Salesmen

[farflungstar]

I recently put down a payment on a second hand valve amp, advertised as less than 350 hours use on the valves. As I'm on the point of completing payment I asked for confirmation that all was as it should be - and was told I'd need new valves as the originals had been used hard. I don't get why people can't just be honest at the outset. The amp.is less than 5 years old so other than buggered valves should be okay in other respects... I'm hoping.

[Firebottle]

Used hard? Depends on the amp as to whether the valves are used hard.

What amp and valves is it Adrian?

[farflungstar]

ARC ref 75, kt120's. Sorry just checked
email again - 'well used'. I don't mind that - but it's miles apart from 350 hours lol

[Primalsea]

The ARC KT120s should be good for 5000 hours so if knackered after 350 hours this would mean it has had the b0ll0cks thrashed out of it, like a used Fiesta XR2. I’m not saying this is case, just that something doesn’t seem to add up with the guys storey. ARC stuff tends to be battleship build quality, so other than the valves the rest of it should be solid.

[bumpy]

The ARC KT120s should be good for 5000 hours so if knackered after 350 hours this would mean it has had the b0ll0cks thrashed out of it, like a used Fiesta XR2. .

Just interested to know how one can thrash a valve in a known good circuit.

[Spectral Morn]

If lying about the valves, what else are they lying about. My advice, avoid.

[Primalsea]

Just interested to know how one can thrash a valve in a known good circuit.

If it has been used a PA Levels continuously, especially if used with fairly reactive or low ohm speakers. Also the bias on thes amps can be adjusted by the user via little holes in the front plate. Sometimes people have strange ideas and set the bias current far too high. Or if you are John Cleese you can beat them with a leafy branch.

[Haselsh1]

Surely if any valve amplifier runs its valves at close to their operating limit they are never going to last very long independent of whether it is at high volume or not...?

[Haselsh1]

Also the bias on thes amps can be adjusted by the user via little holes in the front plate. Sometimes people have strange ideas and set the bias current far too high.

Yeah, that's kind of what I meant

:eyebrows:

[Audio Al]

I recently put down a payment on a second hand valve amp, advertised as less than 350 hours use on the valves. As I'm on the point of completing payment I asked for confirmation that all was as it should be - and was told I'd need new valves as the originals had been used hard. I don't get why people can't just be honest at the outset. The amp.is less than 5 years old so other than buggered valves should be okay in other respects... I'm hoping.

Knock them hard on the purchase price for a full overhaul