I think I've got this small amps thing all wrong -maybe there isn't an amp that does home AND gigs!!

ICBM

Shrews said:

A question I've not seen answered is 'longevity' i.e reliability over time. Are some amps more reliable than others in that they continue to perform at the same level for years?

No point in having an amp built for home practice and gigging, if you hardly take it out gigging within its expected lifespan.  That seems logical to me, unless amps are generally reliable for years. 

Amps are generally reliable for years, or even decades. The only things that normally wear out are valves, and the only things that really degrade simply over time are electrolytic caps, and to a smaller extent paper-in-oil caps and carbon-comp resistors - but that's decades rather than years.

A few weeks ago I serviced a 1953 Fender Champ, and it was running fine - it didn't have all its original valves, but it's possible at least one of them was. It didn't even need the caps changing, which is unusual at that age but not unheard of if it's been used regularly, which keeps them in better condition than not doing.

Shrews

ICBM said:

Shrews said:

A question I've not seen answered is 'longevity' i.e reliability over time. Are some amps more reliable than others in that they continue to perform at the same level for years?

No point in having an amp built for home practice and gigging, if you hardly take it out gigging within its expected lifespan.  That seems logical to me, unless amps are generally reliable for years. 

Amps are generally reliable for years, or even decades. The only things that normally wear out are valves, and the only things that really degrade simply over time are electrolytic caps, and to a smaller extent paper-in-oil caps and carbon-comp resistors - but that's decades rather than years.

A few weeks ago I serviced a 1953 Fender Champ, and it was running fine - it didn't have all its original valves, but it's possible at least one of them was. It didn't even need the caps changing, which is unusual at that age but not unheard of if it's been used regularly, which keeps them in better condition than not doing.

Ok fair enough, but I've heard a lot of talk on here about amps 'blowing up' and whilst I don't think this means a puff of smoke scenario (!), I was thinking this was either down to misuse of reliability and hence the question.

ICBM

Shrews said:

Ok fair enough, but I've heard a lot of talk on here about amps 'blowing up' and whilst I don't think this means a puff of smoke scenario (!), I was thinking this was either down to misuse of reliability and hence the question.

Amps can certainly 'blow up' - including with a puff of smoke - but it's down to design flaws or random component (usually valve) failures and not long-term reliability issues usually. There will be a few where something that should have been changed - almost certainly an electrolytic cap - fails, but it's fairly rare.

CountryDave

Depends exactly what you need the home amp to do. I’ve a Blackstar Fly that covers my practice needs at home. Does it sound like a boutique rig at full tilt, played by Eric Johnson? Nope.
Does it make a half decent noise so I can get up to speed with the latest tunes I’m learning for the band? Yup.

Creed_Clicks

Quilter.

ecc83

Re reliability, as ICBM says, other than valves electronic components have an extremely long life and the only reason valves fail these days is because thery are largely ***t.  It therefore behoves the amp designer to plan for "collateral damage" i.e. when (not if!) a modern valve fails the support circuitry, mainly resistors should be rated highly enough to handle the overload and not go up in smoke.

Unfortunately such "over-engineering" adds a hidden cost to the designs that punter does not see or appreciate when waving their flexible friend.  As IC  says again, electrolytic caps are far more reliable than people think and modern ones give virtually zero defects.

Back in the day it was not at all unusual to find a valve radio banging away in a garage or factory, close to its 4W OP stage limit for 20 years running 7am to 6pm 5 days a week.

Dave.