Guitars

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Looking at a local .50 caliber.

It's currently not producing output. Listed for $300

After inquiring, he responds with:

"This thing used to wail. It stopped producing output a few months ago. I had a friend look at it. He couldn't do anything with it but he's not a serious tech.

I have no $$$ to fix it.

All of the tubes do light up. I couldn't tell you about the microphonic noise issue as I'm not sure how to measure that. There is no sound coming from the speaker jacks. I do hear some noise thru the FX loop."

Thoughts?
If it could be an easy fix, I could offer him 200-250 and get it repaired here in Atlanta (Andrew's Amp Lab -- the best)

Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 2751 Location: Southeast MI

If he'll take less I would. You might have to put some money into it, but it could just be simple. It'd be a gamble but if you get the price down a little it'd be a pretty safe one.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:39 am

sounds like a bad output transformer.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:52 am

ML Tib wrote:

sounds like a bad output transformer.

Or caps

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10221 Location: New Jersey USA

Those typically sell used for around 5 bills. So you had better get it for $200 or less if it isnt producing any sound. All the risk is on you. If you buy it for $300, and it cost you $250 to fix it, you lose. If its a blown output tube, and it costs you nothing more than a set of tubes, you win.

Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 2751 Location: Southeast MI

BradWorld wrote:

Those typically sell used for around 5 bills. So you had better get it for $200 or less if it isnt producing any sound. All the risk is on you. If you buy it for $300, and it cost you $250 to fix it, you lose. If its a blown output tube, and it costs you nothing more than a set of tubes, you win.

This exactly. If you can fix it yourself, $200 wouldn't be bad because $300 can get you a lot of parts. If you're taking it somewhere, expect to pay a bit.