champ 600 more bad resistors

[Andy Le Blanc]

just went through a champion that had flamed the artificial ct resistors
on the heaters, they were very low watt, charcoal.

but there was no other issue with the unit so it may be a continuation of
fenders bad luck with its vendors.

[selloutrr]

the circuit is a sound platform but the tone or choice of parts has always been a bit on the cheap side. they make a lot of great upgrades for that amp.

[Andy Le Blanc]

didn't seem bad for a little SE practice amp, the dealer wholesale is down to
around $100 these days, you get what you pay for.

I haven't seen BBQ like that in a while, the board was almost burnt through.

[selloutrr]

bummer i've started to notice a trend in cheaper pcb's not holding up well and jumping traces causing all sorts of damage and amp gremlins

[Andy Le Blanc]

consumer = victim

The quality bottom is definitely very close.

I used call it "built like a boom box", nothings changed that much.

I understand the manufacturing dilemma too, sure make a quality piece.
If they only buy one, you won't survive, if they "need" to "want" more....
you can make a living.

[selloutrr]

I guess so but how many companies have survived making dispossable amplifiers?

The only ones that come to mind are sister companies of larger "pro" companies wanting to break into the student market and those are "I've out grown them and want a bigger amp!" not well mine keeps breaking I better buy another one.

Cars and appliances sure but the cost to repair a shitty amp is the same as buying new but why would you invest in shit again?
It feels to me Like a car salesman might have married an amp guys daughter and he was a bit of a Tommy boy.

[Andy Le Blanc]

Fender is huge , there was a point when the employees bought it back from CBS.
The company rep's where involved with building the brand and personally
involved with the dealers. Now its the other way. share holders rule.
Gross economics determine quality. Great time for geeks who think they can build a brand.

[iknowjohnny]

Most electronics aside from hi end stuff today is disposable. Some of the very latest fender SS stuff is so bad the traces fall apart just looking at them. They're thin and tiny and when you scrape the paint off solder has a hard time flowing to it even with plenty of flux. In fact, fenders latest stuff is following a new trend where they do not offer parts to thier authorized service centers. they're called "non field repairable' or some such thing, and when they have issues the whole amp is replaced or if out of warranty you simply throw them away ! It's the customer that asked for this by refusing to pay what it takes to build decent stuff. Once any of the competition begins doing things like this everyone else is forced to follow to stay in business. Luckily there are customers who have money and know good gear and what it's worth, so they still make some decent quality stuff in thier tube line. Tho the bottom of that is pretty bad now too. No wonder we build our own !

[Andy Le Blanc]

It's getting to the point where regional makers can diversify the whole market

even the most basic terminal or point fabrications hold a superior quality.

The analogue tube audio characteristic is superior, digital is a pale shadow.

And with the internet destroying traditional recording profits, the only way to make it
is to get out and make it, live performance will save the artist and the audience.

[Bear]

I've had much of the same thought, Andy. Music should borrow the "localism" movement from foodies and adapt it. Local and regional bands, venues, labels, radio, media, and fans. When a lot of what is being sold on a national or world-wide level is a sense of connection to the artist, why not have a real connection instead of a label publicist operating the artist's Facebook page and Twitter feed? If bands realize that it's a lottery winner's chance of actually making any money on the majors, they might be quite happy with a sustainable model of making some money to make music without compromise.