From bakerfp@mindspring.com Mon Jun 23 07:58:44 2003
Subject:Re: Keyboard Amp(Semi-Long Rant)

Hey Jim,

I feel your pain. I have been through the same thing with Barbetta. It's too bad because the 41 SE is light, looks cool and there are many in this group that really like theirs. I went through two, one with a hum and one with a loud hiss and that was enough for me. I have also tried playing through the Makie SRM 450 and really like the sound but it is a bit of a hassle using it with a Motion Sound Pro3T. Recently I got the Motion Sound KP200s. It has everything I need in one unit. It is everything that I hoped the Barbetta would be. In addition, it has a spacial effect that really brings out the stereo imaging and gives an incredibly full sound for things like strings. It is fairly light, though I put casters on it, and I can set my Pro3T right on top. You may want to check one out.

BB
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Wells
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 5:31 AM
Subject: [CWSG] Keyboard Amp(Semi-Long Rant)

I lurk around here every day but I finally feel compelled to weigh in on
the keyboard amp issue. I have played professionally for 30+ years and the
best keyboard amp I have ever owned is the Barbetta 41se, without question.
BUT, I have experienced some of the reliability issues discussed here. When
the amp arrived, the master volume pot was noisy at lower volumes and there
was a slight hum, but worked properly at the volumes I played at. The amp
sounded so good and was so light, I hated to return it and go back to using
my mini-pa system(Read:Not light). Finally, on one gig, when I turned the
amp on, no volume. Jiggling the pot got things working and I got through
the night. I called Barbetta and Tony Barbetta answered the phone and told
me he had received a batch of bad pots and to send him the amp for repair.
From that point, until about three weeks later, I could get no one to
respond to emails or telephone messages regarding the status of my amp.(I
play 4-5 nights weekly and the pa was getting heavy). I finally received a
call from Tony telling me the amp had been shipped. When I received the amp
the hum was still there and the original bad pot was repaired but several
of the tone controls were now popping as was one of the pots on the built
in mixer. I have been waiting for a week for a response from Tony so I can
return it again. During this time, the horn stopped working when I powered
up the amp one night. I have called the store where I purchased the amp,
and they are trying to get a response from Tony as well. That's my story.
If your Barbetta works properly, there is nothing better, but I have not
had a pleasant experience with the level of service and lack of communications.

On a side note, while all of this was happening, I was looking to buy a
pair of Mackie SRM450's for a mini-pa and after researching decided to buy
a pair of FBT Maxx4a's. While my Barbetta has been down, I have used one of
these cabinets for my rig and the sound is much better than the Mackies
I have tried,IMHO.They only weigh 33 lbs. and they are LOUD. And they
handle bass with no problem. If anyone gets a chance to try them as an
alternative to the Mackies, you will not be disappointed. Thanks for
allowing me to vent my frustration.

Jim Wells
Tallahassee, FL

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