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Bronzepony
Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 54
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok here is the radio General Lee Keys 2 Swings 28 on a Dosey!
What amp would be the best? Clean alot of use's and cost under 300.00. 500 or better no Dave mades please. Might look at a skywalker!
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2766
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 4:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

not sure why you'd ever want a skywalker over a davemade or xforce but...texas star dx500 would match up nicely, probably the only commercially made amp that'll perform with a long life expectancy with 30 watts swing input. about 125 MOL dead key & 400-500 swing.
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Bronzepony
Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 55
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 4:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

TEXAS STAR FAN MY BUDDY HAS HAD ONE FOR 15 YEARS IT HAS NEVER FAILED. MIGHT NOT BE ANY THING WRONG WITH THE COMP. AMPS NEVER HAD BEEN AROUND THEM. WHAT IS THE SOUND QUALITY LIKE?
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Wheelco505
Member
Username: Wheelco505

Post Number: 55
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 10:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

pat tell me what's wrong with skywalker?? let me know before i order the 5 pill.seems like $ for $ it's a good deal for the ac/dc version.if there's something weak about them fess up.(and not because you like davemade better personally)it's a comp amp clone like most of them,what's the defference besides you can get one ac/dc??
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 1232
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Texas Star DX500V would be perfect! Or......the new DX1600V.
Pat! I thought Skywalker has a good product. I even talked to THE GUY skip contact one day. Sounded great! At least he claimed to be the GUY!
Anyway you do have my trust if you know something bad about them.
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Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 1367
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 2:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I had a Skywalker for about 5-6 months. Had
to sell it because of high winter heating bills.
Worked good. But, didn't have it long enough
to see if it would be durable for the long term
use.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2777
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 4:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

kinda like buying 'jello'-brand gelatin vs the stores' own brand....they both jiggle the same way, but do they really taste the same
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 1249
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 9:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I always thought custom amps regardless of make was well made. So Skywalker is going cheap on us! Pat! If you will please, list your favorite amps both custom and commercial for craftsmanship and performance. So number 1 being your favorite and the last listed your worst or least liked. I already know your #1 is Dave! I'm just asking for an opininion! Nobody should get offended!
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2790
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

commercial made #1 is texas star, (i've owned & used every one ever made(excluding the 2 new ones) from the lowly 1 pill modulators to the dx3200) for dependability, quality, features, functions & relative value. the hurricane 350 made an excellent driver for my 16 pill messenger, and of course the original messenger lineup was fairly well put together, though a bit pricier then texas star.

worst are any of the mass produced truck stop types with private labels as well as labels such as galaxy, palomar, (later) pride, red devil, hooker, space warp, trucker, etc. IF you can get them cheap, don't abuse 'em & settle for 100 watts PEP, then instead of a power mic, yeah, sure, they can be cost effective.

for customs, it's actually a tossup between davemade & xforce, since the x is virtually an identical copy of the dave. i've also used fatboy & found build to be of excellent quality.

stay away from any customs built on breadboard, as opposed to double-sided copper boards. also check the routing & attachment of all parts, especially wiring. look for neatness & clean solder joints. is there customer service available for the box? i've seen real garbage built boxes from other common custom names, & then heard they claimed somebody else must have switched the insides. i know for a fact of more then just a couple custom builders who took the money & ran. it's a shame that the internet age allows crooks to take $$ & then hide. i'd rather deal with a name that is known & not take a chance. other then a select few, if you can't see it & be able to go to them, i'd avoid it. there are too many to name, & who knows if they're still building today, & i've seen good versions of the ones i don't like, so i'd go with the 'quality of construction' thing.
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 1253
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 570
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 5:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Davemade or X-force? Well, owning 3 Dave boxes myself and seeing the Fatboy recently, I have to ask this. What's the difference between Fatboy or Dave. The one I saw, the two were just alike. The only difference I saw was one said Dave on the front and the other said Fatboy.

I'll have to agree that I thought Skywalker was a pretty good box. They have an excellent website and some nice stuff listed there. Never talked to them, email or otherwise, but anyone whose called 'Joe' knows he's a grumpy character.

Lord no, don't buy one of those "truck stop" amps like Pat mentioned. If you've ever owned one and then owned a box like a Dave you'll know the difference.

My next choice was a Skywalker. Probably still will be although Pat will probably email me after this and tell me off!! But I might do the X-force box first. I plan on owning a Dave, X-force, Fatboy and a Skywalker this year. I want one of each.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2796
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 9:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Pat will probably email me after this and tell me off!!"-WHOOPS, i already emailed about another comment, chop, so i'll let this one slide for a bit

they are ALL copies of davemade. davemade (originally) NJ....fatboy NJ...there is a connection. not that that is a bad thing, i did put fatboy 3rd on my list. & i did say 'tossup between davemade & xforce! loyalty to the originator, & the fact that i got my 1st (used) davemade well over 15 years ago, & a couple months later drove to the backwoods of NJ to get my brand new custom-made/custom-matched-to-my-radio box direct from dave himself, keeps me there.

i like joe
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Mrclean
Junior Member
Username: Mrclean

Post Number: 38
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 3:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I Like the Magnaforce amps myself. They do a good job on AM and SSB. Had one in my truck for 3 years. 0 problems.
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Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 572
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 11:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I didn't say I didn't like Joe. I just said he was grumpy.

Even though Texas Star makes a great amp, which I say that because I like the pre-amp function, it's hard to beat a custom box.

Take the 667v for example. It's 1 driving 4 and the same pill set-up as the M400 Dave. I've only had 2 667v's to use in this example but between the two output PEP was about 500 watts. Maybe a little more if you could keep the power to the unit. The same pill set-up from the M400 will give you about 800 watts PEP from the same power source. If you kick the juice up a little you might see 550 from the Star, but the Dave will give you 1000.

My testing was done on the bench with only dual marine batteries for a power source. Having a rather small battery charger trying to keep the juice to the batteries. Kicking it up a bit is referenced to switching the charger from 2 amps to 10. That's all I've got right this minute for power in the shack. I do have a supply that claims 35 amps and I've turned it up to 16.5 volts. But I haven't tried that with either amp yet.

Regardless though you can see between the two which one would be stronger irrelavant to power source. The fan in a Dave is kinda annoying to me, but I understand its purpose.

And between the 'truck stop' amps like the Galaxy or Palomar, even the 250 versions, they can't compare to a TS250.

I've taken the Palomar 250 Gold and put the same pills that are in the TS250 and couldn't match the power output. True transformers play a big part of that, but for the money why not go ahead and buy the Star and get something you can work with? For that matter of reasoning, why not go ahead and spring for the 'comp style box. You'll be watts ahead for your dollars and have a very simple design that you could work on yourself with a little effort and patience.
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 2801
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 3:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

joe once told me how many emails he receives each day OUCH. that's why he puts the form-letter response on his return emails. it cuts down on those who bother him for free info. also, NEVER interrupt him when he's talking, or answer your own question while he's answering it-you are sure to get a rise out of him then!

from there on, i agree with everything you said 'chop
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Bronzepony
Member
Username: Bronzepony

Post Number: 57
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 8:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Joe sounds Like a friend of mine that is a custom home amp builder 2-0 Designer builder of all the BLJ-BLK amps in the 70,s now custom builds his personal looks like a small frig. Knows his business. But needs P.R. Well Save some money for a Dave made or a x-force.

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