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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | The local GC has a used one of these for $179. It looks like it has a bunch of nice features my little Epiphone doesn't have, so I thought I might pick it up if it's a good deal. Then it can sit in the basement with the other 3 amps I never use. |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | If you think it would look good sitting there, buy it.
If you plan on using it, take it into their "quiet" room and play it.
Some people took issue with hiss from the tweeter. See if the tweeter-level control on the back tames the hiss.
I have the rack mount version of the preamp (CA1PD). I've used different CA1PD's and they have all been very quiet. So if the combos' tweeters have a hiss issue, I'd have to assume it's originating in their amplification circuit.
The preamp works fine and holds its own against pre's in its class. The chorus and reverb are nice. The combo is not producing stereo effects. It has individual amps for each speaker, but they are all driven by the same mono signal.
Probably fine for the money, but one of my Fishman Performer Pros or Trace 100R Concerts would look much better sitting down in your basement. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think we may have the only GC with no quiet room. I asked a guy once to turn off the humidifiers, which are loud, in the acoustic room so I could try out a couple guitars. He thought I was nuts.
This thing is nothing to look at, either. It's been used pretty hard, hence the price. Tuppy threatened to visit and I'm just trying to get the place ready. I know how much use he has for amplifiers. My wife followed your recommendation and cleaned up all the cat piss. Dave will probably show up in a couple years. |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Odor-Mute? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Whatever it was. It scared me a little to think she actually read your email. She seemed to ignore any of the Ovation Fan Club emails where someone was trying to sell me a guitar. |
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September 2005
Posts: 98
Location: SF Bay area, California | Mine needed a jack replaced, and I sold it for about that price during a cash crunch. Loud crackling sound when the connection makes/breaks. I concurr to check the hiss - thus signal to noise.
The guy I bought the CA125D from thought 'the electronics were blown' and packaged it with a '76 Twin Reverb for $20 for the pair. Best deal I ever got. I was glad I checked CL for 'amps' that one Sunday night about 9:20. I drove 30 miles and bought them at 10pm. I did have to pump about $300 into the Twin to replace original caps and tubes.
M^2 |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Thanks, Mark. I strayed in a couple different directions since last week, but I may go check it out on the way home tonight. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I checked it out tonight. The hiss went away as soon as I lowered the equalizers. They were all maxed out. Thought it had very little volume until I found the master volume control. It's plenty loud. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I bought this last weekend for my birthday for $150. I've been plugging most of the guitars into it, mostly to find out that the batteries are dead in about half of them. I was really surprised that the OFC guitar is way louder than most of the old ones. It is also crystal clear on this amp. The only problem is that with the volume at 3 the walls start shaking and all the guitars start humming. Way more amp than I need.
SWMBO asked what I wanted for my birthday and I said a Crate CA125D for $150 at Guitar Center. She said I'd have to buy it for myself, since she had no idea what I was talking about and didn't want to know. Of course I obeyed, cuz she's SWMBO. I should have tried that with the model numbers of some guitars. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I've been plugging most of the guitars into it, mostly to find out that the batteries are dead in about half of them. You know the drill. Send them to me (with batteries), I'll change the battery and make sure all is well, including changing the strings you include.
Might as well start with the OFC just to be sure... |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I have the same amp, Mark. Mine is in really nice shape, but was $325. You're right, it's way more amp than you need, but it does sound good at low volume. It takes a while to get the right sound with all of the controls. I tend to leave the equalizer and tone knobs more or less flat and use the guitar pre-amp to shape the sound. I also keep the instrument, mic and master volumes all on low to help balance out the sound for low volume playing. The separate effects levels are nice and allow you to adjust the reverb levels separately. If you ever want to play outdoors that's when you can really take advantage of the power. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | We have too much in common, Mitch. Mine is pretty beat up, but mostly just white marks on it. My wife pointed that out, not realizing that it was used. I told her she could have bought me a new one if she wanted.
There are quite a few nice options and I did not find the hiss to be a problem, except on a couple of guitars with the treble turned all the way up on the equalizer. Maybe I'll take it up to the cabin and drown out the kids on their 4 wheelers this summer.
Wabbit, fortunately, if one of the batteries is dead, I can always seem to find one with a good battery in it. For some reason the old guitars where the batteries are hard to get to don't seem to use up the batteries just sitting there. My 99 comes on by itself, so I usually take the battery out, and the Ute and the 30th CL both were dead or weak, even though I haven't plugged them in for probably a year. I do need to change some strings. I gave away most of my extra sets, so I actually have to go out and buy some. I'll put on new strings before any OFCer comes to visit. You're the only one so far, but Dave has been pretty close. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | It's a good idea to activate the pre-amp every six months or so by plugging the guitar into a tuner. It keeps the battery from corroding and junking up the contacts and battery box. I find that an alkaline battery lasts two years or more for my guitars with the old FET's. |
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Any thoughts on Crate CA 125D?
