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Seeking good REPAIRABLE bass amp!

W

WJK

Dec 14, 2020
20
3
#1
In the last 3 months I've managed to break BOTH of my 2 bass amps. Plus, a friend who owned similar amps (Acoustic B200h) gave me his blown up B200, thus 3 amps, all blown up! When we bought replacement amps, we both unknowingly bought Ampeg Portaflex 500's! My portable still makes noise, but very "farty" now. Since buying mine, I've been told to enjoy it while I could, as they were considered unrepairable. Also heard and read similar info about my Acoustic amps.
Anyone know of a REPAIRABLE, fairly low cost Amp, around 500 watts, that I could replace my "boat anchors" with? I'm 65, disabled, on a "fixed" income (funny, "fixed", but still broke. Like my amps!), so price is a MAJOR factor! I'm NOT making a living performing. Not even supplementing right now, every thing I make performing usually all goes toward equipment. I'll probably have to buy used.
 
#7
It seems you are caught up in a trade-off situation.

Cheap, Good, Repairable. You can pick only two.
From the choices in your thread title, this means getting an expensive amp.

A lot of the design and manufacturing shortcuts that go into budget amps can also make those amps less reliable and more difficult to repair. That difficulty then adds to the cost of labor, when repair time comes.

But the real take-a-way in your case is, as others have pointed out, why are you blowing up your amps in the first place? If you are doing something wrong, then all bets are off. Amps have specific design parameters. If you consistently exceed those parameters, even the best equipment will fail.

"Unrepairable" rarely ever means it can't be repaired. Rather, it just means the cost of repairs are too significant in relation to the amp's replacement cost.
 
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#8
byacey said:
Maybe you need to examine why your amps are failing. What kind of speaker load are you driving, and how hard?
Click to expand...
I've been playing electric bass since the 1970's and have never blown up an amp or a speaker. I wouldn't start your new amp quest without having an answer to this question. That will likely help inform/guide your gear choice. There are plenty solid used gear options out there, but matching the right one to your needs to prevent needing future repairs is a key first step IMO.
 
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#9
I don't have a clue how to answer this effectively but I won't let it stop me trying. :)

Too many conflicting needs, but it's going to cost, because a good amp that is cheap to repair must be designed well, built well with thought for later easy access. It will likely be more resistant to harm anyway, so I think you should do this.

It will take time to raise the money (but you might do well to get a really good but older design, that's where the best bang per buck usually is).

In the meantime, try to keep what you have going, find out how. It will help you make the best of the good one when you get it.
 
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#10
Al Kraft said:
I've been playing electric bass since the 1970's and have never blown up and amp or a speaker. I wouldn't start your new amp quest without having an answer to this question. That will likely help inform/guide your gear choice. There are plenty solid used gear options out there, but matching the right one to your needs to prevent needing future repairs is a key first step IMO.
Click to expand...

byacey said:
Maybe you need to examine why your amps are failing. What kind of speaker load are you driving, and how hard?
Click to expand...

I'm going to echo these. (but 1998 when I started ;)). I've got Shuttle 6.0 from 2009 and an Ampeg PF500 from 2011 that are both still going strong after years of gigging, and the PF500 definitely isn't "farty."

If the speaker load isn't correct for the amp, that's definitely going to cause "blown up" problems.

That said, and without knowing your actual budget... If I had to buy a new amp today, I'd have a tough time choosing between a Tone Hammer or a Trickfish. The Aguilar has a warm and killer tone that speaks well, and the Trickfish amps have Pope preamps that are VERY nice.

5sg.
 
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#12
WJK said:
In the last 3 months I've managed to break BOTH of my 2 bass amps. Plus, a friend who owned similar amps (Acoustic B200h) gave me his blown up B200, thus 3 amps, all blown up! When we bought replacement amps, we both unknowingly bought Ampeg Portaflex 500's! My portable still makes noise, but very "farty" now. Since buying mine, I've been told to enjoy it while I could, as they were considered unrepairable. Also heard and read similar info about my Acoustic amps.
Anyone know of a REPAIRABLE, fairly low cost Amp, around 500 watts, that I could replace my "boat anchors" with? I'm 65, disabled, on a "fixed" income (funny, "fixed", but still broke. Like my amps!), so price is a MAJOR factor! I'm NOT making a living performing. Not even supplementing right now, every thing I make performing usually all goes toward equipment. I'll probably have to buy used.
Click to expand...
May I ask what kind of music you're playing, and a typical venue?

Is this particularly loud music?
 
#13
WJK said:
In the last 3 months I've managed to break BOTH of my 2 bass amps. Plus, a friend who owned similar amps (Acoustic B200h) gave me his blown up B200, thus 3 amps, all blown up! When we bought replacement amps, we both unknowingly bought Ampeg Portaflex 500's! My portable still makes noise, but very "farty" now. Since buying mine, I've been told to enjoy it while I could, as they were considered unrepairable. Also heard and read similar info about my Acoustic amps.
Anyone know of a REPAIRABLE, fairly low cost Amp, around 500 watts, that I could replace my "boat anchors" with? I'm 65, disabled, on a "fixed" income (funny, "fixed", but still broke. Like my amps!), so price is a MAJOR factor! I'm NOT making a living performing. Not even supplementing right now, every thing I make performing usually all goes toward equipment. I'll probably have to buy used.
Click to expand...


Best advice is to go to Guitar Center online used gear. Tons of options and good values. All gear is conditionally rated so you have an idea of what to expect, comes with a 30 day money back guarantee, and you have the ability to buy an extended warranty.
 
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