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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 3:32 pm
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Most of the older amps will easily survive the "Ford F150 test".

I once had a Showman head slide off of the open tailgate as my rhythm guitarist slowly backed the pickup closer to a saloon's stage door. It didn't even loosen any tubes.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 5:01 pm
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Apparently that's what UPS considers being gentle with a package. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:28 am
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Jooiie wrote:
Hey! Let me tell you my story ...
    Hi Johan. The details of my story are a little different but the essence is the same and it's the title of your thread:
    I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp again.

    Whether the problem is with QC, parts, shipping, RoHS compliance, some of the above, all of the above, or none of the above, the end result is an unreliable product and low consumer confidence. In a recent thread I asked what does it cost to get reliability and I believe the advice I was given yields the following choices:
        • Pay mega $$$ for a hand-wired PTP boutique amp.
        • Get a vintage Fender amp.
        • Build it yourself.
        • Or, if you're feeling lucky, roll the dice and take your chances.

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:20 pm
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RoHS compliance. If the makers of electric equipment did not build their oriducts to end up in a landfill as soon as possible, the issue may not have needed to come up. Clearly, the thousands(?) of Fender amps still in circulation and use are no threat to the environment. Now, a product meant to last for a few generations is unthinkable to the planners of ever increasing profit. My point is not about profitability, but about the squeezing of every possible penny/dollar out of a sale. This kind of boardroom behavior is pathological, and most shareholders, are the sickest of all.

To satisfy this group of sociopaths in business, the sociopaths in government pass laws like RoHS and we think they are doing the right thing. I use the word 'we' with some discomfort. I do not fall into that group. For the sake of unity, I will join the crowd. For now. :lol:

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Last edited by modwiz on Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:52 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:27 pm
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"Threat to the Environment" is just another in a long list of scams foisted on the public by the powers that be. Social Security, War on drugs, global warming, terrorism, on and on... :wink:

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:17 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
"Threat to the Environment" is just another in a long list of scams foisted on the public by the powers that be. Social Security, War on drugs, global warming, terrorism, on and on... :wink:


Gee, you're informed in more ways than one. :D

You and a few others have helped me to understand the tube beasts a bit better. :)

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:27 am
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modwiz wrote:
You and a few others have helped me to understand the tube beasts a bit better. :)


You prolly knew more than you were aware of. We merely jarred your consciousness into a new paradigm.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 4:25 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
modwiz wrote:
You and a few others have helped me to understand the tube beasts a bit better. :)


You prolly knew more than you were aware of. We merely jarred your consciousness into a new paradigm.

:mrgreen:

Arjay


+1

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:47 am
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Instead of buying a tube amp through mail order and dealing with UPS's handling of them, you could go to your nearest retailer and buy one in person. This way you know exactly what you're taking home with you, or you could just go with SS.


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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:49 pm
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When it comes to amps, more often than not, I buy a display model and have been fortunate, rarely having a problem with them. Although, it might be missing a box or manual or some hang tag, but no big deal if everything works fine. Sometimes I'll even get an extra discount because of some small blemish. :)

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:15 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
When it comes to amps, more often than not, I buy a display model and have been fortunate, rarely having a problem with them. Although, it might be missing a box or manual or some hang tag, but no big deal if everything works fine. Sometimes I'll even get an extra discount because of some small blemish. :)


+1

Hang tags and packing cartons do not feed the bulldog!

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:02 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
When it comes to amps, more often than not, I buy a display model and have been fortunate, rarely having a problem with them. Although, it might be missing a box or manual or some hang tag, but no big deal if everything works fine. Sometimes I'll even get an extra discount because of some small blemish. :)
    Ever since I returned that FSR BJr I've been thinking of taking a chance on a floor model. I don't have the $$$ for a hand-wired PTP model and given my rate of progress on the DIY route my 2012 HRD may become 'vintage' before I am able to build my own. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:36 pm
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Ever so slightly off the subject,...but when you talk about RoHS compliance,...Allen Organ Company of Macungie,PA,...and Rodgers Instruments(Rodgers Organs which is part of Roland Corp.)have to meet that RoHS compliance stuff with the solder they use,...not sure about Hammond,...but the other two have to. I don't want to get over confident,but I have reason to believe my HRD III amp will be okay! As to EL84 tubes vs. 6L6 and 6V6 tubes,...the 6L6 and 6V6 do have better tone quality than the EL84 in the Blues Jr. amps.
The Blues Jr. should have 6V6 tubes rather than the EL84s. Back to Allen and Rodgers for just a minute,...I don't play organ,but I have heard organs from both builders,...sound wise,they are pretty good for digitally reproducing pipe organ sounds,but I
would question the quality of the solder they use if it has to be RoHS compliant. I would buy an earlier non-RoHS compliant instrument,...probably before 2009 I think if I played organ,and if I could find one in really nice shape,same would hold true for a DR amp. Would I attempt building an amp on my own,...I don't know,...unless I had one of my ham radio buddies by my side who knows how to build electronic stuff to guide me.

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If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:03 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
When it comes to amps, more often than not, I buy a display model and have been fortunate, rarely having a problem with them. Although, it might be missing a box or manual or some hang tag, but no big deal if everything works fine. Sometimes I'll even get an extra discount because of some small blemish. :)


+1

Hang tags and packing cartons do not feed the bulldog!

Arjay



Back in the 60's and 70's that's generally how we bought them from our Mom & Pop shops. Right off the floor. But back then, you just didn't grab a guitar off the wall and wank away. If you were a kid, you had to have a parent with you, your belt buckle had to be turned to the side and you had to be serious about purchasing. We still have a couple of shops like that today. I always bought my amps off the floor. Today I unbox amps at the store and put them through their paces. It pisses me off when I see some kid wanking away on an amp with his foot on top of the amp scuffing it all up and abusing the snot out of the amp.

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Post subject: Re: I'm afraid of buying a Fender amp. Again...
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:17 am
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KC9SYJ wrote:
Ever so slightly off the subject,...but when you talk about RoHS compliance,...Allen Organ Company of Macungie,PA,...and Rodgers Instruments(Rodgers Organs which is part of Roland Corp.)have to meet that RoHS compliance stuff with the solder they use,...not sure about Hammond,...but the other two have to. I don't want to get over confident,but I have reason to believe my HRD III amp will be okay! As to EL84 tubes vs. 6L6 and 6V6 tubes,...the 6L6 and 6V6 do have better tone quality than the EL84 in the Blues Jr. amps.
The Blues Jr. should have 6V6 tubes rather than the EL84s. Back to Allen and Rodgers for just a minute,...I don't play organ,but I have heard organs from both builders,...sound wise,they are pretty good for digitally reproducing pipe organ sounds,but I
would question the quality of the solder they use if it has to be RoHS compliant. I would buy an earlier non-RoHS compliant instrument,...probably before 2009 I think if I played organ,and if I could find one in really nice shape,same would hold true for a DR amp. Would I attempt building an amp on my own,...I don't know,...unless I had one of my ham radio buddies by my side who knows how to build electronic stuff to guide me.


It's not just the solder, the quality of the boards and construction shortcuts are also at fault too. Thin, narrow traces on single sided boards are no place for components that can produce a fair amount of heat. Couple that with RoHS compliance solder and you have a problem. Some of these issues were addressed with the HRD III series but not all of them. I wish the tube sockets were bolted directly to the chassis and hard wired to the board. Personally, you'll never see a spade or ribbon connector in any amp or pedal I build. Leave that garbage for computers.

Truth is, none of lower end amps are built for the long haul. Way back even the Champs were built for the long haul. Now they're pretty much landfill not long after the warranty runs out unless you keep them home and baby them. I gig with my gear on a regular basis and it needs to work.

I hope you have nothing but good luck with your gear.

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