Beta Bass troubles

[archlilim]

So my beta has been acting up lately. After playing it for a while it just starts to give out. The lights on the faceplate start to flicker and die along with the amp. I have it running 4 ohms into one cab and then slaved out to another power amp. Should be all good but I think it must be drawing too much power? I backed off and started running it 8 ohms at half volume, but it still gives out after a certain amount of time. I ultimately just started using the preamp alone, running it into two power amps , which works fine but obviously isn't ideal. Any ideas what might be wrong? I already brought it to the shop once because of this same issue but the tech didn't find much wrong with it. He cleaned it and put a new cord on it. I got it back and worked fine for a few weeks, but then started to give out again. Ideas?

[whiskey_face]

Sounds like a power supply issue.

Or its an actual issue in the house power.

Does it do the same thing on another breaker?

[John Matrix]

My beta lead had similar problems. Had to take it to a tech. Basically, running at four ohms made it run really hot and some components in the power supply were damaged. Now I only run it at 8 ohms, and I keep a fan on it during long sessions. Kinda dumb considering the 212 combo that it came in is four ohms (and was not designed with any ventilation). It seems like you tried this with no improvement, so perhaps the damage has been done already.

[ShaolinLambKiller]

mine straight up died volume wise. I could run it out to a power slave but the vol sounds like it's on 1 at all times. it was the first time I used it for a recording session and it was probably on for 3-4 hours. nothing was going wrong with it and then poof. gone. I haven't taken it to a tech yet. been building cases for it and I use it as a pattern to make sure everything fits in.

[archlilim]

Sounds like a power supply issue.

Or its an actual issue in the house power.

Does it do the same thing on another breaker?

Yeah definitely the amp. Died in the middle of our last show.

My beta lead had similar problems. Had to take it to a tech. Basically, running at four ohms made it run really hot and some components in the power supply were damaged. Now I only run it at 8 ohms, and I keep a fan on it during long sessions. Kinda dumb considering the 212 combo that it came in is four ohms (and was not designed with any ventilation). It seems like you tried this with no improvement, so perhaps the damage has been done already.

Yeah this sounds about right. Good to know.

[archlilim]

Thinking about switching to a concert lead which seems to be able to handle a little more power

[Kacey Y]

That makes me sad man. That head was the only Sunn I ever owned that DIDN'T blow up on me.

[waltdogg]

I would. Run the Concert Lead at 4 ohms for more headroom. Run it at 8 or 16 and the thing will breakup like a plexi. Of my two Beta Leads, I had a volume issue as well. But this was weirder, as the master volume was turned up noise-piss-chaos would start. a 2 on my first Beta and at 5 on the master of my second Beta. Super disappointing. My Concert Bass blew up on me at least once.

[John Matrix]

Since I've been babying it I haven't had any problems. It's been over a year since I had it fixed, and I've been playing about 1 gig per month, sometimes more, and practicing regularly since then.

The Concert Lead that I have definitely seems to handle itself a bit better. But I really like the distortion on the Beta and I rely on the channel switching/effects loop a lot. So I stay with the Beta until it dies again (hopefully never).

[waltdogg]

Beta's distortion is so good. It was so hard to give up those amps but they just didn't really work.

[archlilim]

Part of me wants to jump ship on my convoluted solid state setup and just get a 200 watt tube amp and call it a day. Obviously that requires money and I already love how the distortion on the beta sounds. I just don't want to end up hauling 4 heads and 3 cabs to every gig

[ShaolinLambKiller]

Red knob Concert Lead >>>>> Beta Lead anyday all day. Once I had one of each in my hands did a side by side and yea concert just won totally.

[archlilim]

Don't they have pretty similar preamps or nah?

[ShaolinLambKiller]

I can't really say. I can link the video I did of the 2

[waltdogg]

Definitely have different pres/gain staging, the EQs are different too. Concert Lead is all boost and the Beta boost bass and treb with shifting mids.