Crate V-33 Do any of these last?

[bluzjamer]

AMS got some of these in and I ordered one. I had gotten a V-33 combo back when they were closing them out and the reverb quit working after a week. I returned it. So I buy the V-33 Head and think well these have had to have been fixed and now are OK. Well the reverb lasted a whole hour before it would click out and come back a few minutes later only to cut out again.
Any ideas? Amp sounded pretty good before this happened. I guess I could use a pedal but after spending $180 on this head I don't feel I should have to make amends. All thoughts are welcome.

It's going back.

[Gtr_tech]

Its got a loop don't it? Stick a digital reverb in the loop. It'll sound better anyway....

[bluzjamer]

Yeah I know it has a loop but don't ya think a new amp should work 100% after you just plopped down yer hard earned? Amp not working 100% is a closeout cheap buy type deal. I asked them if they would give me a nice discount I'd keep it. They said they had others to swap. Fine I can play this game. I just haven't had too mch luck with Crate, they look so purdy for the loot though.

[Gtr_tech]

Dude....you paid 180$ for it. Not like you blew megabucks on a Trainwreck or something. Its just a mass produced low end tube amp. Why not take it to someone who can find out *why* the reverb is failing?

[bluzjamer]

Because it is under warranty! Why should anyone pay, regardless of how cheap it was. If an amp arrives defective? If you take it somewhere to have them look at it there goes the warranty. Hey just my $.02. Maybe you toss out $200 with abandon, I don't.

[Enzo]

OK, warranty. There are Crate warranty ceneters all over the country. You can go on the Loud web site and do a service dealer search for your area.

Yes, a new amp should work when you buy it. Sorry your reverb pans have been bad, that and tubes are the weak link in any amp that has to be shipped across the country in the back of a semi truck to get to you.

This is not a matter of some design flaw that will have been "corrected." Reverb pans bounce themselves to pieces more often than we would prefer. SO buying a head instead of a combo won;'t get you anywhere. Bad reverb pans is THE single most common repair I do to Fender Blues Junior amps.

I run one such shop.

[Gtr_tech]

Word. Rev pans are relatively delicate electromechanical devices and don't take well to being thrown/bounced around. Thats why the old Ampegs (and some other amps) had lock mechs to keep the springs from flailing around during transit.

Its a relatively simple operation to remove the chassis and look at the tank to see if its mechanically failed or to test the coils. Replacements are around 15$. Might not even need to take the chassis out. I have one of the combos in right now and the tank is in the bottom of the cab just like most other amps. The head may be the same, I dunno....

[bluzjamer]

Thanks guys for the tips on what most likely happened. I asked AMS for a credit to keep the amp as is. They said they had some replacements and to just send it back. Which is what I did and this being the simplest route to satisfaction. I'm sure they would have directed me to a repair shop if there was one close by.

[Enzo]

Actually they probably wouldn;t. it is simpler and faster for them not to stop answering phones to look up the nearest service shop to someone. Return shipping is just a cost of doing business to them, and they will get defective goods credit from the manufacturer. Send you a new one, BOOM problem solved, move on to the next sale.

Warranty stations cenetered on 02901 zip code:

3 miles away:
PROVIDENCE MUSIC SERVICE
64 EXCHANGE STREET
PAWTUCKET, RI 02860
Phone: (401) 722-5010
Google: [Map] [Directions]
8 miles away:
SOUND WAVE REPAIR SERVICE
352 GROVE AVE
WARWICK, RI 02889
Phone: (401) 921-0636
Google: [Map] [Directions]
36 miles away:
WEST SUBURBAN INC
337A WATERTOWN ST
NEWTON, MA 02458
Phone: (617) 928-0464
Google: [Map] [Directions]

39 miles away:
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SERVICE
10 BELVIDERE ST.
BOSTON, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 247-0525
Google: [Map] [Directions]
44 miles away:
THE AUDIO CLINIC
1066 NORWICH NEW LONDON TURNPIKE
UNCASVILLE, CT 06382
Phone: (860) 848-3873
Google: [Map] [Directions]
62 miles away:
HIGH TECH SERVICE
60 ISLAND STREET
LAWRENCE, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 686-8742
Google: [Map] [Directions]

62 miles away:
ACCUTECH AUDIO
87 CHURCH ST,
EAST HARTFORD, CT 06108
Phone: (860) 290-8979
Google: [Map] [Directions]
64 miles away:
EXTRA EFFORT ELECTRONICS
498 BRITTON ST
CHICOPEE, MA 01020
Phone: (413) 533-1208
Google: [Map] [Directions]
68 miles away:
SHORLINE ELECTRONICS & SOUND
344 EAST MAIN ST
CLINTON, CT 06413
Phone: (860) 399-1861
Google: [Map] [Directions]