Hello, this is my first post here.
Welcome!
I have a question. It seems today that most MI amps-in fact, most electronic devices today-are only made to last for a few years, before failing. They're not even made to be repaired anymore, just tossed away when they break down. Is there any amp companies today building bass amps that are not like that? I would appreciate your opinions, thanks!
Any amp
should be able to be fixed, but there are reasons why it may be undesirable to do so...
Most circuit boards today are designed to be manufactured by pick-and-place robots, and use miniaturized versions of the components used in older electronics (called surface mount devices; SMD). People can and do troubleshoot and repair boards like that by hand, but in most cases its probably easier just to toss and replace the entire PC board (assuming its available) - rather than toiling over data sheets, scoping out the fault, and executing the replacement of tiny SMD parts. I bet most amp techs who earn their keep fixing SVTs and the like won't even touch that kind of work, and even if they are qualified to do it - in many cases the cost of that work might exceed the cost of simply replacing the entire amp.
PCB amps that use the through-hole components (the parts intended to be stuffed into the board and assembled by humans) would stand a better chance of being repairable by a tech. Through hole boards in consumer electronics are fading fast, however, for a couple of reasons - one is "MBA disease" driving every ounce of profitability into such products (and that means getting the slow, expensive humans out of the equation), and the other is the fact that through-hole parts are slowly and steadily becoming obsolete (as a result of the industry shift to surface mount technology).
Not sure which builders are doing what these days. I'd assume the modern GK, Fender, Ampeg, etc.. fare all use SMT boards.