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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:48 pm
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Few will want to hear this but here goes anyway......

These entry-level import amps are considered "not repairable" by FMIC, even under warranty. If they fail within the period of guarantee, a dealer will replace the defective amp with a new one and the old one will be rendered destroyed by a designated Fender representative. Said "destruction" usually consists of smashing the front panel with a hammer or lacerating the baffle and speaker then removing the logo from the grill and sending back to FMIC as proof of the warranty claim. You will see many of these "destroyed" amps for sale on Ebay, allegedly damaged as a result of "shipping error".

(this info comes directly from an authorized Fender repair tech with some 25 years' experience)

That said, I would not expect world-class reliability or durability from these products. And if you have one, by all means use it gently. They're not much money and if you get more than a few years out of one, consider yourself among the fortunate.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:51 pm
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1. Can you measure the voltage you have at home and the voltage configuration on your amp ?
2. Have you got a kind of polyester on the ground of your home ?

Tissan 8)

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:43 am
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J-7 wrote:
Thank you Retroverbial for your honest and straightforward answer. This would explain why they kept sending me brand new ones in boxes rather than repairing the original unit which I hoped they would have done, cause at least I would have known the defect was fixed rather than sending me more defective units. That's sad to hear that this is considered acceptable. Unfortunately no one really does that Fender clean like Fender. :(

Tis-san, I used that amp as well as others (that I still own.) in the same places (different houses/apts) doing the same things. The Chinese amps never had any ill effects.
I appreciate the effort. :)


Yep, they did the same thing with the original GDec 15 I had. It had a defective data wheel on it and they just replaced it. I have "upgraded" to a GDec 30 now and use the footswitch, I'll tell you I can't tell if the effect are supposed to sound like crap or if this one is defective too. I only use it to practice my timing. Anymore I just turn off all the effects and use backing tracks.
Now I'm thinking about just using Garage Band on my iMac LOL.

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:36 am
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J-7 wrote:
Wow, I didn't know the regular G-Decs had any issues. Too complicated for me. Lol!
I' will probably stick with my little bass amp that hasn't given me any problem, and maybe, just maybe get a little Champion 600 for days when I have the time to go through the rituals of tube amp use. Normally I like to be able to turn everything off and on at whim just to try something real quick, or when suddenly realize it's time to go to work, and be able to just shut down without any issues.


Actually I'd go in this direction if it was me. hand wired no PCB, bigger speaker and noy much more money.
http://www.vhtamp.com/avsp16.html

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:23 pm
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Did anyone see the new show "Auction Hunters" where a couple of guys found a 1979 Stratocaster in a storage bin? They also found a Frontman 25R with it. I hope the strings were from 1979 too, because when he plugged it in and played it I nearly had to leave the room. Almost anybody on YouTube sounds better than that. If you want a solid state amp, I would go with a Roland Cube because Roland makes very good solid state equipment and the Cube can be had in a much more manageable size than a JC-120. If you prefer playing through headphones, I would go with a POD from Line6. These are very fun, they weigh less than the laptop I'm typing at, and because the technology is about 13 years old on the first units they can be had for about as much as a Frontman. The newer ones have so many features that learning how to use them can seem overwhelming for some.


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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:45 am
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+1 Arjay
+1 Supro

I agree. I had a G-dec and it failed within a few months. Although the warranty was helpfull, it still a unreliable amp. However, a well built 5 watt tube amp (without micro components and microprocessors) will be less maintenance, and should be less likely to fail.


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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:54 am
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TTSC wrote:
However, a well built 5 watt tube amp (without micro components and microprocessors) will be less maintenance, and should be less likely to fail.


I've had many a blackface Champ and Vibro Champ over the years that I inevitably would beat like a rented mule -- but they always delivered the tone whenever I powered them up.

There's no better amp for noodling around at home IMO.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:14 am
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J-7 wrote:
Lol! On the description of hearing the guitar played with what were probably strings from 1979. Lol! I didn't know they made the Frontman back that far.
Okay, so I've had a couple more confirming the G-dec failures.
The Roland series of small SS amps hasn't escaped my attention, and I've heard they have the reliability too. I have always loved Peavey amps, which are super simple and doesn't hurt that they were designed in Mississippi. (Being a Southerner and all.) This is also what my little bass amp has been for some time.

What I find most intriguing are responses on how tough, reliable and less maintenance(?) 5 watt tube amps are. Especially coming from the tech Retroverbial. I may have to look into that further. After all, it is the classic clean Fender tone I am looking for.

Thank you all for the assist. I'm glad there were more than 2 that answered. :)


I don't remember the Frontman that far back.

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:31 pm
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My '79 Strat weighed sixteen freakin' pounds.

Which is why I no longer own it.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:41 pm
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I own several MIM Strats from "a few years ago".

They all weigh less than 8 lbs - 6 ozs.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:26 pm
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Man, my 72's barely 7lbs. I know later on they were producing some serious boat anchors. They may have been looking for more sustain. Everybody was using really dense woods in the late 70's and early 80's, I guess because the Les Paul was so heavy.

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 1:58 pm
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My '78 Les Paul Standard tips the scales at slightly over 13 lbs.

Contrast that with my '04 Historic Shop R9 re-issue which weighs in a skosh under 8 lbs.

Guess which one gets more "stage time" now.

:mrgreen:

All of my alder-bodied Strats are at or near 8 lbs -- my ash Mary Kaye hardtail measures under seven.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:21 pm
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J-7 wrote:
I would just about do anything for a hardtail Strat!


What's stopping you?

I got three of them.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:36 pm
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Two of mine I built myself -- the ash Mary Kaye came from a custom luthier in JAX.

Image

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Indonesian made amps.
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:28 pm
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J-7 wrote:
What I find most intriguing are responses on how tough, reliable and less maintenance(?) 5 watt tube amps are. Especially coming from the tech Retroverbial. I may have to look into that further. After all, it is the classic clean Fender tone I am looking for.



Just remember, 5 watts of tube power can get pretty loud. I have a champion 600 that I use for indoor practice and I stll can't crank it past noon without the wife issueing some sort of complaint. :wink:

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