I was setting up for a gig, and 25 minutes to showtime I discovered my Bose was not working. Luckily, I was 10 minutes from the house and ran back and got my Spacestation, so all was well.

When I turned on the Bose, the blue light would flash and go out. I tried different cords and outlets. I have thousands of hours on the unit as I used it in my studio everyday as well as gigs before I bought the Spacestation for larger venues.

Now, what to do? I will use the Spacestation on the outside to limit the hours put on it. I have a pair of Roland CM-30s I have been using for computer speakers to use. The sound in a 12x13 room isn't bad.

I am curious to know if anyone else has had a compact die on them.

I had one go out, not totally, put pretty much. Even after warranty expires, Bose will totally rebuild it for a reasonable set price. I think it's around $150., but don't remember exactly.
Call them and see what they say.

Bernie not good news ...I've heard this happening to a few people also for some reason with compacts they don't hold up well under pressure.....I hope Bose cane remedy the situation asap. At least you have the Spacestation, won't that maintain all your needs, or?

Gotta have lots of backups in this biz.

Gary

won't that maintain all your needs, or? [/quote]

Yes, gig wise I am fine, but,as Gary said,---backup. If I was a gambling man, I might say the new Spacestation is enough. However, I am not, and, I am used to full sounding PA's when I am programming material so I know what the sound will be at a gig, although the CM-30's are probably close enough, but not for gigs. As Don says, maybe I will call Bose, but there are shipping costs too.

Or just call Frank and buy some Maui 5's... Just saying

Back-up of the back-up of the back-up!!

I use 2 Yamaha DXR10 speakers... if one goes, I have a built in back-up. If they both go, I carry a TC Helicon VoiceSolo FX150 in a tub I leave in the van.

Cables... speakers... mics... mixers... thumb drives...

I do not, however, carry a second keyboard... hmmmm?!? Living on the edge?!?

Hope your Bose repair goes well!!

Jonathan, you have been up and down the road a few times and I agree. I must admit,however, I was stunned to have my trusty Bose take a dump on me. It just goes to show you, doesn't it?

For very important weddings, I take this controller keyboard as a back-up keyboard, together with one of my small modules:

http://www.roland.com/products/a-500s/

It fits into the trunk and stays there during the gig, I bought a used one for just 85 euros. Even works on batteries.

(EDIT: Warning: This one is discontinued, but the newer A-49 only works with a computer attached - VERY stupid.)

Lol..... I can do a wedding with just my phone.... Mic.... Maui 5... In a pinch!!

Until recently, I had a pair of Bose L1 Compacts, never had a problem with the primary unit and the second unit was only used a handful of times for very large venues. Bose has a super service department, and yes, you will have to pay shipping one way, but in most instances, they will foot the bill for shipping back to you. Give them a call, and be sure to tell them that you are a full-time entertainer and they will provide you with very quick return time on your amp.

As for the Bose Compact failure rate, according to everything I've read, that rate is very, very low, much lower than any other PA system. The CM30s should be left at home - they just don't cut it, and that is based upon a one-time use at an outdoor party. The guy at the local music store told me they were nothing more than a practice amp for guitar players, and not to use them for the work that I did. He was right. After two songs on the CM30s, I plugged into the Bose Compact and continued for the remainder of the night and rocked the pool party. Additionally, I know a dozen DJs and KJs here that use the Bose L1 and L1 Compact and they've never had a problem. So, I believe the folks on the Bose forum that said the failure rate is very, very low, much lower than any other PA system.

Good Luck,

Gary

No reason to buy CM30s. I think I've posted enough demos of the FBT J5a speakers now to demonstrate the power of these 8 lbs speakers...

[/quote]
For very important weddings, I take this controller keyboard as a back-up keyboard, together with one of my small modules:

http://www.roland.com/products/a-500s/

It fits into the trunk and stays there during the gig, I bought a used one for just 85 euros. Even works on batteries.

(EDIT: Warning: This one is discontinued, but the newer A-49 only works with a computer attached - VERY stupid.)[/quote]

When I got a Roland A-49 a few years back, I, too, thought it was stupid the A-49 could not power up as a standalone. I found a trick on the internet.

How do I power up my Roland A49 MIDI controller with a USB power supply (without a computer)?
Article #1725357 Added on Jun 8, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Hold the Function, Assign, and Pitch buttons while plugging the unit in to the power supply to enable the controller to receive power in standalone. Once you’ve done this, each subsequent boot should work normally with the power adapter without having to press that combination of buttons.

When I got a Roland A-49 a few years back, I, too, thought it was stupid the A-49 could not power up as a standalone. I found a trick on the internet.

How do I power up my Roland A49 MIDI controller with a USB power supply (without a computer)?
Article #1725357 Added on Jun 8, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Hold the Function, Assign, and Pitch buttons while plugging the unit in to the power supply to enable the controller to receive power in standalone. Once you’ve done this, each subsequent boot should work normally with the power adapter without having to press that combination of buttons. [/quote]

That works? Funny... A normal USB power adapter apparantly doesn't work.
It's bizarre as I read the A-49 needs some kind of driver to work, either from PC or at least via iPad, but then that's obviously wrong...

Old Lazurus has arisen.

I brought the Compact into my studio to see if I was missing something. I turned it on an VOILA.
It fired right up and works as good as ever. It could have been the cords, but I tried two. It wasn't a heat overload, as it was cold. The outlets were fine for everything else, which leaves internal connectivity. It might last a day or years, but I will no longer trust it at a gig without knowing the cause. I will just keep it my studio and use the Spacestation. Time will tell if I use it for backup.

Bernie
You already have the Spacestation so get a small bass/keyboard amp to boost the bottom end and your good to go. Check out he Carvin Micro bass units. I had one and they're killer for the size/weight. If the SS dies you still have the other amp as your built in backup.
JMHO.

Obviously, Carvin has been a respected name for years, but if it is primarily a bass amp and I have two subs, why this and not the Maui 5, if anything?

Compacts don't hold up well under pressure?

I've been using mine 6 to 10 times a month for a few years now...no problems. To me they are pretty rugged units.

That said, might be worth checking out the new JBL Ones.

I used two Bose Compacts since they were introduced in 2009. I had the one problem, and it was quickly addressed. I used them four hours every night, five nights a week for nearly seven years!
I found them extremely reliable.

7 to 10 jobs a week for my Bose L1 Compact, averaged 350 to 400 jobs a year, ever since the Compact became available in 2009 - never had a single problem. After 7 years of using it, I took the backup amp out of the van - never needed it! Now that I've retired, the only gear in the van is the Rock And Roller cart, which I sometimes use to haul gear down the sidewalk to the boat. Looks like the Bose L1 Compact held up better than I did!

Gary

[quote=Bernie9]Obviously, Carvin has been a respected name for years, but if it is primarily a bass amp and I have two subs, why this and not the Maui 5, if anything?

Backup is why. The Carvins preform pretty well full range.

The trick does work on the Roland A49. Any USB power source will turn it on. I have my A49 sitting right next to me and as always just now I was able to turn it on from a USB battery pack. One of the reasons I bought the A49 was because I "thought" from looking at the midi din out I could use it without a computer except that how do you power it with a PC??? That was when I found the trick on the net. It is not even mentioned in the manual. Just recently I purchased a USB MIDI host along with some other midi gadgets including a midi breath controller. The USB MIDI host, of course, will power the A49 no problem. Then I tried Samsung USB chargers and two different USB battery packs to turn on the A49 and send midi out. I don't like when manufacturers have features in their products that either they themselves don't know about or fail to mention in the manual.



When I got a Roland A-49 a few years back, I, too, thought it was stupid the A-49 could not power up as a standalone. I found a trick on the internet.

How do I power up my Roland A49 MIDI controller with a USB power supply (without a computer)?
Article #1725357 Added on Jun 8, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Hold the Function, Assign, and Pitch buttons while plugging the unit in to the power supply to enable the controller to receive power in standalone. Once you’ve done this, each subsequent boot should work normally with the power adapter without having to press that combination of buttons. [/quote]

That works? Funny... A normal USB power adapter apparantly doesn't work.
It's bizarre as I read the A-49 needs some kind of driver to work, either from PC or at least via iPad, but then that's obviously wrong...[/quote]

Hahaha don't shoot the messenger..... Lol

I just remembered I have a Peavey KB300 amp with a Black Widow speaker stored in my band room. I bought two in the late eighties, but they weigh about 95 lbs apiece. I wonder if the tone stacks up at all with modern amps. I loaned it to the band 10 yrs ago for visiting players, and forgot how it sounds. They sounded wonderful then, but so did my old D-50 KB.

just put some wheels on it and off you go....

http://store.roadreadycases.com/dyn_prod.php?p=RRWAD

I put wheels on after the second time out.

Great amp for its time but most guys forgo keyboard amps these days in favor of powered PA type speakers. Much better sound quality, more power, lighter, and you can put them up on stands.
I had two similar amps made by Crate, KX220s. They were great but once I got my JBL's they were gone.

I used to own a KB300 - it was just awful. The sounds were muddy at best, it weighed nearly 100 pounds, and I used a refrigerator dolly to move it. Sold it to a bingo hall for half what I paid for it and was glad to see it go.

Gary

Like Don, I’ve had the Compact since it was introduced and before that the L1, now called the Classic. Never had a problem with the Compact, but I did have a problem with the big Bose. I spoke with and did a telephone trouble shoot with a Bose tech that lasted several hours. When we determined that none of his recommendations worked, Bose over-nighted me another unit and took back the one that I had so I had it for the next night’s gig. I was not charged for shipping either way, AND it was out of warranty! So, I would pay the extra $ that the Bose products cost just for the service. I do keep my old Barbetta 31 in the van just in case.
Ciao,
Jerry

I too had the Classic before the Compact. After about 6 years, the sub went out. It was ok for a while,but happened again so got a Compact. During all of these years I had only one amp. This meant it was on 10 to 12 hrs a day plus gig time. That is a helluva lot of hours, so I can't say anything against Bose.

As far as the Peavey is conscerned, I know you guys are right. It will stay in the band room. My Compact is doing fine, so I will leave it in the van for backup. The Peavey can be a backup backup.

I heard Gary was looking for an anchor for his boat. Maybe he'll trade you something for the Peavey.

dnj:
Leave it in the van? In Florida heat?

Not usually. You mean that maybe was the cause of the temporary failure?

its possible Bernie, If I lived in Florida between the humidity an heat I wouldn't leave anything in the car ever..

I just read in a resort I visited and follow on Facebook (Satellite Beach) the air conditioning of an old people's condo has been out of order for a week, people sweatening at 90F in the 11th floor... Makes you realize the downsides of the sunshine state...

What possible excuse can there be for that not being fixed on an emergency basis???

I don't think there is an excuse... even if (if I recall correctly) it is no old people's home, but a municipality-run condominium in which some or many senior citizens live. Unbearable, I can't even stand 80F at night.