Author |
Message |
Chainsaw
| Posted on Wednesday, December 05, 2001 - 11:24 am: |
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anyone have a bigdawg amp im thinking about getting one wondering how they hold up |
Swampdog
| Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 7:17 pm: |
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A friend of mine bought one, and the second he hooked it up, a final blew. He opened it up, removed the blown final, and found metal shavings under the final. He also said that the case looked as if it had been hammered ot with a ball hammer. He was completely ticked at the guys, and Big Dawg blamed it on my friend. Just my 2 cents. |
Warlock
| Posted on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 5:33 am: |
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You may not know me from Adam to trust my opinion, but I have been around the block and owned many different brands over the last 20yrs. If you want a custom amp, XForce is the only way to go. |
Double D
| Posted on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 9:14 pm: |
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Keep in mind that Warlock is a mouth piece for EE_ !! |
Keepen them honest
| Posted on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 9:39 pm: |
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Warklock: On "their" forum you said that "their" Magna Force was the way to go! Must have been your usual sales plug for those guys. |
SSB2103
| Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2001 - 5:07 am: |
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Magna Force,just bought one,and for what I expect it to do I am pleased. I bought a Cal.homebrew and it worked six days. I took it to the tech and he fixed it. Been working 3yrs now.You spend your money and you take your chances.If it wasn!t for decent techs in the neighborhood one would be stuck with talking to oneself. |
Warlock
| Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2001 - 9:52 am: |
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Warlock is no mouthpiece for EEI. When you are on someone's ground you don't dog them, as well as I would not dog Copper on this forum. As to the Magna Force, it is the best product that "they" offer. The best product available anywhere (in my experience) is the XForce. You're not tied down to buy that product at one place. Depending on your particular application (wattage desired, amperage available, radio used, antenna, etc) would dictate which model would best suit the individual. At some sites, you are not able to have custom options done that some people may want. I run a XForce 400-12 in my mobile with switchable ssb delay and pre-amp, driven with 5w carrier and 35w peak resulting in 250w carrier and 750 peak out. I happen to think that is the meanest 4 pill available with only radio drive. Back to the "dogging" of me, maybe you should get to know me before making statements about my thoughts and/or intentions. |
Riverrat
| Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2001 - 12:31 pm: |
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I agree Warlock,my 412 takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' regardless of where you get one,it is a serious amplifier.The Bigdawgs look nice but the fact is,I've never heard one in all my years of DX.I've reached everywhere on my 6 pill and she aint even breakin' a sweat.Take it or leave it Warlock has good intentions and you should listen more and criticize less. "73'rds 'Da Rat" |
Vernonott
| Posted on Saturday, December 08, 2001 - 6:16 pm: |
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I find that the major problem with custom amps starts when the guy who has been building them in the little shop behind his house starts to get more demand for his product than he can handle.Up until that point he has made top notch gear.Now to keep up he has to farm out to others the building of some of his product.He is now not doing the work himself and probably not overseeing the farmed out product ,therefore the quality of his amps go down.I've seen this happen many times over the years.73's |
Taz
| Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 5:58 am: |
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Hey double-d, where is your 20? |
Jyd
| Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 1:07 pm: |
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well there are problems with all brands, not every amp is perfect. there are a lot of good amps and everyone has their own prefrence. that should solve all of this |
Swampdog
| Posted on Saturday, December 15, 2001 - 5:19 pm: |
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I guess I will probably be thrown in with the same group that Double D is referring to. BTW, I hope that you are a woman with the name Double D. I've never seen a man with a Double D if you know what I mean. Back to what I was talking about, I have never tried a Bigdawg. I do know of about 4 or 5 guys that use them. From what I can figure, the cheap models are junk. Absolute junk. Worse than TX Stars even. His competition models are better, but I have heard bad stories about them as well. I would say that anyone here that wants a good amp, should definitely choose an X-Force. I know of about 20 guys that use them, and all they do is rule the radio. Bigdawg may be cheaper, but you get what you pay for. I do think that the Big Dawg amps are better than the Storm Built. |
Jyd
| Posted on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 9:49 am: |
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dave made ar great |
Vernonott
| Posted on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 3:05 pm: |
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Jyd : Does Dave still make Davemade? |
Warlock
| Posted on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 10:13 pm: |
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I understand Dave only makes the 32 pills and up. along with the AC amps. |
Superbazooka
| Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2002 - 5:58 pm: |
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I own a 4 tube Dave Made. It is ok for talking distance or to hammer on your nieghbor " my friend that lives next to me" if he is tring to talk 50 miles or so away! It does "Dosy watts" a little over 4000 and bird = 1000----with a 2 tube Elkin for a driver, "dosy watts" a little over 4250 and bird, 1150. |
ben
| Posted on Saturday, February 09, 2002 - 8:53 pm: |
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i have ran a strom built i knwo the people that build the storm built the are a good box but i guess everybody has ther opinions 73's |
Scrapiron63
| Posted on Sunday, February 10, 2002 - 10:13 am: |
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Have any of you tried the Real Deal amps? I don't have any idea where they are made, i've just seen one. I bought a used one from a pawn shop in Florida, they listed it with a galaxy 88 on e-bay last year, I knew it would get kicked off, and when it did, I called the shop and bought them over the phone. I was very surprised in the Amp. It's a RDV Dominator 400 plus, not very pretty, just has a off/on switch and a large variable knob, but the inside is well built. It has a 2290 driving 4 2879s, same as the TS 667, but it will outdo the 667s I have owned. Its very 'tough' also. |
Fmorton
| Posted on Sunday, February 10, 2002 - 6:32 pm: |
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talking about amps. i have been running a Fox BOX by Foxie which has 2-2290's driving 8- 2879's for 3 years with a galaxy 44.has been trouble free and kicking butt. now waiting on galaxy 99 i orderd from copper electronics.Foxi,if you see this,Thanks for a super butt kicking amp!!!!Bad VIPER From Virginia. |
skullcracker
| Posted on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 10:41 am: |
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I'f your going to talk on regular cb a 99v is a good choice,but if your planning to talk ssb then a 99v is a poor choice.thats just my opinion (experience)ask guys who run them,and there way over priced for what your getting,there are way better radios out there that wont set you back an arm and a leg and out perform them.but if you just gotta have it,go for it. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 241 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 - 3:54 am: |
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Juiceman, if you're still out there, you might want to check out these "custom amps" also. Hope this helps. Wolverine. |
Juiceman
New member Username: Juiceman
Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2004
| Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2004 - 11:04 pm: |
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allright wolverine i will. i allready know a little about the dave mades. im just interested in knowing more about this fox box. it has some huge transformers in it. |
Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member Username: Sparkomatic
Post Number: 331 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 1:17 pm: |
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The soldering and assembly quality are the best in the magnaforce, xforce, and davemade. The Fox boxes work good but the assembly quality doesn't look nearly as professional as the above 3. If you want a competition amp why in the world would anyone buy anything other than a magna, xforce, or davemade. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 248 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 2:13 am: |
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Most comp amps are but "Clones" of the original Davemade amps, Foxie built included. You gotta love those big torrid transformers though. X-force, and Magna-force are the best of the clones IMHO. Wolverine.
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Kilowatt
Member Username: Kilowatt
Post Number: 91 Registered: 2-2004
| Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 9:31 am: |
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I'm curious, what's the difference between, say, a Texas Star and one of these "competition amps?"
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Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 250 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 4:07 am: |
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Most competition amps have a fan, so that you can stay on the key longer, the transformers are bigger(usually 2-3 inches) than the 1" texas star transformers, so that they won't saturate as fast, and lastly, "Comp" amps are designed so that all of your transmitted power is going on the desired frequency. Example: If both you and I are transmitting on the same channel (CB) and if your typical amp is bleeding 6 channels away (Harmonics) or your amp is transmitting on 54 mhz instead of 27Mhz, naturally my signal on a desired channel would be stronger and louder than yours in a shoot-out or competition. Hope this helps. Wolverine. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 251 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 4:26 am: |
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One other thing Kilowatt. In most comp shoot-outs, most contestants will pull up to the line with good "Old fashioned" Uniden or Cobra CB radios coupled with the "Comp amps", and antenna arrays. It's very seldom that someone will use a 10 meter export in competition, because the 10 meter export is broadbanded for 130 to 150 channels, where a typical CB is only 40 channels. Add to that, the Uniden and some older Cobra radios have tremendous audio boards/circuits, and they don't have the "Low Level Modulation" problems associated with 10 meter radios. The Goal is to have "All" of your transmitted audio on the desired frequency. A good Comp amp, radio, and antenna system, is what brings home the trophies. Wolverine. |
Keepitreal118
Junior Member Username: Keepitreal118
Post Number: 28 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 8:30 pm: |
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Jyd : Does Dave still make Davemade? Yes he's still building amps and he does make amps smaller than a 32pill. |
Azstorm
Junior Member Username: Azstorm
Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 11:49 am: |
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My vote for AM is DAVE MADE! |
Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member Username: Sparkomatic
Post Number: 333 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Thursday, November 25, 2004 - 8:50 am: |
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Xforce amps use the same basic design as the davemades with some minor tuning improvements. I don't think I would refer to Xforces as "clones" but "improved clones". |
Keepitreal118
Junior Member Username: Keepitreal118
Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 10:17 pm: |
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"improved clones". If your trying to say that a Xforce is built better than a DaveMade, then you nothing on amplifiers. First Xforce doesn't have a clue on building or designing an amp or motor maul or whatever. A clone is exactly what it is. Every design amplifier and product they make were copied from other designer. Dave is an engineer by trade. Xforce is a Copy Cat designer. |
Duck246
New member Username: Duck246
Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2004
| Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 10:30 am: |
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clones or no clones, the davemade guy on the phone is rude. |
Keepitreal118
Junior Member Username: Keepitreal118
Post Number: 30 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 6:29 pm: |
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the davemade guy on the phone is rude. I'll give you that. |
Johnhenre
Member Username: Johnhenre
Post Number: 62 Registered: 1-2004
| Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 8:26 pm: |
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THIS IS MY STORY FOR ALL THAT MAY READ THIS::I'M NOT GOING TO KNOCK ON ALL AMP BUILDERS,IT JUST THAT I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF BUCK'S ON ABOUT EVERY AMP ON THE MARKET IN THE PAST 16 YRS. AND EVEN TRYED TO COPY DAVEMADE AMP'S AND AFTER ABOUT 5yrs OF TRYING I FINIALLY HAVE BUILT A BETTER 2X4 AMP,THAN DAVE'S,BUT DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR IF YOU WANT A GOOD AMP,2 PILL OR BIGGER GET A DAVE AND SAVE YOUR MONEY,AND IF YOU WANT TO GO BIGGER YOUR LITTLE DAVE WILL SURPRIZE YOU WHEN YOU RESELL IT,HO!! P.S. DON'T LET THE PHONE GUY GET TO YOU IF YOU REALLY WANT A GOOD AMP. JOHN |
Keepitreal118
Junior Member Username: Keepitreal118
Post Number: 31 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Monday, December 06, 2004 - 9:03 pm: |
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NOTEthis thread getting a little out of hand? I FINIALLY HAVE BUILT A BETTER 2X4 AMP,THAN DAVE'S Prove it!!! Let us know when you going on the line against a DaveMade and what the name of the amp??? |
Johnhenre
Member Username: Johnhenre
Post Number: 65 Registered: 1-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, December 07, 2004 - 4:54 pm: |
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HELLO:KEEPITREAL THRERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO PROVE I ACTUALLY OWN (3)DAVEMADE AMP'S BUT I HAVE CLONED DAVES 2X4 BUT HAVE IMPROVED IT TO MY LIKEING,IF YOU STUDY THIS AMP. AFTER A WHILE YOU YOUR SELF WILL FIGUIRE OUT WHAT IT REALLY NEEDS TO GET ITS WATTAGE ON THE TOP SELF,WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OF BUCKS MOST IMPORTANT IS GETTING THE(SWR) OUT OF THE AMP.AND NOT LETTING IT BACK UP IN YOUR RADIO!!THIS TAKES TIME,AS FAR AS BEING ON THE LINE AND SHOOTING OUT IN MY CLASS, I HAVEN'T LOST YET BUT THERE IS ALWAY THAT FIRST TIME AND PROABLEY MORE TO COME, NAME? IT'S IS A DAVEMADE JUST IMPROVED, |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2004 - 5:35 am: |
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OH, OH, They're coming out of the "Woodworks" now. LOL. |
Number13va
New member Username: Number13va
Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2004 - 4:33 pm: |
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Can you tell me a little about your improvements.. |
Northstar
Junior Member Username: Northstar
Post Number: 46 Registered: 2-2002
| Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2004 - 6:47 pm: |
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I wonder if this guy is serious? |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 268 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 5:37 am: |
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Still no reply?? This is going to be good, and down right interesting. If you know how to "Tweak" a Davemade, spill your guts, inquiring minds want and need to know!. |
Keepitreal118
Junior Member Username: Keepitreal118
Post Number: 32 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 4:07 pm: |
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NOTE:this thread getting a little out of hand? I don't see were I'm getting out of hand??? I'm no amp builder or rocket scientist but you add all those pills together (per specs)and your not going to get anymore magical watts out of a 2x4 that Dave, Xforce, or any other custom built amp. If you are then all your reading are harmonics going back into your meter. Like 13 I would love to hear those modifications and know what's the magic number of power your getting out of a 2x4.
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Johnhenre
Member Username: Johnhenre
Post Number: 67 Registered: 1-2004
| Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 7:42 am: |
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HI: FELLOW KNOWLEDGE SEEKER I THINK IN ONE OF MY POST I SAID (STUDY,TRY,TEST) FOR YOUR SELF THERE IS NO CERTAIN REPEATION OF AMP BUILDING IT HOW YOU COME UP WITH THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF WHAT YOU WHAT TO MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU,AFTER YOU FINE IT EVEN I (CANNOT) BUILD ANORTHER IDENTICAL LIKE THE LAST!AND THERE ARE NO SECRETS,BUT WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS KEEP YOUR COMPONETS CLOSE TO EACH ORTHER IN LINE (TIGHT) EACH SOLDER JOINT (HOW ITS) SOLDERED,BALANCEING THE TRANSFORMERS INPUT AND OUTPUT SO THE HARMONICS STAY AND PEAK TO WERE THEY SHOULD BE AT,AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING THE (SWR) TO WERE IT SHOULD BE (IN THE AMP) NOT AT THE ANTENNA IF ITS RIGHT IN THE BOX YOUR METERS WILL NOT LIE TO YOU WHAT IS FLOWING OUT AT THE ORTHER END, PILLS ARE RATED AT CERTAIN WATTAGES BUT IF SET UP RIGHT TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING HIT HARD GENERATING HEAT IF YOU SET UP IS RIGHT THEY WILL TRIPLE THERE RATING,JUST BEAR IN MIND YOU ARE DEALING WITH A (LOT) OF RF WITH A LITTLE AUDIO,I STARTED TINKERING WITH AMPS BUT IT GOT TO BE SERIOUS HOBBY SO THE BUT TEACHER IS HANDS ON NOT LISTENING TO ANOTHER EVEN THE BEST IS WRONG SO TIMES? |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 259 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 10:53 pm: |
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TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR value-dependability-reliability-consistancy TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR running 12 volts? buy a TEXAS STAR want 500 watts? buy a TEXAS STAR wanna drive it with 40 watts? buy a TEXAS STAR hd want 1000 watts? buy a TEXAS STAR wanna drive it with 4 watts? buy a TEXAS STAR want 3000 watts? buy a TEXAS STAR want it to still work tomorrow? buy a TEXAS STAR wanna talk skip? buy a TEXAS STAR i've had 100 or more amps in my day. don't care if you pull up on the line next to me and can key over me or not. when i'm dxing all day today, and the next day and the next day, and you're tweaking/tuning/repairing your super duty competition amp, go to 26.835 and listen. if you can't hear me, you probably hear somebody calling me. it's been that way since the 70's. and it's been TEXAS STAR since i set up my first mobile for hard core dxing. when you're calling dave to ask if you can send your amp back, listen to me and remember those two little words TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR TEXAS STAR |
477
Member Username: 477
Post Number: 83 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 6:08 am: |
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I heard someone call your number Double zero on CH:28 (26.835) yesterday I used to own a Texas Star 350DH few years back really miss it. Actually I'm reading the mail on CH:28 (26.835) at the present time. (until about 9 AM) If you hear me in there gimme a yell Patzerozero. I go by 477 aka Mr. Nobody in Pennsylvania. Hope to make contact with you ! 73's |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 265 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 8:30 pm: |
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don't have a map handy-whereabouts is lewiston? i do go to the poconos once or twice a year, same with lancaster area. i'm barely 150 miles straight trip from poconos, have talked there dx many times, ssb only though. western pa on AM. 'double-zero-baby-pickup-truck', that is me. was in & out all day saturday, didn't get on til about 1230PM today, fairly poor conditions though, today. was talking with a few friends in houston for a few hours, dangerous number 9, and badman/breaker one-nine, practically had a direct line with them. of course i had to wind my way between the big guns, 146 and 508 in mass, visegrip in ct, but i can do my thing with my 2-pill baby driver! 26.835 is my channel, i won't hear you anytime soon, but i'll be listening to hear your name. |
477
Member Username: 477
Post Number: 84 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 12:35 am: |
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Due to the fact that I work sixty miles from my home twenty, I will not be on the airwaves until this weekend I live sixty miles north-west of the captial city which is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania I live in Lewistown,Pa. right off route 322 west. I did whole lot of broadcasting today on 26.835 but can't seem to make any contacts on ch 13, so I guess I'll put it on ya this weekend. CEF # 227 PA AKA Mr.Nobody CB U Later ! |
A 4CX20000A, CAN kill YOU! (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest
| Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 10:30 am: |
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I dont represent any amp builder, heck, Im a tube guy. lets face it, X farce, is a davemade copy, as are most amps. It's all in what you like, and what you can afford to spend. I've seen the inside of them all, and the gold boxes are built the best. Customer service and warranty work?? Rarely do Dave amps fail, so, thats what I go by, previous owners testimonials. And, they dont have self proclaimed "National Representatives!" Just my 2 cents....... Back to the bowl........ |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 272 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 2:49 pm: |
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i'm just a poor working slob, here, 4CX(not that you probably are too)but i am stuck with what i can do with minimal alternator and found 8 pills + driver to be somewhat sufficient, and cost effective. i've used MANY amps from 1 to 16 pills, plus drivers when needed, and my texas stars have passed my tests. nothing at all wrong w/dave, just for me, texas star cost less and in my test vehicle showed no advantage over the TS. sure, if i had more alternator and more voltage, dave, or another, would be an upgrade over TS, and someday i may be in the position to go tube and add a zero to my current output. for now, TEXAS STAR keeps me going! you are tubing it mobile, right? bases don't count! anybody can plug it into the wall. |
PLATE CURRENT PIMP 4CX (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest
| Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 2:35 am: |
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HAHA, No, I cheat,,, I plug into those new 220 outlets in the garage...... hehehe.... "lightin this big fuse in the sky!" |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 274 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 7:43 pm: |
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steel tubes plugged into the wall is like shooting at deer in a cage!:-) |