• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Orange AD200B Dead On Arrival?

A

Amorica

Dec 19, 2011
43
0
#1
Got a brand new Orange AD200B from GC over the weekend. I happened to check the back and noticed that one of the valves (tube) is dead. I a/b tested it with a used AD200B and the DOA one was much louder. So much so that in order to achieve the same db level from each I needed to set master on DOA @ 2 and the "used" @ 4 (all other settings were the same). I thought this was because the transformers in the DOA were so much bigger (about 1/3 bigger). The overall build of the DOA looked much better than the "used". This is my first tube amp, I thought "these things happen" and I'd have Orange swap them out and rebias. However two professional players (bassist & guitarist) I know said "take that thing back to GC and get your money back. Power tubes that don't work out the box can spell big trouble for the amp."

I don't know what to do, the head was all black and looks quite cool, last one GC had in the country. I'm so tried of hunting and bargaining for this thing and I've spent way too much time screwing around with amps. I've only been playing for a year...tempted to buy a mark bass amp, call it a day and let my fingers find "the tone". Feels like I'm chasing the wrong thing, ya know? :( Advice?
 
#2
how was your dead amp louder then the used one?
i'm confused.
it was just dead tubes, but with different tubes it was louder?
guess it just needed new tubes. no idea why dead tubes would have spelled " big trouble for the amp."
guess GC to pay for the new tubes, but otherwise we'll see if someone else chimes in.
 
#3
oinkbanana said:
how was your dead amp louder then the used one?
i'm confused.
it was just dead tubes, but with different tubes it was louder?
guess it just needed new tubes. no idea why dead tubes would have spelled " big trouble for the amp."
guess GC to pay for the new tubes, but otherwise we'll see if someone else chimes in.
Click to expand...

Only 1 tube was dead...other 3 worked fine. FYI - tubes share the power load, it's not "all or nothing". Best guess...I was getting about 1/2 the normal power.

I've been told tube amps can do strange things with dead/dying tubes.

Do you own any tube amps yourself?
 
#7
majortoby said:
Why would you run a tube amp with "dead/dying tubes"?? Of course that's going to screw it up.
Click to expand...

It was discovered during the first power on, prior to that it was in a sealed box w/ with tape that read "Orange". Dig? Give me a break with these stupid questions...my new amp just broke. If my posts don't jive click the "back" button. Sorry, but come on really?

I'm asking if I should.
1. Return for replacement?
2. Keep it and get them to retube?
3. Listen to my teacher, buy a markbass and realize that good players can play the biggest piece of crap and sound good?

I'm having a bad day..."Please dont dominate the rap, jack, if youve got nothing new to say." J. Garcia
 
#8
Maybe this wasn't clear. There were 2 different amps I had for the a/b. In my original post...
DOA = new amp from GC
Used = a friend's ad100b that I had borrowed to compare product build, tone, etc.
 
#9
Failed tubes is not uncommon these days as QC in tube factories is not what it was 25 years ago. If that is all the problem is the fault lies with the tube manufacturer, rather than the amp maker and I would not let it put me off the product. This is an issue that has plagued other amplifier makers too, and there seems to be little they can do to avoid it other than change supplier as it may not be apparent straight away.
My AD200 is a couple of years old now and has had no problems in that time, a great amp IMO (and looks cool on stage).
 
#10
Tim1 said:
Failed tubes is not uncommon these days as QC in tube factories is not what it was 25 years ago. If that is all the problem is the fault lies with the tube manufacturer, rather than the amp maker and I would not let it put me off the product. This is an issue that has plagued other amplifier makers too, and there seems to be little they can do to avoid it other than change supplier as it may not be apparent straight away.
My AD200 is a couple of years old now and has had no problems in that time, a great amp IMO (and looks cool on stage).
Click to expand...

Thanks Tim1,
Makes sense, i didn't think about it from the standpoint of the tube manufacturer.
 
#11
dead tubes isn't DOA. it's just not in 100% working condition.

Amorica said:
in order to achieve the same db level from each I needed to set master on DOA @ 2 and the "used" @ 4 (all other settings were the same).
Click to expand...
this confuses me. is there something wrong with your friends amp too? how is the used one can't keep up with your new DOA amp with dead tubes? --- maybe it's just the taper on the pots is different?


considering you ordered the amp, and it wasn't even sitting in the shop being tested out regularly, I'd assume you're the only one who's played it with the faulty tubes (did they even open the box at the store before you got it?)
I'd ask GC to get their tech to re-tube it and re-bias your amp and go home happy. let them sort it out with the Orange dealer the reimbursement for the faulty tubes.
 
#13
oinkbanana said:
dead tubes isn't DOA. it's just not in 100% working condition.


this confuses me. is there something wrong with your friends amp too? how is the used one can't keep up with your new DOA amp with dead tubes?
Click to expand...

oinkbanana said:
dead tubes isn't DOA. it's just not in 100% working condition.


this confuses me. is there something wrong with your friends amp too? how is the used one can't keep up with your new DOA amp with dead tubes?
Click to expand...

No doubt oinkbanana, it confuses me too. There was nothing wrong with my friends amp and yet it couldn't produce the same volume that mine could with only 3 tubes. Perhaps your point about the pots is correct. I have read on many TB threads that mk3 Oranges don't produce a true 200 watts (more like 165). I'd also read that Orange had fixed that problem. When I took the back covers off both I saw that my new transformers were 30-50% larger than his. That, plus the fact the my amps overall fit and finsh look far better lead me to believe that I had a better build machine. It was not until after I returned my friends amp that I realized one of my tubes was out. Moreover my amp sounded better to me than my friends, I was sure I had a winner. That could have been my ears just really digging the distortion, but I can't say.

When I told my seasoned musician friends they said 1 blown tube + louder output = Something's very wrong...return amp to the store for refund or replacement, but do not fix.
 
#14
Downunderwonder said:
There may still be a retubed virtually new one in the classifieds for 1500 shipped.
Click to expand...
My friend was going to sell me his used one for $1350, but my new one sounded and looked (on the inside) so much better that I turned it down. Could still get the $1350 one if I wanted, the transformers jut looked so small and kind of bent on the chassis that I said "pass".
 
#15
In my very limited understanding of tube amps you were running on half power as the tubes always work in pairs and one half of a pair working is zero output for that pair. Go figure.

The one in the classifieds is retubed with gold lions, whatever that means.
 
#16
Hi,

I suggest you let GC know about this DOA. I think a dead tube isn't very critical, have them replace it and you'll be good, especially since you're experience with the amp is already good compared to your friend's amp.

PS: It is hard to believe that your amp is louder than the other though. With one dead tube it would only be running on 2 tubes, giving only 100 Watts...
Speaker impedance would likely be mismatched also (output speaker jacks indicated numbers need to be doubled with halve the tubes: 4 ohm jack changes to technically an 8 ohm jack).
The reason your's seems louder @ 2 than your friend's @ 4 is probably due to the tolerance difference on the master potentiometers.
If you were to run them both flat out (don't with your dead tube!), your friend's amp would probably be louder.
Have your dead tube fixed and your's will be louder with the improved transformers.
My advice: keep the amp, but have GC change out the tube with a matched tube and re-bias.

Regards,
Mark
 
#18
If it is brand new, get it over to a auth Orange tech asap. From my understanding, Orange provides a 90day warranty on tubes. I have had a bad power tube show up in one of my new AD200B a few years ago. Took it to a tech, and covered new set under warranty.


I wouldn't assume that just because it had a bad tube right off the bat that there is something wronge with the amp. Tube quality isn't the same as back in the day. Just the right smack on the side can cause a tube to fail from shipping.
 
#19
Quote: If it is brand new, get it over to a auth Orange tech asap.

Absolutely! Don't stress yourself. ATM it's not your problem!

Quote: I wouldn't assume that just because it had a bad tube right off the bat that there is something wronge with the amp.

I would! A bad tube can cause damage to the amps components.

OP Take the thing back and get it put right. It's what a warranty is for!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back