dropped hard enough to do major damage, the tubes would likely be ruined by the shock. ALWAYS remove the tubes and pack them separately in a thick layer of bubble wrap.
 
#12
Hi.

jusballs13 said:
So the inside pretty much looks that jacked up? The transformers did look a little bent/crooked. A good older friend of mine, and manager of my local music store (oldschool tube guy too) said that it must have been dropped upside down like 5 feet for it to be so messed up, as these are tough amps.

This is my first broken thing with shipping. It was packed by UPS, and insured for $1100, so they should take full responsibility. Its just nervewracking. Im not so upset that I dont have an amp, its just the hassle...thanks for the insights so far. I guess if it really is that damaged....Ill take the money and get a good deal on a new one via my friend....ugh. It just kinda bothers me how this one will be a waste? Like....what will happen to it? I think too much
Click to expand...

If You're not a DIY type and don't own the necessary equipment to test the amp, take the money and let go of the wreck. As pointed out earlier, the chassis is badly bent. I have a few VHT amps that have had the same rough handling misfortune and let me tell You, it's not worth it unless You can have it for a 100 bucks or so and can repair it yourself. The VHTs are a PCB amps also, and bending and smacking a PCB doesn't sound too promising. The transformer has to be measured for shorts and/or insulation resistances for safe operation that lasts more than just a while. I have an example of that too.

jdombrow said:
Whoever allowed it to be packed and shipped with the tubes in place is an idiot. Even if it wasn't dropped hard enough to do major damage, the tubes would likely be ruined by the shock. ALWAYS remove the tubes and pack them separately in a thick layer of bubble wrap.
Click to expand...

I do not agree with that. The top-spring retainers WILL keep the tubes in place in normal situations and as the mica touches the glass in 6550s and the internals are relatively light, there shouldn't be a problem. The schocks tubes are designed for are more severe than the normal handling will ever introduce.

On the other hand that is a good practice, specially in poorly designed amps like my Fame BVH 300 that has the bottom claw retainers that are nearly useless with metal base-rings.

One thing bugs me though. Why the need of the insurance? Is the law different over there than it's over here? In here the shipping company is responsible for the goods as long as it's in their posession and is supposed to pay for any and all damages during that period of time. I do know that as a fact as the majority of my gear is from the insurance companys store.

Hope You'll get Your money without any hassle and get a new amp ASAP.

Regards
Sam
 
#13
You are living my nightmare. This is the exact reason I wanted to find one locally. Some how I found one when I had the money too. :cool:
I know this is a long shot but if they give you the money see if you can keep the broken one. I mean what the heck are they going to do with it? I am sure that there are all types of parts that some people might want on that...carcass.
Good Luck Man.
 
#14
Wow, that is a mess. You should try to get your money back however you can and get another one. If you take the shipping route again make sure you have a flight/hard case to go with the amp. I've shipped and a had a few shipped to me in a flight case cross country with no issues at all. Some with the tubes still mounted. The cases I've used all fit very snug and give the amp some shock protection. I wouldn't even advise transporting one across town with out one. Well worth the investment.
 
#15
As the shipper here, I am amazed at this too. First thing I said at the UPS store was "no peanuts." They assured me they would custom cut styrofoam to fill all gaps between the amp and insert folded cardboard between the feet under the amp to brace it.

Jusballs13 sent me the pics and I felt awful for him. He's a nice guy and we are trying to deal with UPS together who suddenly are not so pleasant when its their problem.

I will never ship another tube amp again! I read the sticky in the amp classifieds on how to ship SVT's and the like and figured it would be OK. In hindsight I should have wrapped the tubes, however, I figured with thtose bracing struts there was no way they could come out. Apparently I was wrong there but even still, it sounds like the chassis would be damaged regardless.

This is a nightmare and I feel AWFUL this happened.
 
#17
fenderhutz said:
Yeah, according to UPS rules, you are the shipper have to sort this mess out and refund the buyer.

I hope all is well. I never ship via UPS for this reason. I have never had this issue with DHL.
Click to expand...

I never will again! The strange thing is they are telling me I am no longer the shipper either and would give me little info. They consider The UPS Store the shipper in this case. Odd, but I guess that does show they have full responsibility on this.
 
#18
If that is the case then the UPS store gets the refund. You need to go the UPS store and hound them then. UPS is going to go back to get the amp for inspection and I hope the shippee kept the packing materials.

Just so you know and expect this, this process takes about 1.5-2 weeks to complete to get the refund. You will know if UPS will cover the poor shipping job within 2-3 days.

UPS stores are outsourced, if that store packed it wrong, UPS still has no obligation to pay the claim. You will have to fight for you refund.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me, I have gone through this process 4 times in the last 6 months with UPS and gear due to online sellers only using UPS as an option. I will never use them for heavy gear ever again.
 
#19
fenderhutz said:
If that is the case then the UPS store gets the refund. You need to go the UPS store and hound them then. UPS is going to go back to get the amp for inspection and I hope the shippee kept the packing materials.

Just so you know and expect this, this process takes about 1.5-2 weeks to complete to get the refund. You will know if UPS will cover the poor shipping job within 2-3 days.

UPS stores are outsourced, if that store packed it wrong, UPS still has no obligation to pay the claim. You will have to fight for you refund.
Click to expand...

Yeah, he has everything. The packing materials consisted of a big box of peanuts, two small, thin pieces of cardboard; and a couple generic UPS boxes they shoved in.
 

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