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Double Bass I fritzed my Clarus II

Damon Rondeau

Damon Rondeau

Journeyman Clam Artist
Supporting Member
Nov 19, 2002
2,750
36
65
Winnipeg, baby
www.talkingblues.net
#1
I do about one EBG gig per year and that number came up this week. Took my Clarus II, 12" Ampeg Portabass cab and my Fender Frankenbass with active EMGs. The level and master were both set to 12 noon or close to it; this setting had worked OK in the few days before. Anyhoo, on the first note I played for the sound guy at sound check off went the amp. Thought I'd blown a fuse. Nope. Now the folks at Long & McQuade tell me they're pretty sure I fried it.

It's on warranty and I've got a loaner for tonight's gig but I just thought I should log it for y'all. I knew I was pushing things a bit but I'm a bit surprised I may have toasted it. I'm far too middle-aged for **** like that...
 
#2
Give Rick Jones a call directly at Acoustic Image. He is a very standup guy and provides fantastic support personally. His amps are designed in a modular fashion and he should be able to help you diagnose it over the phone so that the offending module could be sent directly to you for replacement by you or a local tech. While a blown amp is always a drag, I think you'll be pretty amazed at the level of support that you get.

Erik Hansen
Los Angeles
 
#3
Thanks for the suggestion, Erik (BTW, I certainly remember your Winnipeg connection. My how you get around!)

I'm sure AI are every bit as good as you say; the performance of the amp certainly has been very satisfying. I'm feeling quite copacetic about the whole thing as L&M is taking good care of me so far. I'd imagine they're the ones talking to Rick about this and that's fine with me.
 
#4
Damon,
I had the a very similar experience with my first Walter Woods MI 100. When I took the amplifier out on it's "maiden voyage" I pushed the switch and it just died. I called Walter and he informed me that he had had problems with a bad run of switching power supplies. Walter fixed the problem in a day and returned the amp with only a two day turnaround.
So even the most reliable hand built amplifier can fail due to unreliable components.

Rick Jones is a great guy. I've emailed him several times with questions
about AI amps and he has always been very helpful.

Ric
 

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