Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Other Stuff => Other Topics => Topic started by: jasperok on August 02, 2010, 05:45:42 pm
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hey folks
i am just wondering if any of ye folks here would be wiling to take on an apprentice for a couple of weeks?
Its a big ask i know, but would love the experience of helping out in a functioning workshop no matter how big or small.
I am reluctant to ask someone over here in Ireland as a)there are so few amp techs over here and b) they would probably see it as giving advice to potential competition! at least if i travel to learn i am not stepping on anyone's toes!
I only have a basic grounding at the moment and yearning for a bit of experience, i am fine reading schems and identifying components so i am not that bad! but i do lack experience and understanding. i am building my second amp and have knocked together a few pedals.
I would be willing to pay for the oppurtunity but could also work off the favour by doing some of those horrible jobs you keep puttting off!
I keep on reading the books but I learn a lot better by doing and having someone shout at me if i'm not doing it right!
Anyway , if anyone is up for it drop me a pm and i'll tell you more about myself
thanks
liam
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Liam, you can do it for free!
(1) get someone to give you their dead/broken amp, tell them it will take a while for you to fix it
(2) dig up the schematic
(3) do some initial diagnosis (power come on? tube heaters light? hear noise coming from speaker?)
(4) post it here on the forum. We'll help you diagnose.
(5) Get next amp and go to step (1), repeat for a couple of years. You are all set.
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Hey Jasperock,
I agree with TON. A couple of weeks with one person will not get you to where you want to be. I'm not sure if there is a hard fast rule for time spent in this field to determine when you have officially "made it". Obviously, the more you are exposed to, the better your skills will be. Your travel and hotel bill would be better spent buying several carcasses off ebay and fixing them - sell - repeat. You mentioned that you are reading books, have built some pedals and are on your second build - that puts you head and tails above many tube changer "techs" out there. Spending time here reading the posts and asking questions will give you access to years and years of expertise and differing opinions, you can't beat that. Instead of one person telling you how to go about figuring out a problem, you have potentially dozens of qualified people showing you the way. Several wanna be techs have even posted business questions here. I learn something new here every day, and I think that's the way it should be if you are serious about any craft.
My humble opinion,
Jim
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Totally agree with what you guys are saying,
I know it wouldnt instantly get me to where i want be - not by a long shot! but,
i just feel the experience would be worthwhile if only for a couple of weeks i'm sure i could pick up something that i wouldnt of otherwise!
not to mention seeing another country i might get to play and see a few gigs too. I cant see a bad side to the idea yet!
I do have some skills to offer in the way of webdesign (and repairing 20 year old bmw's!!)
whatever happens i'll keep beavering away and like ye said, buy some carcasses and do em up and of course read read read.
thanks for replying though , i thought i'd just get some folks rolling their eye's
thanks
liam
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So are you willing to travel? How far?
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well i live in ireland!
Had hoped to find somewhere in the USA - pretty open minded about where - any destination would be new but would consider any country really.
thanks
liam