Lets talk about The Most Reliable Tube amp heads

  • Thread starter Thread starter zee1usa
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zee1usa

zee1usa

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The one that comes to mind for me most often is the Soldano SLO 100.

1) It seems to be free of relays, LEDs, switches and all other things that could fail other than tubes of course.

2) Life time Warranty

I have amps from many of the most common manufacturers and the SLO 100 seems as it would be most reliable in the long run, as in an amp the will really last you a life time.

Please feel free to list the amp(s) that you feel are some of the most reliable and why. :rock:
 
CaseyCor":1ikhufp5 said:
5150?
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Possibly because it is modeled after a SLO 100?

I have heard the 5150 is quite a reliable work horse.
 
Hiwatt.

As for the SLO.... there's way simpler amps with way less parts in them that can go wrong. The SLO is still a channel switcher, so unless it magically switches channels it has some sort of relay in it somewhere.
 
some dude":1dslici1 said:
Gorilla?

As for the SLO.... there's way simpler amps with way less parts in them that can go wrong. The SLO is still a channel switcher, so unless it magically switches channels it has some sort of relay in it somewhere.
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glassjaw7":2u56txlw said:
Never had any issues with my Mesa stuff.
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I had some issues with a couple of Dual Rec Roadkings about 5 years ago right off the production line purchased new.
It took almost a year to resolve this issue :doh: :gethim: :thumbsdown:

1)Boost or solo circuit had an issue on one
2) the other had a relay issue where it would click or drop out while playing.
 
The one that comes to MY mind most often is: MESA/BOOGIE :gethim:
 
Have multiple Marshalls that are 25-30+ years old and still going strong....... even modded :D
 
My Boogie (DC5) has'nt had one issue since I bought it new in 1992. Typical road rash from gigging all these years but reliable as a f***
 
Both my Diezel heads have never given me any issues!
 
JTyson":3q3ir5yu said:
Have multiple Marshalls that are 25-30+ years old and still going strong....... even modded :D
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+1 to this

i can detest out of all the 5150's i have owned, the original block letters and signature series models are the workhorse models that have no issues. the new 6505/+ models however - ive had issues with since day 1 in reliability - mostly due to poor soldering from the factory and having to trace down the components being intermittent.

SLO and marshall get my vote for sure. ive never seen a faulty marshall that wasnt in need of any care other than electrolytic capacitor replacements :rock:
 
I had an old JCM800 knocked off the back of my 4x12 cab onto a concrete stage and it never missed a beat.
 
1994 Mesa Dual Rectifier - I bought it new, its still going strong.

2004 Bogner Uberschall - I bought it new, and no problems yet.

these amps arent 30 or 40 years old like some guys have, but im thinking they will still be cranking when they are.

russell
 
PaulyPanacea":7aj2evps said:
Both my Diezel heads have never given me any issues!
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My VH4 had to be serviced in LA because the relays would freak out. click back and fourth a hundred times, and the lights would freak out. I believe a board was swapped out for a midi problem? :aww:
 
I know I'm a Soldano fan boy, but yes the SLO. I have 2 SLOs that are 22 and 23 years old. And a few of my SM100r power amps are 20+ years old. One of the SLOs was from the original owner (#19) and she said it was never serviced except for tubes. And she had been a steady gigging musician all the time she had it. Only thing I've had that has a few decades on it, so not sure what else stacks up. Lots of older Fenders, Marshalls and Vox amps out there that probably have held up very well.
 
I gotta give it to Mesa/Boogie. Out of all the amp companies that churn out tons of production models mesa really seems to beat out the rest in terms of longevity and build quality.
 
I gigged a Mesa Mk IIC+ for 12 years straight and never took a backup to a gig. Not once. It never failed. :thumbsup:
 
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