Weber Electrolytics?

[Columbus]

Has anyone used the Weber electrolytics? They seem like a great deal if they are good quality caps.

[JohnnyCrash]

Only as part of a kit. I'm not sure if they use the same ones for individial purchase.

They seemed very cheaply made. The voltage ratings were too low for the type of kit they came in. I don't think that's why my Weber PT blew, though its one of my suspects.

I've since used a Hammond OEM style PT and replaced ALL of the filter caps entirely... that standup board you bolt to the PT bolts was really lame and lent itself to eyelets dangerously close to either the chassis or any shielding you'd place on the bottom of the cab. So instead I used a few cap cans (I think they were CE's) and improvised how to mount them so I actually have room inside - like Sprague Atoms, the Webers were unneccesarily large.

[jh45gun]

I have said this before after getting parts from Weber that was Sub standard. (Pots and Knobs ect.) Cheap chinese junk but the choke I bought seems to be OK If he gets well which I hope he does he should stick to speakers or get rid of the chinese junk and get better parts even if you have to pay a bit more.

[SamBooka]

I get most of my parts from weber or AES. Some stuff he has that AES doesnt.
I do get my caps from him because I cant justify going with Spragues and I dont notice the difference. Pots/Jacks/Plugs are too low quality for me to use.. Tranformers are ok but I spend a little more for Heyboer. I was very happy with the 5f2-a chassis I bought EXCEPT for the silk screening .. (as opposed to the Mojo Princeton reverb that I hated everything EXCEPT for the front/back panels :)

All that said.. for most of my applications the weber caps were fine. Will they hold up as long as spragues? Probably not. You get what you pay for.

[sjhusting]

<sigh> I don't know why I think it's necessary to defend him, but here I go. I admit I've never built a Weber kit, though I've used a couple of his chassis.

1. He's selling at a price point that noone else touches.

2. His site makes it very easy to leave out whatever you don't want to use - no caps, no jacks, and so on.

3. He offers kits no one else even considers offering (Standel, for instance).

So why do folks hammer on him? If he goes to higher grade parts, the price goes up, too. Buy what you want, don't buy what you don't want.

As far as Sprague electrolytics go, I thought that was debunked long ago - no better than F&T, Illinois, or lots of others, and more expensive. Look on the (Vishay) web site, it's an optical thing. Even the manufacturer recommends them only for restoration projects where looks are important.

just my 2 euro-cents worth.

steven

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

As far as Sprague electrolytics go, I thought that was debunked long ago - no better than F&T, Illinois, or lots of others, and more expensive. Look on the (Vishay) web site, it's an optical thing. Even the manufacturer recommends them only for restoration projects where looks are important.

There are places to save a buck and IMO capacitors aren't one of them.

F&Ts are as good as Spragues if not better.

Weber makes the best speakers available. His chassis products are excellent especially since he's told his plater to take a hike. Like anyone else there are things Weber does well, try to be all things to all people and there will be things you don't do well.

[sjhusting]

Originally Posted by muchxs

There are places to save a buck and IMO capacitors aren't one of them.

F&Ts are as good as Spragues if not better.

Agreed. I use F&T in all my builds, unless I for some reason (space) need that JJ 40x20x20x20.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

So why do folks hammer on him? If he goes to higher grade parts, the price goes up, too. Buy what you want, don't buy what you don't want.

No need to <sigh>

I answered a question based on personal experience.

I wasn't hammering him, just the product/kit (and service) I personally got. You got a chassis, how can you defend a product (his caps) if you've never tried them? Why do you feel the need to?

If you want to know the details of my two ordeals with the products PM me, I'll be glad to share not one, but two, bad experiences. Otherwise, forums aren't the place for dirty laundry. Therefore, I'll stick to answering the OP's question instead of elaborating.

As with the kits, everyone already knows they're sub par on quality - but the really cool trade-off is they're incredibley affordable. There's the good and the bad of it all - no hammering. And as you said, buy what you want and not what you don't - but he asked for advice on these particular caps and I gave it. I didn't start this thread.

I wouldn't skimp on filter caps... and after using these particular caps, I wouldn't buy them again. I'll say what I always say - if you're flat broke or a beginner, Weber kits are a great value. If you want something quality and durable, that's not the market for these brand of kits.

Great speakers. Very good speakers with a lot of selection and tonal/budgetary variety. Cheap kits though. What is so wrong about those facts?

[SamBooka]

not to get off topic.
You dont have to defend Weber to me. I have always bought certain things from them and I dont plan on stopping. JC said for beginners it is a the pricepoint of his kits is great.
The parts that I have ordered that were low-quality were also inexpensive and easily upgraded. The chassis is more expensive and I am very happy with it. Ditto speakers. No issues with the bassman OT but since Heyboer isnt made in China and isnt much more expensive I take those instead (still through Weber).

[reddart]

Originally Posted by Columbus

Has anyone used the Weber electrolytics? They seem like a great deal if they are good quality caps.

I just recapped a SF Bassman with them. Worked fine (solved the crackling of the old caps).

Can I tell if they are high quality?

If they only last a couple of years, I would say not. If they last 10+ years, then I'd say yes.

Get back to me in a few years, then I'll answer the question.

I'm not sure how anyone could answer this question without having used them for many years, unless they failed quickly...using them within their rated voltage values.

[tweber]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

I'll say what I always say - if you're flat broke or a beginner, Weber kits are a great value. If you want something quality and durable, that's not the market for these brand of kits.?

Ha... and we have at least a dozen or more Pro county players using our kit amps and speakers night after night with no problems. Rev Billy just recorded a country album using one of ours. If you are clueless as to what goes on in the real world, why waste Paul's bandwidth here?

Of course, for the rest of you folks, you always have to take what some people say with a grain of salt, especially if or when they have a vendetta to settle.

This is the guy who declared several times that I was faking my terminal lung disease so I wouldn't have to answer emails. I can't imagine anyone being that callous.

Such is life...

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by tweber

Of course, for the rest of you folks, you always have to take what some people say with a grain of salt, especially if or when they have a vendetta to settle.

This is the guy who declared several times that I was faking my terminal lung disease so I wouldn't have to answer emails. I can't imagine anyone being that callous.

Such is life...

No vendetta. I always mention how your kits are great for beginners. I mention how your speakers are fantastic. I mention how I've had two major issues and was frustrated by extremely poor customer service.

I never claimed you were faking anything. For over a month I got 3 or 4 different stories about an order... none of them were "I had/have serious health issues." In fact, every reason for the order's delay you gave me was new every week for four weeks.

Seriously, what kind of jerk wouldn't understand serious health issues? I certainly understand, and I have nothing but the best wishes for your recovery.

Why would I be so angry, spread "lies," and ignore common human decency, about someone I don't know? Simply Ted, my two experiences with your business have been exceptionally awful... yet I still tell folks your kits are great values and your speakers are fantastic. Relax a bit, I'm not hurting your business by being honest about both the good and the bad.

[BarryW]

My experiences with Weber's profucts and services have been excellent. Ted and his company are an excellent resource/source, and I would recommend him to anybody. If you wish to use heyboer or other brands, Weber stocks them at great prices. Happy to talk to anybody off-line about them.

[MeanGreenBlues]

I've only had problems with the older jacks, older switches (kits now are supplied with higher quality brands), and the pots.

In my experience, all the electronics work great, and I love the speakers I've had experience with so far (most recently California and Sig 10 Alnico). The Tweed chassis are outstanding, too.

However, I usually order all my electronics from Mouser as they're just across D/FW from me and have all the brand names I personally choose. The kits I've built for folks with all the stock electronics have worked out stupedously so far apart from what I've mentioned already.

[jh45gun]

tweber My post was not meant to attach you personally but look at my point of view. I am on a budget (Fixed Income) So I shop for the best deals on what ever I buy from the grocery store to anything else. You have a fantastic reputation for speakers on this site. When I ordered the parts no one here really had said anything to that point at least that I saw on your parts. The prices were good so I ordered and I felt I could get Every Thing I needed from you with out going several places which to me saved on shipping. Again looking for the best way to stretch my money. OK I get the parts and start putting them in my build. I had ordered Pots and Chicken Head Knobs and a Choke. OK The Choke works fine no complaints there. The pots are OK but the NUTS were crap they literally cracked in half when tighted and this was ever one of them. The knobs would crack too when you tightened the set screw to the pot shaft. Now don't tell me I over tightened them as I never have had any problems with the older AMERICAN MADE stuff as I have taken pots off of older gear that I junked out. OK I called your company and the guy I talked to said he would replace several of the knobs that were cracked I said good. I did not ask about replaceing the nuts as I felt I could get some to fit the pots. Well forgetting these were chinese of course the pot nuts I did have here off the American stuff did not fit. Replacement knobs came and same issue they cracked when trying to tighten on the shaft with the set screw. So yea I think I have a valid complaint and folks should know some but not all of your stuff is substandard. Would I order a speaker from you sure your reputation on them is spotless would I reccomend your speakers to others even though I never have owned one. Sure because of that same reputation. however I would tell them to stay away from the pots/nuts and knobs due to my expirience.As far as your illness goes I wish you the best of luck and hope all goes well for you. I hope you get your transplant soon and with no complications. Good Luck.