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Repair or not
- Thread starter Eltote
- Start date
Preamp with clean Class D power amp?
If you like a specific amp tone you really need to consider separating preamp from power output, because the preamp is where most of any specific amp tone comes from.
If lots of people like ampeg tone, you can probably be sure someone will have made a preamp to emulate it.
I agree with others. Find good amp and if you cannot get close enough then consider pedal in front of amp. Tech21 VT DI should be close and is very useful swiss army knife for gigging and recording, and is easily available in EU.
Sansamp BDDI and VT DI can drive PA power amps easily too if you end up with PA power amp type solution
Sansamp BDDI and VT DI can drive PA power amps easily too if you end up with PA power amp type solution
I'm not sure for whom you commented, but none of amps you mentioned have tubes in signal path. If preamp is made correctly it can sound very close to tube amp. I remember @JimmyM (long time Ampeg user and endorser) has commented VT Bass (DI?) getting close to Ampeg sound in front of some amps.
Sorry. I should have quoted Lostgallifreyan, I was answering him.
But paskisti, do you think a VTbass DI would get me closer to SVT sound than my current Micro VR does?
But paskisti, do you think a VTbass DI would get me closer to SVT sound than my current Micro VR does?
skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
These days there are gobs of new/used amps on the market, so I vote for replacing it. You could try to sell the Ampeg as non-working/parts only and maybe get a smidge of cash toward the new one.
And as others have said, put an Ampeg-y preamp in front of the new amp if you just gotta have that sound.
And as others have said, put an Ampeg-y preamp in front of the new amp if you just gotta have that sound.
Eltote, are you recording with this amp? If not, then "close enough" to the SVT sound should be enough for home jamming. I feel your pain on the decision to fix or toss, but I'm sure the Micro VR will get you where you want to be tone-wise. You can always augment with a pedal of choice to get you even closer.
For me, reliability is a #1 priority. If the amp fails, it's strike one; game over. sure, if it's new and under warranty have it fixed. But I'd use it for practice constantly right afterwards to see if I could trust it.
I think it depends on the failure. New amp, failed, repaired, repair failed (or is it a new failure)....I wonder if the repair shop determined why a particular component failed or if they simply replaced it knowing it's going to fail again. Or if it was something to do with how it was being used or connected.
Contact Ampeg with these concerns and see if they will stand behind their product. Could be a pattern failure they are familiar with.
Contact Ampeg with these concerns and see if they will stand behind their product. Could be a pattern failure they are familiar with.
Cut your losses and invest in a new amp. Lots of great stuff offered these days. Buy once, cry once.
Is that amp ever gonna be worth €596 to you personally? Because that’s what you’ll have in it if you paid retail and get it fixed now. If you really like that amp when it’s working, you could pick up a used one, which would cheaper than fixing that lemon.
But I would go with the advice to get a new amp with a warranty.
But I would go with the advice to get a new amp with a warranty.
I am an Ampeg Fan-Boy, but even I would not pay that much for a second fix, though the "get a second" opinion advice others gave is sound.
Second opinions, and even thirds, have saved me LOTS of money over the years.
Second opinions, and even thirds, have saved me LOTS of money over the years.
I had a similar situation with markbass,I cut my losses and switched to mesa boogie, that was 7 years ago,still rocking my d800!
Dump it. If it were mine, I couldn't trust it anymore not to fail mid-gig.
I'm older now and tired of jumping thru hoops to get a brand new item working when it should have worked in the first place. I've thrown away new computer stuff, appliances, music stuff, etc, when hoops start revealing themselves. Twice they've been fresh outta the box, into the trash hours later. Just not tolerant anymore and want the piece of shi...rt outta my life.
Right now, I'm in the middle of that situation with a new (not used) bass, 6 weeks old. It's one more broken tuner away from getting salvaged for pickups and controls, the body put in the dumpster and a different bass ordered.
If the company works with me, fine. If not, that's fine, too, and a nastygram sent accordingly. But I fully expect at least a year of trouble-free operation of anything I buy.
To pay a price for something, then have it cost me more for repairs, not to mention my time and effort within a year? Nope, not anymore.
I'm older now and tired of jumping thru hoops to get a brand new item working when it should have worked in the first place. I've thrown away new computer stuff, appliances, music stuff, etc, when hoops start revealing themselves. Twice they've been fresh outta the box, into the trash hours later. Just not tolerant anymore and want the piece of shi...rt outta my life.
Right now, I'm in the middle of that situation with a new (not used) bass, 6 weeks old. It's one more broken tuner away from getting salvaged for pickups and controls, the body put in the dumpster and a different bass ordered.
If the company works with me, fine. If not, that's fine, too, and a nastygram sent accordingly. But I fully expect at least a year of trouble-free operation of anything I buy.
To pay a price for something, then have it cost me more for repairs, not to mention my time and effort within a year? Nope, not anymore.
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The funny thing is that today I asked Thomann how long would last the warranty if I decide to repair it. And the answer was... 6 months. Sooo...am I the only one who does not understand this?? I got it repaired in february, RMA in july . Where's the problem?
They say the manufacturer does not give warranty on spare parts...but Thomann gives 6 months on the repair...and refuses to repair under warranty. This can't get more crazy. They are scammers!
They say the manufacturer does not give warranty on spare parts...but Thomann gives 6 months on the repair...and refuses to repair under warranty. This can't get more crazy. They are scammers!
