It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:21 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2015 1:29 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
TimsAudio wrote:
Ya, they sure don't build em like they used to. Remember when you could throw your phone down on the ground and it wouldn't even rip out the cord?


+1000

My point was (and remains) that back in the day every effing piece of gear that Fender made was road ready. Studio, stage, rehearsal, it didn't matter. The amps often absorbed incredible amounts of abuse and neglect yet still functioned just as designed. You could kick them off a curb, toss them into a van, bounce them as baggage aboard a Greyhound then count on them to deliver the bacon at a gig or session. Try that even with the most expensive model that FMIC sells. Be sure to have a spare on hand though because the odds are, you'll need it.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 12:30 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
I saw a program recently where they were making amps (not Fender) and the populated boards were dip soldered. I assume this is the standard method of mass producing boards.

As we know this produces a very even solder joint. But it is a wonder to me that anything works as it would seem the potential for a poor joint would be very high without the most stringent controls of component and assembly hygiene.

It also uses only the very smallest amount of solder - great for economy and when assembling boards with closely spaced components and fine tracks, but not so wonerful in an amplifier.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:14 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
I think if you combine a cheap, thin, single sided board with cheap components and wave solder them with RoHs solder, you have potential landfill, especially with a tube amp. It may sound good for a little while, but It doesn't last that long in my experience.
I have pedals with better boards than my HRDlx had. Pretty sad when you think about it.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:30 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 3:25 pm
Posts: 1023
From a corporate point of view, making cheap that still hangs together is the name of the game. It's easy to make it cheap, Hanging together is another story.
The Apple phones that burn batteries. The XBox that overheats. All the electronics companies are on the edge of dollars or dependability


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 12:52 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
TimsAudio wrote:
From a corporate point of view, making cheap that still hangs together is the name of the game. It's easy to make it cheap, Hanging together is another story.
The Apple phones that burn batteries. The XBox that overheats. All the electronics companies are on the edge of dollars or dependability


Very true indeed.
The weird thing is, I'm pretty old school, so I look for old school designs and building techniques. I couldn't give a rat's arse about have the latest and so-called greatest disposable device. I'm a professional freelance photographer. I could buy a new piece of gear every day but I don't. I use my gear until it either fails or the technology gets so ahead of me that I have to get something new to compete in the market. I think I'm good for a while with the last one I bought. But for my music, the needs are the same as my day job. It needs to work when I need it to work period. My POS HRDlx is what got me started building stuff. It just seemed like everything is going to be landfill in short order. I know guys that get pissed if their washing machine breaks and call the service guy in, but will just toss an amp or a phone or a TV and go out and get a new one.. Go figure.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:32 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:27 pm
Posts: 269
I sold my Ramparte due to the hum. Marketing had the right idea with a moderate-sized cool-looking home amp you could play in front of pictures of your cats, but engineering really bungled it with the hum. I lost $75 on the deal but got to try out a fun amp for a couple of months. Not the end of the world.

Lately I mostly play my Champion 110, transistors and all, and at the volume I play it slays all the tube amps I've ever tried. If I really want toobs going I put the EHX Black Finger in front of it. It might sound wrong to guys who grew up exposed to different sounds but I don't mind being less conventional.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ramparte Amp imperfect by design or laziness?
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:20 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:36 pm
Posts: 638
I just picked up a Ramparte on CL. Quiet as a mouse until you pluck a string. I wonder if Fender corrected these issues in later runs?

I too bought it for the novelty of the looks and having an amp to sit next to my living room chair that actually looks like an intended piece of furniture for the room!

I am hoping to score an Excelsior and a Vaporizer also someday... but right now they are demanding new price for used ones.

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: