CrystalSky
Well-known member
Sadly I know nothing and only retold what I was told. If it’s no problem, then good for all.
Joruke
Member
I'm glad that they are around and do what they do given current market conditions, but the quality of some of the pieces I have purchased seem kind of bland - good but not great.
J
Jdub
Well-known member
Last time I went to the shop which was maybe a year ago tops, the cabs were still made in house. Only the pedals were outsourced as of then.. People have been saying that in speculation about the cabs for a few years but it is not accurate.
tlp1234
Moderator
I won't lie in stating I have felt that way about my SB50 combo a time or two.......but after I slept on and thought about things more I decided not to make an issue of a few things.
To be fair, some of the cosmetic things were initially a distraction like the plastic overlays for the controls on the front and back chassis. I'm sure it saves them money vs the older school methods. I shoudn't hold that against them that it just looks "cheap". Otherwise, the functionality isn't affected. So I have to admit it's a stupid thing for me to fret over. All my Matchless amps have plastic type material chassis overlays too, but they are more substantial as in thicker/stiffer and the lettering is engraved, not silk-screened or p-touch tape. I just expected better for a $3k amp (new-2018 when I bought).
Part of the DC bridge circuit died in the power supply. I'm not the repair expert by any stretch. I can do simple electrical troubleshooting and can solder. I don't work on consumer electronics all the time. Not even seldom these days. But I'm used to seeing 4 physical diodes arrayed in the typical bridge circuit like lots of old tube amps have them (of course unless it has a valve rectifier as opposed to silicon diode). What I found instead was a bridge recifier module. But it had the mfr sku# on it. Luckily, I was able to order a replacement from Mouser. Again, not a big deal. I guess they save money doing things like that too. Just wasn't used to seeing that. Like I said I'm not a repair tech. I don't work on guitar tube amps every day. Actually almost never (actually hate working on this crap anymore, but sometimes forced to).
What QC issues, concerns have you encountered with a B.A.D. produced product @Dave M ?
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Apex1Rg7X
Well-known member
Pretty sure Blad is gone from BAD now. Can’t remember where I read that but it was maybe a couple months ago
Dave M
Well-known member
Unsoldered connections, cold joints, mis-wired circuitry, etc., ....
Amazing considering the prices charged and the alleged final QC of allegedly every amp of the namesake brand/"builder".
311boogieman
Well-known member
There are a ton of other brands made here. There was a big thread maybe a year ago or so but I can't find it.
tlp1234
Moderator
Thank you Sir. I do realize these things happen. I dare say it can happen with almost any brand. My humble opinion of course.
On one hand when you purchase something for a certain amount you expect a certain level of craftsmanship and quality. I dare say some of the expectations are subjective on a personal level (me). At least in my mind, I try to be fair and resist the urge to criticize. But certain things can't be ignored.
The few things I mentioned in my previous post were resolved without much fuss once I figured it out. I've incurred no other problems to date. Doesn't mean there isn't something else there waiting to fail. But while I was under the hood I visually looked over everything I could see at that time, tugged at all the soldered wire and component connections. To the best of my abilities of the moment, nothing else looked suspect. Another set of eyes could've discovered more or something else. Just saying, it's a possibility.
Thank you for sharing @Dave M.
technomancer
Well-known member
I've had 6 BAD amps and the only problem I had with any of them was a bad preamp tube... that included the SLO getting banged around in shipping so badly that one of the power tubes was shattered when it got here.
2 x Friedman BE100 (2 different revisions)
Friedman JJ100
Friedman SS100v2
Friedman Twin Sister
Soldano SLO
Also just to put things in perspective, a rectifier module is more expensive than 4 diodes. I typically don't use them in my own builds since my amps are turret board one-offs for myself, but there is nothing wrong with using one at all.
2 x Friedman BE100 (2 different revisions)
Friedman JJ100
Friedman SS100v2
Friedman Twin Sister
Soldano SLO
Also just to put things in perspective, a rectifier module is more expensive than 4 diodes. I typically don't use them in my own builds since my amps are turret board one-offs for myself, but there is nothing wrong with using one at all.
RedB4Black
Well-known member
I bought a brand new FL Diezel cab (BAD built) and one of the speakers had a puncture and a subsequent repair. It was an unopened box from MF so it left BAD that way. BS that they would put that in the cab. They did send me a replacement speaker though. Shouldn’t have had to deal with it though. Probably hoping that they’d get away with it. Should’ve put it in a rear loaded cab where it wouldn’t have been so easily noticed
lespaul6
Well-known member
I'm just surprised they are making any money manufacturing in California
tlp1234
Moderator
Thanks Matt. Stuff like that obviously hard to ignore. I'd probably feel the same.
tlp1234
Moderator
I wonder what their margins are. I've often wondered what some of the other (smaller) gear mfr's that have been there many years profit margins are. James Tyler, Suhr, Mesa, Fryette, Tom Anderson, Paul Rivera to name a few.
I'm sure I'll never know, and I'll always wonder.
errrrrl
Well-known member
They must make Synergy stuff too, my 6505 module came from BAD. Its too bad Fryette doesn't team up with BAD.
Bad.Seed
Well-known member
Nothing but great things to say about BAD. Both working with them and as a customer. I have had zero quality issues with anything I've ordered or received from them.
To be fair, I would think that with the cost (business being located and made in USA comes with a heafty price tag, but still) that nothing should leave there with issues, but the human element is unreliable, as we all know.
That being said, I have a hard time taking someone seriously who just says they're "crap" across the board with nothing but anecdotal experience and not even particular details.
Either way, hope they keep it rolling, and would love to see the Sooldano Avenger reissued!
To be fair, I would think that with the cost (business being located and made in USA comes with a heafty price tag, but still) that nothing should leave there with issues, but the human element is unreliable, as we all know.
That being said, I have a hard time taking someone seriously who just says they're "crap" across the board with nothing but anecdotal experience and not even particular details.
Either way, hope they keep it rolling, and would love to see the Sooldano Avenger reissued!
LP Freak
Well-known member
I just think if people spent more time playing and less time analyzing we’d all be better off
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tlp1234
Moderator
Yes.......I feel that way too sometimes.
Nostalgically digressing....back in the stone age, when I was a teen just starting on guitar I used what was available and glad to have it. Surely inferior gear by todays standards. Yes, you've heard countless annoyingly similar accounts.
Fast-forward several decades to the present and who could ever imagine the sea of "stuff" available today at all options/price points imagineable?
So much gear, so little time.
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
I love it all.
Give'm something to talk about
tlp1234
Moderator
Avenger would be cool. How bout' the Reverb-o-sonic, Lucky 13, Atomic and Hot Rod series? I wonder how the market would be for those re-issues?
tlp1234
Moderator
Thank you for that @technomancer. Great to read about all experiences in hopes more folks drop by and offer up their experiences, be they good or not. Thank you @Dave M and @mhenson42 for those posts.
I still dig my SB50 inspite of the small problems it had. I realize and respect others differing expectations though.
One of my biggest curiosities is if something like B.A.D. will prevail long term. It's almost another subject the dynamics of the whole "made here" vs "offshore" premise. I say that with respect as wish nothing bad on them or any similar business model I can think of at the moment.