Eden WT - Repair, Find Another One, or Find A New Amp

[meisi]

Bummer. I say cut your losses and go find another amp unless you're looking for a project.

I always ran my old wt800 bridged. One day it began switching into a limp mode or something and then eventually cut back.

Took it in for repair a couple times. Shops could never reproduce it. I eventually reluctantly sold it off. Buyer didn't seem to care about an issue I couldn't reproduce so it was sold guilt free.

 

[bottomzone]

I would return it for a refund.

 

[RasJay]

You can always buy a second for spare parts.

I also have a USA WT-300 I can sell. I bought it a few years back when I got back into playing. I always wanted the Incubus and Dave Mathews Eden/Warwick tone. Now I have found my own sound and am playing GK.

 

[Boneless]

Unfortunately, there are amps that just don't make sense to repair, either because suitable parts are no longer available or the damage has made it impractical to repair. Badly damaged PCB's sometimes must be replaced, especially when a component burns the laminate and damages traces.

What tech will refund the cost of a repair if after diagnostics the customer decides not to go forward? The diagnostics costs are generally still owed (my shop is an exception, but only for products I designed).

Of course, as I said, there are a lot of amps on the market these days and you'd need a very good reason to repair an amp that you've just bought and can simply return to the shop.

A very good reason could be a nuclear apocalypse, but at that point I suspect that getting a bass amp running wouldn't be high up in your list of priorities.

 

[DeepHz]

I also love the Eden Montrose MN built amps and cabs. I had issues with the fan cutting out on the 550 and amp would go into protect mode. It was just a quick fix relay. I did eventually sell all my Eden equipment and moved on to Mesa.

 

[Lord Kinbote]

Have a USA made WT-405 that I love, but after dropping almost $200 getting it repaired only to fail again 2 months later I'm done. Played a ton of gigs with it over the years and it's hard to part with, but finally realized it's time to move on. Took a while to find something that pleased my ears again. Found a nice gently used Genz Benz and I am happy again.

 

[jmcgliss]

Have you tried this simple test before sending the amp for repair? Take a 1/4" cable and use it as a jumper between the Send and Return jacks. For good measure, run each plug in and out of the Send/Return jacks a few times. Oxidation or vibrations can cause certain jacks to interrupt the signal. when not in use This may not be your problem, but worth ruling out simple issues.

 

[meisi]

Have a USA made WT-405 that I love, but after dropping almost $200 getting it repaired only to fail again 2 months later I'm done. Played a ton of gigs with it over the years and it's hard to part with, but finally realized it's time to move on. Took a while to find something that pleased my ears again. Found a nice gently used Genz Benz and I am happy again.

Been there and it hurt. I thought I had my lifetime dream amp in my wt800.

Always kicked myself for buying mine used instead of the more modest wt300 I was originally GAS'ing for. I almost feel better knowing others had issues and it wasn't bc I went used - these things just had some gremlins in their design, I guess.

 

[Dfam2025]

My vote is for you to get it repaired. I have 4 Eden amps and have had different ones through the years. One of the China ones needed repair but still performs perfectly many years later. Unless the cost of repair is high, I would take the chance on repair by a highly qualified technician. If it goes down a second time, I would start looking for something else. I also have a Genzler Magellan 800 that comes close to the Eden sound and it's my backup. WT 550 at church rig, WT 400 home studio, Eden navigator at my steady theater gig and spares in my closet. If it goes out again, keep in touch with me I might sell you one of the spares I have in the closet as backups.

I don't suppose you have a spare footswitch for the preamp?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Have a USA made WT-405 that I love, but after dropping almost $200 getting it repaired only to fail again 2 months later I'm done. Played a ton of gigs with it over the years and it's hard to part with, but finally realized it's time to move on. Took a while to find something that pleased my ears again. Found a nice gently used Genz Benz and I am happy again.

If you can find one, the Eden WTDI (stompbox DI with WT preamp) has virtually the identical preamp and controls as the WT405 did, including the "Golden Ear Chip" (THAT-4301) that gives it the tube warmth without the actual tube. I bought one many years ago when I was forced to run through a Peavey 112 combo that I just couldn't get a good sound out of. Plugged my bass into it and plugged it into the effects return of the Peavey amp and Voila' the Peavey amp sounded like one of my Eden rigs. I've done that with all kinds of brands of backlines since.

If the problem is in the preamp of your WT405 and not in the power section, you could plug it into the effects return of your WT405 and have it working. Or if you just love that sound, plug it into almost any amp's effects return and get that clear, clean, articulate, and warm Eden sound out of it. When I bought mine it was $149. Last price I saw new was $179 but haven't seen a listing for a new one in quite a while. They are still available used and a quick Google search showed prices from about $119 up to $179.

 

[DrumsAndBass]

I have a Navigator that needs repair. The panel lights work but a tech tells me that no power reaches the tube.
He says that it needs a power transformer but that a part like that is super difficult to find.
The rest of the Navigator is in super great condition. It's the American made version.
There is a tech in TX that might be able to fix it.

 

[ShoeManiac]

I opted to "retire" my WTX-500. It served me really well for a long time. But I started experiencing some digital clipping that was concerning. Given the state of things with the company, and how the authorized repair people near me have dissipated? I didn't feel like I could depend on the amp anymore for gigs. And that's really unfortunate, because I loved using it for a long time.

 

[agedhorse]

I opted to "retire" my WTX-500. It served me really well for a long time. But I started experiencing some digital clipping that was concerning. Given the state of things with the company, and how the authorized repair people near me have dissipated? I didn't feel like I could depend on the amp anymore for gigs. And that's really unfortunate, because I loved using it for a long time.

How can you get digital clipping from an analog amp?

 

[ShoeManiac]

How can you get digital clipping from an analog amp?

Pardon me for not inserting "WHAT SOUNDED LIKE" in the sentence.

And I was not using excessive EQ, nor any active instruments that would hit the preamp stage with a hot signal or serious transients, per the manual.

My WTX500 gave me about 13 good years of service. I moved on to an Aguilar TH500 and I'm really happy with it now. And given the state of their company, I feel secure that I can get product support from the company if needed.

 

[agedhorse]

Pardon me for not inserting "WHAT SOUNDED LIKE" in the sentence.

And I was not using excessive EQ, nor any active instruments that would hit the preamp stage with a hot signal or serious transients, per the manual.

My WTX500 gave me about 13 good years of service. I moved on to an Aguilar TH500 and I'm really happy with it now. And given the state of their company, I feel secure that I can get product support from the company if needed.

Sorry, your original comment made no sense. There are amps with DSP that can certainly have an issue with overdriving the digital portion of the amp, this comes up with amps like the Katana for example. Since there is no digital circuitry in the WTX series, that's not possible... unless you happened to be using it with a digital pedal (which is becoming more common).

The WTX series is not difficult to repair for a truly qualified and experienced tech, and the repair may not be expensive either.

 

[ShoeManiac]

Well, if anyone has experience with Fuchs Audio in New Jersey for Eden repairs, I'd be interested in hearing some feedback. Until then the Aguilar head has the job, followed by my Ampeg PF 500