NAD: Beaten up AD200B - Updated with Pics

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OU818
Orange Master
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Location: Melbourne, AUS

NAD: Beaten up AD200B - Updated with Pics

Post by OU818 » Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:45 am

So quick back story, a local music store is closing down and they have an AD200B MkIII that was used as the backline for the Soundwave festivals for sale for $500 AUD (the RRP is over $3k).

Thug is, it's beaten up from being a festival touring rig and currently tube 1+3 are blown, along with the fuse and one HT fuse.

I am tempted to buy it and give it to my tech to repair as even if the repair bill was a couple of hundred, in the end I'd have a working AD200 for pretty damn cheap.

Do you guys think it could be repaired or is it a big risk?
Last edited by OU818 on Sat May 06, 2017 10:51 am, edited 2 times in total.
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810

Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410

Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass

a.hun
Duke of Orange
Posts: 9765
Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:05 am
Location: Amsterdam, Hollandland.nl

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by a.hun » Sun Apr 30, 2017 10:38 am

OU818 wrote:So quick back story, a local music store is closing down and they have an AD200B MkIII that was used as the backline for the Soundwave festivals for sale for $500 AUD (the RRP is over $3k).

Thug is, it's beaten up from being a festival touring rig and currently tube 1+3 are blown, along with the fuse and one HT fuse.

I am tempted to buy it and give it to my tech to repair as even if the repair bill was a couple of hundred, in the end I'd have a working AD200 for pretty damn cheap.

Do you guys think it could be repaired or is it a big risk?
If the transformers haven't been damaged there is nothing else which should cost a huge amount of money to fix. However that is a little hard to tell if it isn't working properly...


Andy.
aNDyH. :wink:

Ever tried to outstare a mirror?

In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!

OU818
Orange Master
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:55 am
Location: Melbourne, AUS

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by OU818 » Sun Apr 30, 2017 10:48 am

a.hun wrote:
OU818 wrote:So quick back story, a local music store is closing down and they have an AD200B MkIII that was used as the backline for the Soundwave festivals for sale for $500 AUD (the RRP is over $3k).

Thug is, it's beaten up from being a festival touring rig and currently tube 1+3 are blown, along with the fuse and one HT fuse.

I am tempted to buy it and give it to my tech to repair as even if the repair bill was a couple of hundred, in the end I'd have a working AD200 for pretty damn cheap.

Do you guys think it could be repaired or is it a big risk?
If the transformers haven't been damaged there is nothing else which should cost a huge amount of money to fix. However that is a little hard to tell if it isn't working properly...


Andy.
I managed to get it turned on and saw the working tube filaments start glowing but that's as much as I could get without new fuses and tubes. It seemed that it was powering up.
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810

Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410

Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass

fiveightandten
Orange Master
Posts: 3845
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2003 6:18 pm
Location: Connecticut, USA

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by fiveightandten » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:57 pm

a.hun wrote: If the transformers haven't been damaged there is nothing else which should cost a huge amount of money to fix. However that is a little hard to tell if it isn't working properly...

Andy.
+1

If t were me, I'd want to check out a few things:
-Transformers were ok. Those aren't cheap.
-Printed circuit board isn't damaged from any burned components, arcing over the sockets, etc.

I'm not sure if the OE irons are available, but the Mercury Magnetics replacements are $300US-$400US each.
Image
'71 GRO100 || '96 OR-80 || AD30 || '64 AC-50 || AC-30TBX || Hiwatt DR504 || HI-TONE HT30
LP Standard || LP Studio || LP Custom Lite || Ric 620 || Ric 360 || MIA Tele || SG 61 RI

bclaire
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Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by bclaire » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:22 pm

I'd go for it... sounds like for pretty cheap you could get into one sweet amp - with a cool backstory!

Jondog
Duke of Orange
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Jondog » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:28 pm

I'd go for it
Image

Gladmarr
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Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Gladmarr » Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:01 pm

You definitely want them to let you open it up and look for burnt or otherwise messed up stuff inside. As stated above, transformers are your biggest worry/potential expense.

Jondog
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Jondog » Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:25 pm

I'm thinking at $500, even if a transformer is shot, you could move it along and get your money back if you don't want to repair it.
Image

Les Paul Lover
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Location: Derby, England

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Les Paul Lover » Sun Apr 30, 2017 7:59 pm

It sounds like a bargain.

Perhaps you can even haggle that down further..... ;)
But even at that price, it sounds like a bargain.
Ant

Orange Gear: RV50 MKI, R30, AD15, PPC212
And.... Genz Benz Black Pearl 30
Past Orange: AD30TC Combo, TT, AD5


Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, Vigier Expert Retro 54, Gibson SG 70s Tribute, Aria Pro II RS X80, G&L ASAT Special Tribute

Dark Helmet
Orange Master
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Location: Lincoln, NE USA

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Dark Helmet » Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:23 pm

If you don't buy it, I will.

and the shipping will be hideous....
Dark Lord of the Schwartz
AD15/12
AD30TC
AD50
AD140
Thunderverb50

2016 Gibson LP Standard
2012 Gibson LP Classic Custom
2017 Gibson Firebird Studio T
Epi Les Paul (used to be) Standard
2018 Taylor 616CE

OU818
Orange Master
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:55 am
Location: Melbourne, AUS

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by OU818 » Sun Apr 30, 2017 11:27 pm

As my mate works at the store I asked if I could come in and take it apart to inspect it.

He said that was fine so I will be going in today to check it out. If there is nothing obviously shot looking in it I think I will be buying it.

I guess my biggest dilemma then will be which amp to use, the AD200 or the OB1-300. :mrgreen:
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810

Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410

Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass

Les Paul Lover
Duke of Orange
Posts: 6821
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:08 am
Location: Derby, England

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Les Paul Lover » Sun Apr 30, 2017 11:34 pm

OU818 wrote:As my mate works at the store I asked if I could come in and take it apart to inspect it.

He said that was fine so I will be going in today to check it out. If there is nothing obviously shot looking in it I think I will be buying it.

I guess my biggest dilemma then will be which amp to use, the AD200 or the OB1-300. :mrgreen:

To be honest, if something looks obviously shot, like a capacitor or else, it's even more a reason to buy it. Capacitors are pretty cheap, resistors too. The only expensive thing really are the trannies.
Ant

Orange Gear: RV50 MKI, R30, AD15, PPC212
And.... Genz Benz Black Pearl 30
Past Orange: AD30TC Combo, TT, AD5


Guitars: Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, Vigier Expert Retro 54, Gibson SG 70s Tribute, Aria Pro II RS X80, G&L ASAT Special Tribute

OU818
Orange Master
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:55 am
Location: Melbourne, AUS

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by OU818 » Sun Apr 30, 2017 11:50 pm

Les Paul Lover wrote:
OU818 wrote:As my mate works at the store I asked if I could come in and take it apart to inspect it.

He said that was fine so I will be going in today to check it out. If there is nothing obviously shot looking in it I think I will be buying it.

I guess my biggest dilemma then will be which amp to use, the AD200 or the OB1-300. :mrgreen:

To be honest, if something looks obviously shot, like a capacitor or else, it's even more a reason to buy it. Capacitors are pretty cheap, resistors too. The only expensive thing really are the trannies.
I meant more along the lines of scorched circuit boards or melted transformer wiring.
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810

Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410

Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass

Dark Helmet
Orange Master
Posts: 1067
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:51 pm
Location: Lincoln, NE USA

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by Dark Helmet » Mon May 01, 2017 1:15 am

OU818 wrote:
I guess my biggest dilemma then will be which amp to use, the AD200 or the OB1-300. :mrgreen:

methinks you won't be that torn once you get it up and running and realize how enormous that amp can actually sound...
Dark Lord of the Schwartz
AD15/12
AD30TC
AD50
AD140
Thunderverb50

2016 Gibson LP Standard
2012 Gibson LP Classic Custom
2017 Gibson Firebird Studio T
Epi Les Paul (used to be) Standard
2018 Taylor 616CE

OU818
Orange Master
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:55 am
Location: Melbourne, AUS

Re: Should I buy a busted AD200B?

Post by OU818 » Mon May 01, 2017 2:18 am

So I went and checked it out, forgot to take pictures though so sorry guys. I will once I pick it up in a few days (not able to carry that home on the Triumph).

We ripped the fuses out and replaced them with fresh ones from a new stock AD200. Switched on standby then cringed as we hit ON. Nothing popped or exploded.

Plugged in a bass and turned the volume up. IT WORKS!

All 4 power tube filaments started glowing nicely and there was no weird sounds or pops coming out.

I did notice that Tube 4 was getting significantly more blue than the others but that is about it. We turned it off as there was a bit of a hot smell coming from it, not exactly over the top but we were playing it safe. After that I decided to take the chassis out and check the board. Well, figured out the hot smell could be from the 2mm thick dust inside it. I have no idea how it was stored but it looks like it may have been underground. I checked the board and couldn't see anything wrong. R17 which I think is Tube 3 grid resistor looked a little off colour but that's it.

The only other issue I noticed was that it looks like it has been hit into something as the faceplate's right top corner was slightly bent inwards and I could see where it had hit against the transformer. I am assuming somebody walked into a door whilst carrying it as it doesn't look dropped (no tears or dents in the wood around that section).

In the end I didn't even haggle as we both knew that $500 was a steal considering it probably just needs a basic service and 4 new power tubes.

I kind of regretted buying the OB1-300 yesterday now however as I got a bit of a bargain on that as well I can either keep it for smaller gigs or when I don't want to lug a heavy head around.
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810

Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410

Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass

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