shall i have my tonelab fixed?

[gwEm]

story so far: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13330.0

it was a desktop unit and costed 66 quid secondhand, a good price - if it was working. unfortunately there was a problem, and i had to send it back to vox.

due to transistor failure, they want to replace one of the PCBs at a total cost of £82.26 including VAT and delivery

its right on the cusp. i'm thinking i might cut my losses and ask them to ditch it. any opinions? seeing as i got it for 66 quid to being with, should be able to get close again.

(was going to do a vote, but doesn't seem like its possible on the new forum)

[MDV]

150 is decent for a working tonelab, with the qualifier of second hand. (that said I dont know what the desktop is like - I have the LE).

I vote yes.

But IMO you have the question - what are you gonna spend 80 quid on thats more usefull/fun? (assuming you have food, rent, beer etc covered)

[indysmith]

Ditch it - I sent mine back to be fixed, and it came back even more broken than it was before. Those Tonelabs are THE worst built multi-effects.

[hunter]

Spend the 80 GBP on a Pocket Pod and a set of strings  :?

[hamfist]

82 quid seems a bit steep to me. Tonelabs are not the most reliable units once they get to be a few years old, and you could be setting yourself for yet more expense. 
  What else do you have to play through though ?

[MDV]

Whats this talk of general unreliability - mine seems suitably tank-like, and I've had it a fair while now with no trouble

Is there something someone isnt telling me?

[AndyR]

^ My thoughts as well, mine's OK  :|

Having said that, we're both using LEs. All the problem threads I read on the tonelab forums seemed to be about the Desktop. Also, I bought new - I always feel a little uncomfortable with 2nd hand on stuff like this. But like MDV says, it seems built like a tank.

I'm not sure what to suggest for you though gwEm - original cost + repair is pushing it nearer what I paid for a brand new LE (£179). And once you start shelling out for repairs on something like this (any manufacturer), who knows what'll go bang next :? All I can say is "I feel your pain" - especially cos it sounds like you actually want the tones you've managed to hear so far.

If it was me, faced with 80-odd repair bill, I'd probably give up on the busted one and put it down to experience.

With mine, if it died in the next 12 months I'd be jumping up and down, but if it was after a couple of years, I'd replace it with another VOX happily (although Hunter's clips are starting me wondering how much one of these Axe FX doofers is, how long is the waiting list, and should I be sticking my name on it now... :roll:)

[gwEm]

well i'm still pondering...

but its pretty obvious that the logical thing to do would be to write it off and get a sansamp british next time i visit america.
.
the thing stopping me from doing that is indeed i was starting to enjoy using the thing, its totally user friendly once you learn your way around it.

wish i'd have know about reliability issues before, i'd have stayed clear. no way i could trust it now live even if it was fixed. as you say andy, most relibability problems indeed center around the desktop, though i think indy had an se.

i'm a gambler, and optimistic... still might bite the bullet.. know i shouldn't ;)

[AndyR]

Out of interest, would you trust a brand new LE now (or whatever the next model might be) after your experience of the 2nd hand Desktop? Or has the messing about damaged your view of VOX altogether?

[sgmypod]

I'm with earlier posts prob seem to be with the desktop..have had LE a while no probs

[gwEm]

Out of interest, would you trust a brand new LE now (or whatever the next model might be) after your experience of the 2nd hand Desktop? Or has the messing about damaged your view of VOX altogether?

since you ask ;)

my opinion of vox is definately damaged. at least they make a great sounding, easy to use product... but if it breaks easily thats absolutely the most important thing. i'd give them another chance, but they'd really have to do some persuasion work. at least their customer service has been decent enough (marshall is quite alot better though).

funny, the box looks strong etc etc, strange all these problems - shows appearances can be deceptive.

i'll be returning to sansamp for my modelling needs.

[gwEm]

seems they want to charge me £23.50 before they dispose of it

[AndyR]

WOT!??

(I'm about to leave work and probly won't look again until tomorrow, but...)

WOT!??

[gwEm]

it just to pay for the engineer's time in examining it. however, they should really have stated that before i sent it to them as there was no mention of charges then.

on the one hand, i have excellent grounds to complain.

[indysmith]

it just to pay for the engineer's time in examining it. however, they should really have stated that before i sent it to them as there was no mention of charges then.

on the one hand, i have excellent grounds to complain.

That is just RIDICULOUS - I'd go Rambo on their arse. £23.50 to look at it?! If they were a proper company they'd have replaced it for free. Don't pay. Don't pay. Don't pay.