I have an opportunity to pick up a Bachmann ALCO S4 with DCC and Sound.
Can anyone who has one of the Bachmann DCC Sound Value On Board locos share their opinion of this loco.
I have some Spectrum steamers from Bachmann, but I have never purchased one of their diesels.
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,I have a Santa Fe S4 and I like it..Its a smooth runner and in the silent mode its as quiet as my Atlas/Roco S4.
The only thing that I think doesn't sound quite right is the turbo charger whistle sounds to loud other then that its a great little engine.You have a choice of three horns,bell ring rate and rule 17.
The decoder features all CV settings and has bemf.Also the sound didn't perform well with my Tech II power pack or using the T6 DC mode so,I used my Tech 6 in the DCC mode for this engine.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Rich,
If you would like to watch them in review video's,while waiting for a response to your question,,there are a whole bunch,of You Tube Video's on them,,,,,just Google Bachmann Alco S4 and go to the review section and watch them in action.......Just A Thought!!
Cheers,
Frank
I have one in Western Maryland paint scheme and it has become a prime mover on my layout
Joe Staten Island West
I have one of the S2's (same as an S4), another sitting in a usps box waiting to be opened, and another en route. Needless to say, I like them. Smooth operation and nice sound, except the soundraxx horn sounds like someone stuffed a rag in it, not nearly as clear or loud as a QSI horn.
Mechanically, the only thing I'm dissappointed in is the electrical pickup system, old fashion wiper style, instead of the proto/athearn or atlas/kato style.
If you would have posted this thread about a month ago, I would have told you to stay away from them.....At first, my S2 had horrible stalling problems over turnouts. After much searching and frustration, the problem was rooted in a poor factory soldering job attaching the truck wire to the pickup strip. It finally fell off after my repeated efforts searching for the problem. It was soldered strong enough to stay on, but not well enough to keep it from having intermittent problems. After re-stripping the wire and resoldering it, all pickup problems have been resolved. It now operates well, which is why I bought 2 more.
The details that are on the locomotive are pretty good, thin handrails and such, but it lacks little things like grab irons, lift rings, and windshield wipers, and any pilot details to the extent these switchers had them. I guess that's what gives it the lower price point.
I would recommend the locomotive. But be aware of the wiper pickup design, and any downfalls that design my have in the long term.
- Douglas
There is a DCC forum here and the Bachmann has forums with a couple Bachmann reps. You would want the HO forum. Lost of good reviews on the loco and other of the sound value line, plus loco diagrams and CV list for the sound versions they sell.
Google, You Tube, Bachmann trains, Bachmann sound value. Google should be your best friend. You can build an extensive list of links when you take time to Google.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
richg1998 There is a DCC forum here and the Bachmann has forums with a couple Bachmann reps. You would want the HO forum. Lost of good reviews on the loco and other of the sound value line, plus loco diagrams and CV list for the sound versions they sell. Google, You Tube, Bachmann trains, Bachmann sound value. Google should be your best friend. You can build an extensive list of links when you take time to Google. Rich
Indeed, Google is my friend, but there is nothing like getting the opinions of fellow forum members who own that same loco.
Yep! There are several folks on this Forum whose opinions I trust to give me the right scoop.
I use Google/Yahoo for a lot of things - but for MR advice/opinions, this is the place to go.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Yep! There are several folks on this Forum whose opinions I trust to give me the right scoop. I use Google/Yahoo for a lot of things - but for MR advice/opinions, this is the place to go. Mobilman44
richg1998 may have thought that I was looking for comments on the quality of the sound after reading my subject title to this thread. But, I only added the words "DCC Sound Value" to clarify the fact that I was considering that version of the Bachmann ALCO S4.
I have several Bachmann Spectrum steam engines and a couple of DCC On Board steam engines, but I have never purchased a Bachmann diesel, so I was anxious to get the opinions of other forum members who own this particular diesel, namely how it runs and how it holds up over time.
Well, I didn't want to bring it up, but ................
The Bachmann "DCC Sound Value" moniker may mean that it is not of the same sound quality as an equivalent BLI (or Genesis, etc.) ATSF switcher. I realize there is a good $60 - $80 difference in price, and wonder what those extra dollars gives us in the BLI - as compared to the Bachmann.
Of course, beauty, sound, & performance are in the eyes of the beholder.........................
mobilman44 Well, I didn't want to bring it up, but ................ The Bachmann "DCC Sound Value" moniker may mean that it is not of the same sound quality as an equivalent BLI (or Genesis, etc.) ATSF switcher. I realize there is a good $60 - $80 difference in price, and wonder what those extra dollars gives us in the BLI - as compared to the Bachmann. Of course, beauty, sound, & performance are in the eyes of the beholder.........................
We talking about a $99.00 engine that sounds and runs good and that makes a good value for those that has a limited hobby budget that can't really afford the extra money and the DCC/Sound equipped Genesis and BLI is roughly twice the amount of the Bachmann engine.
Consider neither Athearn(Genesis) or BLI offers a Alco switcher with sound and if they did you will be looking around $200.00 or more street..
Yup, if one had limited funds the Bachmann sounds (no pun intended) very attractive - no question about that. My question remains however......... what will the extra $80 or so get you with a BLI switcher?
Understand, I am not knocking anything. I am simply curious as to what the difference in price gives us......
I have several BLI switchers and one Bachmann S4. The Bachmann runs better than some of the BLIs and as well as the rest. The sound on the Bachmann is as good but has fewer options to adjust it. Also the Bachmann has less detail than BLI but for me this is OK because once on the lay out it looks fine.
mobilman44Understand, I am not knocking anything. I am simply curious as to what the difference in price gives us......
A Alco switcher with DCC/Sound?
Looking deeper..
That extra $80.00 could buy some needed items like a structure or two,3 fright cars, switches or other needed items..
When modeling on a budget one needs to be savvy in spending and get all he can get instead of blowing his budget on one item..
When I was working I had fairly deep pockets and now I'm retired those pockets isn't as deep.
On another note time was a modeler on a budget could put a high dollar item in layaway and make weekly payments.Of course that is still possible but,with the lack of hobby shops that may be a impossibility for some.
I guess I have the exception. I have the Santa Fe version and it has so much whine in the drive train you can hear it even in the sound mode. It’s a smooth runner for the price but really noisy. I wouldn’t take a chance on another one.
The $60.00 to $80.00 will pay for the postage on the lifetime guarantee when the engine has to be sent back for repairs. My 30 year old Atlas and Kato engines never need to be sent back, they always run.
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
dti406 The $60.00 to $80.00 will pay for the postage on the lifetime guarantee when the engine has to be sent back for repairs. My 30 year old Atlas and Kato engines never need to be sent back, they always run. Rick J
I agree with Brakie on this issue. There has been a lot of talk on this forum about the high cost of locomotives with sound and when Bachmann attempts to provide a lower cost alternative it is belittled by many who have not tried out these offerings. Admittedly some of the Bachmann offerings in the past were less than stellar but it seems that they have been making an attempt at correcting past flubs (like their non-sound decoders). Or perhaps I'm just way out in left field.
Joe
Most of the manufactures at one point or another put out, for lack of a better word, crap! Walthers original SW1 is a prime example from them, Bachmanns original Spectrum steam engine for the Pen is another and there are lots more. Now these ran better than some others but when they came out, the standard was much higher.
BRAKIE I fear a lot of Bachmann prejudice will need to be overcome on this and other forums when ever Bachmann is mention. More the pity when a simple question can't be answered without needless bashing.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
For $99, I am tempted, particularly because I would like to add a Santa Fe switcher to my stable.
The fact tthat it is DCC with sound, albeit perhaps not the best, is an added incentive.
The one thing that worries me is that some have said it runs noisy. The YouTube videos seem to support that assertion. I had to mute the volume while watching the YouTube videos. LOL
Still thinking about it.
Sure would like to find out, what You decide,,,,,,while I'm young.....LOL...
Frankie
Athearns are noisy too. Doesn't hurt their sales much.
Ok, I'm not trying to start a bash Bachmann thread, and Yes, I do have Bachmann locos and several BLIs as well.
What I am interested in is the sounds....... Is the extra $80 or so for the BLI going to give me better sound?
I have a Bachmann Spectrum EM-1. I replaced the Bachmann sound decoder with a QSI. You all know how well these sound. Yes I can tell the difference in better sound and motor control.
I also have a BLI 4-8-2 with Sound. It runs and sounds great. Very similar to Tsunami or QSI.
I like Bachmann, I plan on buying more of their stuff. For $99 I say thats a hell of a deal and go for it Rich. Worst case scenario? Replace it with a Tsunami. You're still only be in it $200.
The difference between a $99 Bachmann and $200 BLI, is not just better sound. Better motor, smother running, and more details and a nice paint job. BLI have absolutely the best low speed I've ever seen.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyFor $99 I say thats a hell of a deal and go for it Rich. Worst case scenario? Replace it with a Tsunami.
Replace a Tsunami with a Tsunami?
The S4 comes with a Tsunami sound decoder..
Now if the regular Tsunami decoder is different from the one Bachmann uses I know not.
BRAKIE MotleyFor $99 I say thats a hell of a deal and go for it Rich. Worst case scenario? Replace it with a Tsunami. Replace a Tsunami with a Tsunami? The S4 comes with a Tsunami sound decoder.. Now if the regular Tsunami decoder is different from the one Bachmann uses I know not.
"Sound Value" doesn't have all of the features of the standard Tsunami.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared SteamSound Value" doesn't have all of the features of the standard Tsunami.
Ok..Thanks for the information..
The Tsunami Bachmann uses has three horns(I selected the chime horn instead one of the two fog type horn) and three bell rings(slow medium and fast)..You have the long and short horn blast and rule 17.
I also found both lights stay on regardless of direction-push 0 on the Tech 6 to turn the lights on or off and 7 for dim or bright..
Guys,
Its not the sound QUALITY...its the number of sound FEATURES...that is less than the full-blown Tsunami...also, probably the ability to customize them heavily.
The quality of the sounds you get are very good.
As far as running noise, they are not Katos. If you run mine at 30 scale mph and above it does tend to have a drive train noise, probably the motor, but who would run an ALCO S4 faster than 30 mph? After breaking in for about 10 minutes, mine quieted down considerably
It comes detailed with thin hand rails and cut levers. Lift rings are just nubs. The most glaring omissions are wire grab irons and windshield wipers.
IMO, Its the lack of details and electronic features that keeps the price down, not so much the build quality or the engineering of what you get.
DoughlessIts not the sound QUALITY...its the number of sound FEATURES...that is less than the full-blown Tsunami...also, probably the ability to customize them heavily.
As far as selection what I said is what you get-not very much but,enough for a $99.00 engine.
DCC decoder features all CV sittings including 127 speed steps..