Selling an amp with issues

[Pings Bass]

How do you know what the fee will be, unless you actually take it in for an estimate?
Any self assessment is likely to be out to lunch.

The local authorized repair shop charges a flat bench fee to do the diagnosis (bench fee), and it was more than the amp was worth to me.

 

[g-dude]

This is why people who don't understand electronics shouldn't open their amp.

Or suggest that others should.

 

[DrBnz]

Depends upon your expectations in dollars. If you're done with it. List it for 40% of market price, tell em your story, tell em its "as is", no returns and see what happens.

 

[g-dude]

What is it with all the new members and the attitude that comes along with the dangerous and bad advice lately? If you don't understand what you are proposing (which clearly many don't) then keep it to yourself rather than promoting something that is dangerous to somebody else.

Reminds me of all the people who insist that wearing a motorcycle helmet is dangerous.

Yes, these people do exist. Yes, some people believe them, which makes them a menace to society.

 

[BrentB]

Amp powers on, sounds a bit noisy but nothing too crazy, seems to be kind of distorted at the input stage. Engaging the input pad reduces/nearly eliminates the distortion, but of course this would be a defect for real use. It could be something simple, or it could be something significant, I have no idea and I'm not particularly handy with electronics.

I currently own two of these amps, they are fantastic other than they weigh as much as a boat anchor. It sounds to me like you may have a bad input tube in the preamp. IIRC, this amp has 2 preamp tubes and 4 power tubes. I think the preamp tubes are just typical 12ax7 tubes. I'd start there by picking up a couple tubes and swapping them out one at a time until you discover the bad tube if you can't readily identify it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Pay the bench fee to have it looked at and go from there. I think the 6 was only out for 2 years, so if you need parts, you may be out of luck.

 

[funkinbottom]

In my experiences, I have sold as is with full disclosure, and have had repairs done before selling. (amps,cars and others) It's mostly been a wash. Less $ for broken amp or more $ for repaired amp (- repairs and my time spent dealing) has net about the same profit. I guess it pretty much boils down to if you want to be rid of the amp now, or deal with having it fixed. I know these days for me, it would most likely already be listed for sale as is with disclosure.

 

[john_g]

IMHO, as long as you are truthful with a FS ad, there should be no problem. Or, like alot of others have said, take it to get diagnosed by a qualified tech and see if it can be fixed.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Open it up and take a look inside.
You can’t break what’s already broken.
My first amp is this Ashdown ABM500 that I bought broken for equivalent of $10 and this was the issue:
View attachment 5350529


open it up, look inside for obvious things. If it has connectors clean those up etc.
What’s the worst that’s gonna happen? That it breaks even more?

Or possibly that you get shocked from the capacitors discharging when you bump them or a wrong connection? Definitely easy to see those broken wires though.

 

[Slevage]

There aren't any large capacitors here that would do any injury to a person. When I was dumber, I got hit by a starting capacitor for a HVAC fan motor. It was very unpleasant and I don't recommend it. The dangerous part here is the power amp, when it is energized. Otherwise the potential for damage is to the amp, not the person.

Having said all that, unless it's a fuse or one is willing to risk seriously damage to the amp, sell it as is or get it to a repair shop. Sometimes the damaged component is obvious but sometimes not.

Anything over 50 volts is considered a lethal voltage.

 

[singlemalt]

I bought a “non working” Sound City bass 150 for $35. Poked around in there and replaced the power switch for $15. Didn’t kill myself or anything. Ran that beast for years and sold it for $650. Probably should have held out for more. Ya know, cause it’s vintage.

I was so glad to hand that thing off.

When it’s time to unload gear, you just have get it done.

Price it realistically if you want it gone, and be up front about the issues. A local, face to face deal would be best.

 

[agedhorse]

Much of the risk is not necessarily electrocution, but from injury from what happens after the shock... like the amp falling on you if setting on end (which is sometimes necessary for certain service procedures), or falling back away from the bench and landing on something (which is how a friend of mine got seriously hurt).

 

[dkelley]

What’s the worst that could happen? You could get electrocuted….

or break it much worse

 

[Michedelic]

I'm posing a legitimate question, hopefully it's kosher for the thread. If not, I'm sure the mods will let me know.

I have an SVT 6Pro that I have not used in several years. I'd like to sell it but it sounds like it has an operating issue. Seeking input from the collective TB experience.

Amp powers on, sounds a bit noisy but nothing too crazy, seems to be kind of distorted at the input stage. Engaging the input pad reduces/nearly eliminates the distortion, but of course this would be a defect for real use. It could be something simple, or it could be something significant, I have no idea and I'm not particularly handy with electronics.

I'd really just like to get rid of this amp. I don't use it for anything and I'm going through a gear clear out process. I'd like to get something for it of course, but I would not try to hide its current condition.

What would be the best way to sell this amp ? as a fix-it project ? ... so, list it as semi-working or something like that ?

what say you TB

Looking at Reverb sold prices, there was a non-functioning one that went for $115 plus $85 shipping. On functioning ones, it goes from $300 to $999(base price). You’ll have to determine what your comfortable or realistic asking price would be if it were operational, then factor in the potential repair bill as a loss. Then decide your point of diminishing returns, figuring out an “as is” amount.

 

[Michedelic]

I bought a “non working” Sound City bass 150 for $35. Poked around in there and replaced the power switch for $15. Didn’t kill myself or anything. Ran that beast for years and sold it for $650. Probably should have held out for more. Ya know, cause it’s vintage.

I was so glad to hand that thing off.

When it’s time to unload gear, you just have get it done.

Price it realistically if you want it gone, and be up front about the issues. A local, face to face deal would be best.

I have one, love the sound, but unfortunately it has a hiss that apparently is intrinsic to the components, yet I have a SC 120 guitar head without it. Does yours have that hiss?

 

[pfschim]

Ok, thanks to all for the comments/input.

I'll get a chance to jump the FX in/out later today, so that will definitely come first. I'll report back.

I have tried to open the amp up in the past to check the preamp tubes, but it has a ton of quite small screws that I could not turn without stripping, so opening it up does not seem likely. I'm also very wary of messing with high voltage electronics so I'm not likely to do that even if I could get the darn case off the amp.

I do live in an area where I can probably find a tech, but the time and hassle of moving this amp (its pretty heavy), and dignostic bench fee expense does not really seem worth it to me at this point.

I appreciate the comments about just being honest on such a sale, and of course I would absolutely do that. I don't care about getting much money for the amp, I'm way more interested in just moving it out of my spare gear closet.

I like the idea of reaching out to school electronics department to see if student electricians want to use it as a repair example. After I try the FX loop jumping thing, I'll give that some thought.

again, thanks for the comments/insights

 

[Engle]

Ok, thanks to all for the comments/input.

I'll get a chance to jump the FX in/out later today, so that will definitely come first. I'll report back.

I have tried to open the amp up in the past to check the preamp tubes, but it has a ton of quite small screws that I could not turn without stripping, so opening it up does not seem likely. I'm also very wary of messing with high voltage electronics so I'm not likely to do that even if I could get the darn case off the amp.

I do live in an area where I can probably find a tech, but the time and hassle of moving this amp (its pretty heavy), and dignostic bench fee expense does not really seem worth it to me at this point.

I appreciate the comments about just being honest on such a sale, and of course I would absolutely do that. I don't care about getting much money for the amp, I'm way more interested in just moving it out of my spare gear closet.

I like the idea of reaching out to school electronics department to see if student electricians want to use it as a repair example. After I try the FX loop jumping thing, I'll give that some thought.

again, thanks for the comments/insights

Try working those switches - you may be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Drredplate]

Much of the risk is not necessarily electrocution, but from injury from what happens after the shock... like the amp falling on you if setting on end (which is sometimes necessary for certain service procedures), or falling back away from the bench and landing on something (which is how a friend of mine got seriously hurt).

It wouldn’t surprise me if more people have received a back injury lifting an SVT incorrectly than have received a shock working on one.
same is often true in pharmaceutical industry. In my whole career I never saw serious chemical burns poisoning or radioactive contamination. However I saw many “kinetic” injuries trip on stairs put back out etc etc.

 

[N4860]

I don't believe that for a minute, the evidence absolutely does not support it. You are of course welcome to believe whatever story you wish though.



This is exactly why I discourage DIY repairs... because folks simply don't know what they don't know and this is a good example of that.

Sure there is plenty of high voltage, and the caps on this part of the circuit can certainly store enough energy to cause harm. Most of the preamp operates at a B+ of 300VDC. and the dangerous part is NOT the power amp, it's the AC primary side plus most of the preamp.

What is it with all the new members and the attitude that comes along with the dangerous and bad advice lately? If you don't understand what you are proposing (which clearly many don't) then keep it to yourself rather than promoting something that is dangerous to somebody else.

Never underestimate ignorance.

 

[agedhorse]

Try working those switches - you may be pleasantly surprised!

That’s a good option that’s a possibility and also not intrusive.

It wouldn’t surprise me if more people have received a back injury lifting an SVT incorrectly than have received a shock working on one.
same is often true in pharmaceutical industry. In my whole career I never saw serious chemical burns poisoning or radioactive contamination. However I saw many “kinetic” injuries trip on stairs put back out etc etc.

I’ve worked in enough shops and with enough techs to know about their injuries. With heavy amps, it’s often not the shock itself but the jump back and falling or worse having the amp topple over on you.

the same is true in electrical power industry, many more electricians (in the 120/240v category) get injured by falling off of a ladder or the structure they are working on than the shock itself. It happens, that’s why insurance rates are so high.