Tom Bradshaw and Webb amps

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Guys, we all know that Tom is a great guy to deal with and will help in anyway he can. This week he again proved his willingness to assist owners of Webb amps even if they are "Pre-Bradshaw" models. I won't go into specific details but Tom is tops when it comes to customer service!!!

bOb, I apologize if this is not the appropriate forum or not topic specific.
Dave
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'92 GFI D-10 8&6, ‘67 Emmons Bolt-On D-10 8&7, Walker preamp, Sarno Tonic preamp, Tubefex, Stewart power amps, Carvin XT tube amp, Webb Cabinets, all vintage JBL’s!

Jeff Hyman · From: West Virginia, USA

I've got a couple of older 614-E models that could use a little work. My wifes cat pi$$ed on the front-grill in the practice room. This would be a good one to test the waters with. Tom... if you're out there, do you have any shipping containers available? Is UPS qualified to do the container?

PS: If you need any fur shining cloth, I can skin that cat and put the fur in the shipping container.

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

Jeff, Tom uses FedEx to ship. He sent both my pedal and Webb that way and if you have a bussiness address, they tend to handle a little more with care.

Geo

Jeff Hyman · From: West Virginia, USA

George,

Thanks for the info

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

It appears that many people think I am an electronics know-it-all. In reality, I'm an electronics idiot. I don't have any expertise in repairing amps. Why would anyone buy an amp company and not know anything about amps. As I said, I’m an idiot. But, I've been amazed by the fact that Jim Webb built about 2500 amps, and few inquiries have been received regarding problems with those old (or even newer) models of Webbs.

The first thing I felt necessary to do when I got the Company was to have a schematic package made up. I thought that I'd have a host of owners of Webb amps knocking down my door wanting to get them repaired. I spent $3,000 having those schematics made up and have sold exactly 18 of them (at $22.00 each). I'll never even break even on that project. Perhaps that’s a good thing, since it reveals that Webb amps are dependable. So, of the 18 people wanting the schematic package, they must have gotten their amps fixed, since no one has alerted me that the schematics failed them.

If an owner can't find a local repairman to fix a Webb, I typically referred them to Ken Fox (in Georgia). I have another repairman in Texas and one in California, but the California fellow recently got a new job and is no longer doing repairs. My advice on repairs is to contact the music stores in your area and ask them who repairs their electronic equipment. Every music store needs such a person. Contact their repairman and take the Webb to him. Have him get the schematic package from me and I'll bet he ends up fixing the amp.

The only problem that seems to baffle repairmen is the hiss created by aging components (typical of about any amp, not just a Webb). Fixing that problem gets expensive because so many components need to be replaced in order to get rid of the small amounts of hiss created by so many of those aging components. It seems that each component adds a little to the problem with the sum of them all becoming a large problem. I regret that I don't have a solution to the aging process in amps. Heck, I sure don't have a solution for my own aging process. Maybe there isn't one.

So, if I haven't covered the concerns about Webb amps so far voiced here in the foregoing posts, please post more questions here and I'll do my best to provide an explanation. ...Tom

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

Here's a personal attest to Ken Fox's magic touch on Webb amps. I have a 1978 model that he did his magic on, and it's killer.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Doggone it Tom, I would have done the whole schematic package for you in exchange for one Webb amp, no need to pay me $3000!

Greg

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

Greg. And I thought you and I were friends. Pity me, another dashed allusion! But since you are eager, how about putting together the whole schematic for the next model of Webb? If you can do that, I'll certainly give you one of them. Once you see the work that will be required for adding all the upgrades and additions I'll be making, you may demand a dozen for your work! ...Tom

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Tom,

You're on and I 'll even review it on my website and record a bunch of songs with it. I'm one of those weird engineers that just love to do documentation!

Greg

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

Done a lot of Webbs in the last few years. After a complete cap job they sound as good as new. Occasionally a noisy transistor in the preamp (I keep those in stock as well). I also keep the power transistors in stock if needed. Had one recently that had a blown output section. Got it done and modded and was as good as new again.

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

Tom - I am one of the magic 18 folks who bought your schematic. Worth every penny - I mean cent. I gave the schematic to an engineer in the UK who changed the transformer for me on my Bradshaw Webb, and he said that the circuitry and components are pretty straight forward to work on.

I think the new Webb is a wonderful product, and I hope that it manages to continue in production now that you have made your millions from the ones that you have sold. Laughing

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Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E,

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