The Amp Reliability Survey

[Rook]

I think this could be a great resource for the site - for people who own an amp and think something's wrong, people who are looking at buying an amp used to see common faults or reliability record and I also think it'd be interesting to see how realistic some amp maker's reputations are.

Right, first off this isn't a place to bitch about various amp brands going wrong, or telling stories of what you've heard about amps going wrong or whatever. All that counts in this thread are your own experiences with amps you have owned personally.

This is an idea I had from discussions about various amps being reliable and others not, I think it'd be interesting to have one big reference thread where owners of amps whether they've gone wrong or not to post about their reliability experience with their amps.

A few key rules:
-As said above, no comments about amps you don't own, and by that I don't mean 'I own a Dual Rectifier that's fine, but my friend's went wrong', your own experiences only.
-Very importantly, this is not just for amps that have gone wrong, if you've owned an ENGL for ten years and it's never gone wrong then post!
-Tubes/fuses going through regular use or the failure of a particular tube/fuse because of a build fault in that particular item does not count as a reliability issue unless your amp was persistently blowing tubes/fuses prematurely due to an underlying issue. Some amps get through tubes quicker than others folks.
-Damage due to your own abuse does not count as a reliability issue, don't post it
-Do not comment on customer service here, all we want is the issue itself, and how easily fixed it was; subjective I know, but try and keep your opinion out of it
-Do not comment on how you felt the amp sounded, this isn't a general review

Please use the following format, and make sure your answers aren't in bold so it's easy to read;

Make:
Model:
Approximate Age When Bought:
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:
Usage:
Issues/Failures:
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):

Here's an example:

Make: Amazing Amp Co.
Model: Super Gain Machine
Approximate Age When Bought: 3 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, owned for 4 years, now sold again.
Usage: Used live at full gigging volume every week
Issues/Failures and Symptoms (state major or minor fault): Started making loud buzzing noises when put under strain or turned up. Turn out to be a transformer failure. Major fault.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Power tubes changed every year, preamp tubes every 6 months.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd love to see this thread mature and think everyone can post. Whether you own an ART SLA and Axe FX Standard, a vintage Fender Bassman, a Line 6 Spider, an ENGL Invader, tell us everything about how reliable (or not!) it's been here!.


Here's my contribution.

Make: Peavey
Model: 6505+ Head
Approximate Age When Bought: Bought new
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: First owner, sold after a year of ownership
Usage: Used at a fairly high volume for a practice every couple of weeks, and bedroom volume most days
Issues/Failures: Non whatsoever except a loose input jack that took 5 minutes to tighten
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): V1 preamp tubes started getting a little microphonic after 10 months, so I changed it. It had plenty of life left though.

Make: Mesa/Boogie
Model: Dual Rectifier 3CH Head (non Multi-Watt)
Approximate Age When Bought: about 6 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: no, owned for 2 years
Usage: Used at a fairly high volume for a practice every couple of weeks, and bedroom volume most days
Issues/Failures: None Whatsoever
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): none carried out

Make: Mesa/Boogie
Model: Roadster Head
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, 3 years so far
Usage: Used at a fairly high volume for a practice every couple of weeks, and bedroom volume most days
Issues/Failures: A 'pop' comes through the speaker when you change to channel 3, however this is solved if you scroll through all the channels before switching from standby, even if you don't it only pops the first time you switch to 3. No failures of any kind thus far.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Changed every tube for the first time recently, however they started sounding a bit nasty about 6 months ago.

Make: Ashdown
Model: Fallen Angel 60 Head
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, owned for about a year
Usage: home use, gigged twice
Issues/Failures: It blew mains fuses unusually frequently, but according to my tech at the time Ashdown had specified the wrong mains fuse Use of a higher rated fuse solved it and never had any problems after that.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Changed one preamp tube (v1) just before I sold it because the original blew. The rest appeared to have a decent bit of life left in them. Power tubes were top notch.

Make: Roland
Model: JC160
Approximate Age When Bought: 30 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, owned 5 years
Usage: Regular home use, used to record with several times.
Issues/Failures: None whatsoever
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): None whatsoever

Make: Ampeg
Model: SVT-3 Pro
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Owned 2 years, now sold
Usage: Regular gigs (fortnightly)
Issues/Failures: Overheated once, but left to settled it came back and worked fine for the year or so after until I sold it.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Changed the tubes for JJ's when I bought it out of preference (which I recommend) but no changes out of necessity.

[pathos45]

Make: Peavey
Model: 6505+
Approximate Age When Bought: Bought New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Sold it for a vht cl100
Usage: every day anywheres from 30 mins-4 hours
Issues/Failures: only issue i had with it was it being extreemly noisey took it in and it was the transformer that was defective straight from factory, got it replaced with no cost and it worked flawlessly.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Pre amp tubes i usually change anywheres from 8-12 months just for good measure and usually if i have the extra cash ill buy a new set of power tubes that way i have some backups incase shit happens.

[Rook]

Perfect! I know it's probably the way I've formatted it but can people try an un-bold their answers? Makes it a little easier to read!

Pathos, I'd love to hear about the VHT?

[Infamous Impact]

Make: Roland
Model: Cube 15XL
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, 1 year
Usage: Every day 1-4 hrs, bedroom volume.
Issues/Failures: Occasionally loses gain, have to unplug and plug back into wall to fix.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): N/AMake: Peavey
Model: 6505+ Combo
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, 2 weeks, returned.
Usage: 2-5 hrs everyday, bedroom (large basement?) volume.
Issues/Failures: N/A
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): N/A

[pathos45]

lets do the vht and my other amps that followed lol.

Make: VHT
Model: Pitbull CL100 w/Geq
Approximate Age When Bought: Im pretty sure it was 2-3 years old when i got it but was in mint shape with a roadcase.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Sold it for a mesa mark v had it for about a year.
Usage: Same as my 6505 every day from 30 mins-4 hours
Issues/Failures: None what so ever.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): The guy i bought it from said he just changed the tubes so i didnt do so till i heard a microphonic tube about 3 months after so i retubed the entire thing.

Make: Mesa Boogie
Model: Mark V
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Year and half, sold it as i was behind on bills and needed the cash (worst mistake ive ever made btw)
Usage: I used it more than my 6505 or vht just because it was so amazing and versitile.
Issues/Failures: The only problem i had was the reverb not working then i saw someone ....ed with it and unpluged the input, pluged it back in worked flawlessly.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): The entire time i didnt change the tubes except for buying a set of el34s to try in it and i decided i liked the els more than the 6l6s.

Make: Peavey
Model: JSX
Approximate Age When Bought: 3 Years old
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: I still have it have had it for about 8 months now.
Usage: Everyday the same 30 mins - 4 hours
Issues/Failures: I had some sort of hum even with dual noise gate, so i changed the pre amp tubes and its great now, i do find the volume lacking a little so i think its time for a whole new retube to be safer than sorry lol.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Other than the pre amp switching nothing yet but as i said a retubing is needed. Thinkin of some kt77s though insted of els or 6l6s

[guitarister7321]

Make: Carvin
Model: X100B (carpeted)
Approximate Age When Bought: 22-17 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes. 1 year.
Usage: I use it multiple times almost everyday. 30 min-2.5 hours. Low volumes, on 25w setting.
Issues/Failures: Extremely crackly bass knob. Too loud.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Tubes need changing, tubes are old Sylmar Groove Tubes, so I guess they lasted a while.

[steve1]

Make: randall
Model: rh150g3
Approximate Age When Bought: ex demo, can't be sure
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: still own it, had it a year or so
Usage: about 5 hours in total
Issues/Failures: damaged in shipping, legs on a transistor broke off, simple fix. Unrelated to shipping damage, bass is insane, can't be turned above one without farting. Cuts out at higher volumes (sensible, needed high volumes, not maxing it)
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): n/a, currently used as an expensive foot stool.

Make: Framus
Model: Cobra
Usage: 3 hours per week at band practice
Approx age when bought: 3 years i think
Still own, how long?: i've had it 9 months
issues/failures: none yet
Maintenance: had new tubes when bought, yet to need replacing.
edit: also the amp was modded with a switch to run the effects loop in series or parallel. (not sure if thats relevant in any way)

[Dvaienat]

Make: Line 6
Model: Spider IV 75
Approximate Age When Bought: New.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own it and have owned it for 2 years.
Usage: 1-2 hours per day at bedroom volume.
Issues/Failures: Crackles as knobs are turned. Normally no sound will come out unless the amp has been on for 10-15 mins and no sound comes out unless the volume is above 2.
Maintenance: N/A

[Rook]

I'm gunna pos rep everyone who makes in time to get on the first page

Cool thread dudes

[traditional]

Make: Randall
Model: RH50T
Approximate Age When Bought: New.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, almost 3 years.
Usage: Daily home practice, weekly band practice + shows.
Issues/Failures: After a year the preamp tubes got a bit microphonic, but was an easy fix.
Maintenance: Changed preamp tubes every year since.

[Ribboz]

Make: Soldano
Model: Atomic 112
Approximate Age When Bought: Unknown
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: One year
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: None.
Maintenance: None. Didn't own long enough nor ever required it.

Make: Soldano
Model: Avenger 50 Watt
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: 2 years.
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: None.
Maintenance: None. Didn't own long enough nor ever required it.

Make: Soldano
Model: Sp-77
Approximate Age When Bought: 10 years?
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: 2 years.
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: none.
Maintenance: Funny story. I sent it in to soldano to have it modded and Bill told me a few of the capacitor/resistors had aged and pretty much were dead. I was shocked because it ran perfectly! So he updated some parts and had it running like band new.

Make: Mesa Boogie
Model: Roadster
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: To be honest I'm sort of fuzzy on this part.
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: Loud rectifier tubes. I had discovered almost instantly upon start up that the rectifier tubes let out a high pitched sound. Through some very helpful members on the mesa forum I soon found the cause and fix.
Maintenance: None. Didn't own long enough nor ever required it. But I did change the V1 to a Tungsol, it really helped.

Make: Soldano
Model: Super Lead Overdrive
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own. About 5 months.
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: None and probably never haha.
Maintenance: Put in fresh tubes all biased and perfect. Also have another set of the same tubes for a year or so haha.

These are the ones I remember. XD
I wish I could bring up this instance my dad had with VHT(when it was the real vht) Bah you guys are missing a crazy story.

[Scruffy1012]

Make: Peavey
Model: 6505 (not the + model)
Approximate Age When Bought: Brand Spankin new
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: yes, but selling it for a axe fx. ive had it for a year
Usage: High volume for gigs, practices. Low for room practice, had to change the tubes for the tone i desired.
Issues/Failures: Nothing, the footswitch is quite tacky... but other than that it is superb.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Only changed the tubes twice, reliable amp

[SirMyghin]

Make: Mesa Boogie
Model: Mark V
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own. 1+years.
Usage: Daily home use.
Issues/Failures: Nothing serious, odd tube/occasional likely electric interference stuff, amp itself is fine.
Maintenance: Had to retube the power section.

[Quitty]

Make: Vox
Model: AD50VT
Approximate Age When Bought: Brand new.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: With me still. Been 6 years now?
Usage: Home practice @ low volumes, studio work, gigging once a month or so.
Issues/Failures: None. And it's received a lot of 'hard lovin'
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Changed the p(ow)reamp tube (Yep, that's exactly what it is ) to a 12at7 and installed my own effects loop a year ago. Changing speakers on a regular basis (one for studio&home, one for gigs).

[JP Universe]

Make: Mesa Boogie
Model: Mk 3 Blue stripe
Approximate Age When Bought: Second hand
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No - 3 years
Usage: Couple of gigs and homeHome practice @ low volumes, studio work, gigging Issues/failures: None.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Changed all of the tubes once

[petereanima]

Make: Diezel
Model: Herbert
Approximate Age When Bought: new
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: still own it, bought 3 years ago
Usage: once a week for rehearsal (full gigging volume), and aproximately 120 gigs
Issues/Failures: none really; once had a weird change in sound - turned out I just had to re-bias the powertubes
Maintenance: 1st set of tubes (TAD EL34B-STR) went bad after ~9-10 months, replaced with JJ E34L which were absolute shite (1st pair lasted 4 weeks, 2nd pair only 8 hours, the 3rd pair I removed), have now a sextett of SED 6550 =C= since 2 years - works eprfect.

[atticmike]

Make: Splawn
Model: Nitro (three pre model 08)
Approximate Age When Bought: Used but barely played by the previous owner.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still in my possession, probably for the rest of my life I've owned it for two to three months now. Blown away. Best Amp I've ever possessed (Short history: marshall mgs, laney vh 100r, marshall jcm 800, marshall jcm modded by diezel, diezel herbert, mesa boogie dual rect...)
Usage: Barely at the moment. On a weekly basis for gigs or recordings. Practice on a small Crate hours every day
Issues/Failures: Nothing at all, perfect.
Maintenance: I switched all the tubes and had it rebiased because of 240 volt selector switch, adjusted to 230 european voltage. However, instead of missing voltage to power the tubes (240 at a 230 input), the tech had to even lower the power input since they were too hot

[black_anther]

Make: Marshall
Model: Valvestate 65R
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, owned for 12 years.
Usage: 2 or 3 shows, otherwise used for bedroom practice
Issues/Failures and Symptoms (state major or minor fault): No major issues
Maintenance: Never performed any maintenance.

-----------

Make: Line 6
Model: Spider II 150W Head
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, owned for 5 years
Usage: Only ever used for bedroom practice for the first 3 years then joined a band. Rehearsal every couple of weeks, 20 or so shows, used for bedroom practice at low volume every day pretty much
Issues/Failures and Symptoms (state major or minor fault): No major issues, found it didn't cope with low end that well, things got muddy. You get what you pay for.
Maintenance: Never performed any maintenance.

-----------

Make: Peavey
Model: 6505+
Approximate Age When Bought: New(ish) B-stock from Thomann.de
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own it but is going to a new home next week.
Usage: Rehearsal every couple of weeks, 10-15 shows, used a couple times at very low volumes at home.
Issues/Failures and Symptoms (state major or minor fault): Fine for first month then experienced massive drops in volume, turned out to be a problem with the seating on one of the valves and some dodgy soldering. Was fixed under warranty and no problems since.
Maintenance: Power tubes changed once, never changed pre-amp tubes.

-----------

Make: ENGL
Model: Powerball II
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own it, 3 weeks old!
Usage: One rehearsal, used a couple times at home at bedroom volume.
Issues/Failures and Symptoms (state major or minor fault): No problems
Maintenance: No maintenance yet.

[BucketheadRules]

Make: Blackstar
Model: HT Club 40
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Still own it, have done for about 7-8 months
Usage: Almost every day at bedroom volume for 1-2 hours, did a few louder rehearsals/shows with it last month
Issues/Failures: None, hopefully it'll stay that way
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Haven't changed the tubes yet (shouldn't need to yet really) and nothing else has needed doing. Great amp!

[cwhitey2]

Make: Line 6
Model: Spider Valve mkii
Approximate Age When Bought: new
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: no, 1 1/2 years
Usage: Everyday 2-4 hours (longest use straight was 7 hours...dont ask )
Issues/Failures: none except i sold it because it didn't take a ts9 and decimator at gig volume well at all, lots of feed back. had to make settings so tight it effected my tone
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): never did a tube change or update of firmware

Make: Peavey
Model: 3120
Approximate Age When Bought: New/demo
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: yes, 2 months
Usage: 3 hours minimum
Issues/Failures: none so far
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): none

[TemjinStrife]

Make: Budda
Model: Superdrive 30, Series I
Approximate Age When Bought: 8-12 years old
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, since 2008
Usage: 3-7 days a week 1-4 hrs, bedroom volume to gig/rehearsal volume; 8-10 gigs, regular weekly rehearsals.
Issues/Failures: Had a worn out FX Return jack that caused high-pitched fizzing, static, and brightness; simple to replace once problem was found.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Power tubes twice in three years, preamp tubes only had to change once.

Make: Mesa
Model: F-30 short head
Approximate Age When Bought: 5-6 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, 1.5 years
Usage: 1-3 days a week, 1-4 hours, bedroom to moderately loud volumes; several rehearsals.
Issues/Failures: None. Even got dropped twice off of an equipment dolly, still works fine.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Appears to still have the original tubes in it from circa 2005. Might need new power tubes soon.

Make: Eden
Model: WT400
Approximate Age When Bought: 11 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, 3 years
Usage: 1-4 days a week, 1-4 hours, bedroom to gig volumes. Gigged over a dozen times and rehearsed weekly for over a year and a half.
Issues/Failures: Needed a new input jack.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Utterly reliable, no maintenance needed.

Make: Line 6
Model: LD300 combo
Approximate Age When Bought: New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: No, 2 years
Usage: 1-4 days a week, 1-4 hours, bedroom to gig levels. Gigged 2/month for a year, rehearsed weekly for that same period.
Issues/Failures: None. Solid as a rock, and heavy as one too.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): Nothing needed.

[Rook]

Awesome work so far guys, but more people need to join in to give this any validity!

Interestingly, none of the amp's listed so far have had any cataclysmic failures, 37 amps. Interesting how short the average ownership period is too.

[lemeker]

Make: Mesa
Model: Dual Rectifier 3 Channel (non multi watt)
Approximate Age When Bought: not sure, I bought it used.
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: I bought it in March of this year, and plan on keeping it till I die
Usage: 4-5 days a week, for at least an hour, at basement/ bedroom levels (I put an eq in the effects loop so I'm able to bring the overall volume on the amp down )
Issues/Failures: None so far, which is great.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): So far I did a full retube, about a month or two ago, and not because of tube failure, but just cause I wanted 6l6's.


Make: Peavey
Model: Windsor
Approximate Age When Bought: New in, I believe '08
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?: Yes, I'll probably keep it for when friends come over.
Usage: I haven't since I got the Mesa
Issues/Failures: I must have gotten lucky, mine has been solid.
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): None so far

[7 Dying Trees]

Make: Mesa Boogie
Model:Roadking II
Approximate Age When Bought:New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:Yes, 8 months, other one sold
Usage:US tour, European festival circuit
Issues/Failures:On the one i sold the reverb tank went after shipping back from the US, the other one i still have has no issues whatsoever
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):none apart from replacing the reverb tank in the one that went faulty, but was just the reverb tank

Make:VHT/Fryette
Model:Pitbull Ultralead
Approximate Age When Bought:2-3 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:Yes, 3 years
Usage:European tour, lots of gigs and rehearsals
Issues/Failures:Blown fuse from time to time, is a bit sensitive to spikes, other than that no issues, but i carry around spare fuses
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):None apart from the fuses, tubes replaced after 2 years of use, kt88's can be temperamental, no use trying to save money with cheaper ones.
Make: Peavey
Model:5150
Approximate Age When Bought:Is a block letter, so old, early 90's I'd guess?
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:Yes, owned it for 4-5 years
Usage:Studio, some gigs, a few rehearsals
Issues/Failures:Bias modded it a biit too hot so have blown two sets of tubes, needed new grid resistors due to age, other than that a retube when i bought it, nothing else, withoutt the bias mod or run slightly colder than what i like it'd be rock solid
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):Just wear and tear and replacing tubes when they burn out because i run it very hot

Make:Marshall
ModelSL 100
Approximate Age When Bought:New
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:No, owned it for 2 years
Usage:European tour, rehearsals, european festivals
Issues/Failures:None
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):No maintenance whilst i owned it

Make:Marshall
Model:Plexi Super Lead 100w head
Approximate Age When Bought:32 years old
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:No, 7 years
Usage:Home usage, rehearsals, gigs
Issues/Failures:Fried tubes after someone plugged it into the wrong impedance, blew output transformer, rewound the transformer, replaced tubes, back to solid. If not for mismatch would have been fine
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):None apart from repair

Make:Rivera
Model:TBR-3
Approximate0 Age When Bought:10-15 years?
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:No, 6 years
Usage:European tour, gigging, home
Issues/Failures:None
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):Had to fix some broken push/pull buttons on it when bought due to it having been knocked about, one revalve

Make:Rivera
Model:TBR-5
Approximate Age When Bought:8 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:No, 4 years
Usage:Heavy gigging, rehearsals, home
Issues/Failures:Blew tubes and a screen grid resistor due to overheating as didn't come with fan assembly, made a fan assembly and was fine after that. Also accidentally plugged one side into the power amp output of a marshall whilst half asleep. Due to dual monoblock design having one half die was not an issue as switched to using other side untill fixed
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):One retube which was insanely expensive, 8 6550's are not cheap!

Make:Peavey
Model:JSX
Approximate Age When Bought:new (x2)
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:Still own one, other one sold, current one 7 years, other one 1 year
Usage:light gigging, some touring
Issues/Failures:None
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):No maintenance as light usage

Make:Mesa Boogie
Model:Triaxis
Approximate Age When Bought:10 years? early model with recto board and v2 upgrade
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:No, 8 years
Usage:Extensive gigging, european tour, US tour, some other shows
Issues/Failures:Battery needed replacing, but after 18 years that isn't bad... Had to open it up and reseat a board after it fell 5 feet onto the floor, however that was the only thing that needed doing to it so very rugged!
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):one set of tubes every 5-6 years, battery after 18 years

Make:Mesa Boogie
Modelual Rectifier
Approximate Age When Bought:1-3 years
Do you still own it? How long did you own it for?:2 years
Usage:US + European tours
Issues/Failures:None
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users):None it's lifespan

[Diggy]

Make: Mesa
Model: DC-10 head
Approximate Age When Bought: 5 years
Do you still own it? Yep
Usage: , 2 hours, 2 times week, for 8 years
Issues/Failures: EQ switch on front panel is bad, footswitchable EQ still works.. nothing else really.. solid amp
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): change tubes about every year or year and a half.. or so.

Make: Orange
Model: Rockerverb 100 MKII
Approximate Age When Bought: new
Do you still own it? Yes!
Usage: 2 times a week.. prolly for the next 5 years or more.
Issues/Failures: none whatsoever.. I have the feeling this thing was built to last
Maintenance (frequency of tube changes, or software updates for you Axe/Pod users): stock tube usage at about 9 months, but still sound great