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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 11:52 am
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arth1 wrote:
mh2000 wrote:
If you save your preferred configurations on a computer or even your Android phone, you can just grab a new Mustang amp, load your presets and have the exact same configuration in a matter of minutes!


A liftetime of experience has taught me that Mr. If You never survives a meeting with Mr. Murphy.

+1000

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 11:54 am
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Thread is getting deep. I don't know about you guys, but when I get into a pissing contest, it usually involves me, a few beers, and the toilet bowl. The bowl usually wins and my wife has never been amused by that. :shock:

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:07 pm
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Screamin Armadillo wrote:
...however, I think Arjay/Retroverbial could probably speak to the typical (and atypical) lifespan of vacuum tubes, so I ask him to do so.


For lack of a better descriptive, I'd say that speculating upon the potential lifespan of a vacuum tube is analogous to the "luck of the Irish", whether said tube is new/contemporary or vintage/NOS. There's simply no method of accurately predicting the service life. I've seen brand-new vintage tubes measure as "defective" right out of the box without ever having been used and conversely, cheap chicom knockoffs last for years. I've personally observed NOS mil-spec bottles remain fully serviceable for decades while premium Russian or Czech glass goes south after only a year or two. Literally, it's a crap-shoot. That said, most well-made tubes, whether vintage or new, should provide five or more years of reliable service -- often longer if proper warm-up/cool-down protocols are observed. But the unique asset that tubes offer is field-replaceability. If a solid-state device bites the dust, there's nothing to see. It's just dead. And if you find yourself onstage in front of a live audience that came to hear you play, you can stick a fork in your transistorized amp because you're done. Digital amps are even worse due to their complexity and often the companies that made them cannot or will not repair them. With a tube model, more often than not you can pop in a new bottle when there's visible evidence of a dead or dying tube and continue your performance.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:32 pm
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1neeto wrote:
Thread is getting deep. I don't know about you guys, but when I get into a pissing contest, it usually involves me, a few beers, and the toilet bowl. The bowl usually wins and my wife has never been amused by that. :shock:

:lol:

True, but what's getting deep is the ruts created by the people who've dug their heels in to the position that a disposable digital device is as useful or valuable (long term) as other, more durable devices.

I'll even go a different route:
A standard, solid state amp (such as a Roland JC-120, the various incarnations of the Marshall Valvestate, a Gibson G10 or G20 [one of which I own] or the various Fender Frontman models) is a good device that should last for many years with little or no problems. They are generally decent investments (higher Bang-To-Buck ratio). They all have their fans/admirers/users as well as their detractors. The maintenance cost on these devices is close to nil, and if the device DOES fail, there's a good chance it can be repaired...whether it's field repairable or not, (or cost-prohibitive or not) are very important different issues.

Some of these devices even command a decent resale value.

However, to think that a Roland Cube, or a Fender G-DEC or a Line 6 Spider is anywhere in the category of these (non-tube, solid-state) devices is ludicrous...and in terms of durability, repairability and resale value* they'll never stack up.

I'll leave sound quality and the "coolness/Vibe" factor out of the discussion.

*(resale value is important to me in one aspect; the reason I sold some of the various amps and guitars I've owned over the years was due to personal financial downturns. I've paid mortgage payments, car payments and utility bills with the proceeds of the sale of items that had tangible value--LP collections, high-end stereo equipment, better guitars and amps. first, I sold the stuff I least enjoyed but still had the highest value, and moved on to highest value yet more sentimental or personal attachment later, in order to keep the things that were more necessary, such as our home or our means of transportation to work..many of my instruments do not have high resale value, because most of the "good stuff" has already been picked through or decimated).

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:51 pm
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strings10927 wrote:
arth1 wrote:
They don't use G-DECs or Mustangs, though :p

What about Line 6?

Image

Yeah what about them I own one of there POS amps Line 6 spider III 120 watt 2x 12 inch 2009 maybe,at this point of its life I can get 20 to 40 minutes of play before the DSP get wakey and goes into turn off turn on mode all by itself until I shut the power down. It works better in winter month when the air is cooler I can get 1 hour no more before it freaks out on me,
When I spoke with customer support they said send it in ( on my dime ) and they will fix it for a flat fee of over $400 dollars, I told them that's what a new one cost they told me to buy a new one then, My answer to that was, WHAT A PIECE OF *&#$ brought up my 69 SFSR and I have no more issues, most of the time I used it with the model of a SR but it never sounded like a real one anyway
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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:59 pm
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strings10927 wrote:
By the same token, I have never had any failure with any solid state amp.

Then you have had similar good fortune with your solid-state amps that I have had with my tube amps.

I personally have been stranded twice by solid-state amps:
(1) A bandmate's Roland JC120 died in the middle of our first set (first of four sets that night). He finished the night by plugging his pedalboard directly into a channel on the PA. Fortunately, he was able to get it fixed (bad soldering on the circuit board).

(2) The Armadillo Teen's Rumble 150 started fritzing out in the middle of a jam session. It made sound, but nothing you'd want to listen to. Turned it off, let it cool down (and continued the jam session bass-less). 45 minutes later, tried it again.
It made it through the rest of the night (one more hour). Took it to the shop (under warranty), but they couldn't find anything wrong. It hasn't happened again (yet!), but it definitely put a damper on the Bass Player's involvement for part of that particular evening, and I don't trust the thing at all.

Quote:
They just work.

Yep...until they don't, then you're headed to a repair shop or (more likely) back to Guitar Center to get another one.

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:15 pm
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Truth be told, Mustaine plays whatever people pay him to play. He's gone Marshall, VHT, Marshall, Randall, Crate, Marshall and now Line6 to my knowledge.
Can't think of an album that he used Peavey on. I like Megadeth, they're a bit of an obsession.

There's a difference between solid state and digital amplification.
I've happily gigged with Carlsboro, Peavey and Marshall solid state amps. And never been let down by them. My Marshall 4211 let me down once. My 8008 valvestate power amp and POD never let me down.

The sound quality is a user issue not a quality issue on most gear

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:17 pm
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BB KIng never balked at solid state amplification. I defy anyone to say he had a bad sound.
Yeah ok he may have bored you to tears with repetition, but he sounded good doing it.

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:36 pm
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sooo...

I'm still trying to figure out how we got three pages deep on a post that was a dead amp that can be replaced on ebay for around 70 bucks..

for the record I had a yamaha G212 100 watt combo bought in the early 80s that I ran for over 20 years of heavy gigging.

sounded as good as any solid state amp could sound, and it never ever for one second, did anything other than work just like it was supposed to. despite having three really good tube amps, and a few mustags for yucks, I wish I still had that yamaha..

Good gear id a good players hands, is always going to sound good

Crappy gear in a good players hand, is still going to sound good.

$10k worth of gear...if you happen to suck......... is never going to sound good.


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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:43 pm
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KidBlast wrote:
$10k worth of gear...if you happen to suck......... is never going to sound good.


On that, I think we can all agree.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:47 pm
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nikininja wrote:
BB KIng never balked at solid state amplification. I defy anyone to say he had a bad sound.

Yes, he used a great high-end solid-state Lab Series L-5 amp; I never said solid-state amps are bad or useless.

I said that many/most digital amps are, ultimately, throwaway disposable items (due to the inability to be repaired). A Lab Series amp could easily be repaired by a competent technician--and it would be worth fixing, as well.

A good guitarist would sound good playing almost anything...until that "almost anything" goes belly-up on you mid-song. Then you're playing Simon and Garfunkle (The Sounds Of Silence).

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 6:27 pm
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SA yeah mate. Didn't I also say that there's a world of difference between solid state and digital amplification.
The line 6 spider was digital. It's predecessor the Flextone was solid state.

Of course there is a point where budget means disposable.
You can't lump all amps of type in that bracket. The VHT 6watt jobs aren't disposable. They're tepair yourself.
I just get tired of people ragging on cheap gear. I'll bet you put any old junk in the hands of a well seasoned player they'll get at least one usable decent sound out of it. As you said in another post about the kids that go to you for lessons.

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:36 pm
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Screamin Armadillo wrote:
1neeto wrote:
Thread is getting deep. I don't know about you guys, but when I get into a pissing contest, it usually involves me, a few beers, and the toilet bowl. The bowl usually wins and my wife has never been amused by that. :shock:

:lol:

True, but what's getting deep is the ruts created by the people who've dug their heels in to the position that a disposable digital device is as useful or valuable (long term) as other, more durable devices.

I'll even go a different route:
A standard, solid state amp (such as a Roland JC-120, the various incarnations of the Marshall Valvestate, a Gibson G10 or G20 [one of which I own] or the various Fender Frontman models) is a good device that should last for many years with little or no problems. They are generally decent investments (higher Bang-To-Buck ratio). They all have their fans/admirers/users as well as their detractors. The maintenance cost on these devices is close to nil, and if the device DOES fail, there's a good chance it can be repaired...whether it's field repairable or not, (or cost-prohibitive or not) are very important different issues.

Some of these devices even command a decent resale value.

However, to think that a Roland Cube, or a Fender G-DEC or a Line 6 Spider is anywhere in the category of these (non-tube, solid-state) devices is ludicrous...and in terms of durability, repairability and resale value* they'll never stack up.

I'll leave sound quality and the "coolness/Vibe" factor out of the discussion.

*(resale value is important to me in one aspect; the reason I sold some of the various amps and guitars I've owned over the years was due to personal financial downturns. I've paid mortgage payments, car payments and utility bills with the proceeds of the sale of items that had tangible value--LP collections, high-end stereo equipment, better guitars and amps. first, I sold the stuff I least enjoyed but still had the highest value, and moved on to highest value yet more sentimental or personal attachment later, in order to keep the things that were more necessary, such as our home or our means of transportation to work..many of my instruments do not have high resale value, because most of the "good stuff" has already been picked through or decimated).

I think solid state amps offer a great value for what they are. I would never buy a solid state amp and expect to eventually sell for more or even the same price I paid for it. Now modeling SS amps offer something no tube amp ever will; flexibility. It's a great tool when you're searching for *your* tone. It is also an awesome tool when you're trying to get good gain tone at bedroom levels. You simply can't crank a 15w Blues Jr. to even halfway in your room, now with a mustang III amp, you can get that tone (close enough) at low levels, or even just plug your headphones. And it so happens it's also good enough to gig with and wouldn't break your heart if anything happened to it.

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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:22 pm
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1neeto wrote:
It is also an awesome tool when you're trying to get good gain tone at bedroom levels. You simply can't crank a 15w Blues Jr. to even halfway in your room,

I frequently crank up my 30W bedroom tube amp, so "simply can't" obviously isn't so. "May not be able to" is probably more accurate.

A load box / attenuator can be a good investment for home practice or home studio work if wanting to keep the dimed tube amp sound while living with people that can't regrow ear drums.


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Post subject: Re: amp cuts off
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:09 am
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arth1 wrote:
1neeto wrote:
It is also an awesome tool when you're trying to get good gain tone at bedroom levels. You simply can't crank a 15w Blues Jr. to even halfway in your room,

I frequently crank up my 30W bedroom tube amp, so "simply can't" obviously isn't so. "May not be able to" is probably more accurate.

A load box / attenuator can be a good investment for home practice or home studio work if wanting to keep the dimed tube amp sound while living with people that can't regrow ear drums.


"May not be able to" may be a more accurate term but you're kinda reaching here in order to "win" the argument. Most people can't just crank a 15 watt, much less a 30 watt tube amp in their non sound-proofed bedroom without pissing off their parents or neighbors. You don't like SS amps, fine, but don't ignore the great benefits that come with owning one in certain situations.

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