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Ritchie200
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 171
(3/8/04 12:15 am)
Scarry!
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I think I know how some of the joke amp "techs" who butcher these amps get their start - I just hope I'm not going to be considered one of them! I worked on four 5150 amps last year, one in January of this year, and got 3 more last Friday from someone almost 300 miles away! Turns out he heard I was a "5150 guru" and wanted me to "tweak my noisy-ass amps and make them sound like Joe's". I worked on Joe's amp in January. I am by no means a guru of anything except trying to learn as much as I can from all you guys! But how many others out there happen to get lucky on a repair and suddenly get a reputation? All the folks I have done work for claim they can not find anyone who can get results or who act like they know what they are doing. I mean, St. Louis is not exactly a small town, but it seems to be full of less than expert amp techs. What gives? I do not advertise, nor do I seek out work. Everything I get is by word of mouth. I probably worked on 30 amps last year, and most of the stuff was pretty routine tune-up type stuff. Not only that, I charge the pants off everyone because I really do not have the time! Have any of you guys seen the same? Are we the last of a dying breed? I just can not believe that is the case with all the interest in tube amps! A guru of a PCB amp....now I am embarrassed.
Jim
Tiny Daddy
I will work on all amps
Posts: 537
(3/8/04 8:25 am)
Re: Scarry!
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I also get amps that have been to several other shops and still don't work. I notice some Peavey SS amps rely on the front panel to interconnect grounds, so when the circuit board was removed from the chassis the grounds must be jumpered. I installed the necessary jumpers on the boards, then found there was a ceramic disc cap in the preamp that caused ultrasonic oscillation that was likely the cause of the blown power supply, output transistors and speakers. I question whether it is possible to pay for retail space and still do quality repairs of this magnitude?
Also am thinking most shops cannot afford to replace items such as tube sockets or multi-section caps because it's too labor-intensive.
6G6
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 115
(3/8/04 9:49 am)
Re: Scarry!
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Yep, the first time you actually make something better than it was when you got it, you're an instant genius.
Part of it has to do with the fact that not many people out there these days ever had any formal training on tubes, don't want to make any effort to learn and may even be scared of them.
Most of what comes to me (and I'm not really asking for it), comes from telecom techs where I used to work!
By the way Richy, since you are a "5150 guru", who stocks those stubby filter caps? I've got one now and even the Nichicon web site doen't list the 330 and 100 mfd - 400V.
Do you have to deal with Peavey?
eanderso22193
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 96
(3/8/04 10:23 am)
Re: Scarry!
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I, too, know what you all speak of. I don't rent retail space, but got lucky that one of the clients I had when I worked out of my basement told the owner of a local vintage guitar shop about me and the guy flipped. When other clients I had who were also customers of his were asked, they had nothing but good things to say about me... So I now work out of his shop, we charge a good amount, but still cheaper than the only other place that fixes amps in town(who have a tendancy to recap, retube, retransformer and sometimes even REBUILD almost every amp they get and tell the owner it was all needed.) and I see plenty of amps that were totally raped by some other tech. I've fixed at least 5 amps that belonged to the owner of the store that other techs had either told him that it will never live, or that it needed new trannies or whatever(when they didn't).
According to this guy, people who know, at least mildly, what they're doing with tube amps, and have the patience and care to service a nice vintage piece properly, are very very scarce.
If you'd like to find more work, I'd suggest asking around at reputable local shops, if you haven't already. The shop I work at already had the reputation for doing great guitar repair, so he had lots of equipment already. And as for business volume, without advertising I've already serviced somewhere in the ballpark of 40-50 amps or so this YEAR. Its amazing how many people are looking for this service. Good luck!
Eric
Ritchie200
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 172
(3/8/04 2:09 pm)
Re: Scarry!
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Hey Tiny, would you care to share which cap causes the problem you are talking about! I'm sure that will be next thing I see! I think repairs do come down to cost of repair vs. cost of replacement - although we are not near throw-away prices - yet (see TV, VCR, Stereo....)!
6G6, a guru I am not, but I would assume the caps you are talking about (I have never had to replace any), are the cheap LU Series. I can't imagine Pevey spending any extra jack on custom stuff! I'm sure the web site has contact numbers for tech support so maybe give them a ring?
Eric, wow, I have seen that! The 5150 I got in January was sent to me by word of mouth because the guy had sent it to 3 music stores for repair (all with tube amp techs) and 2 said it was terminal (cheaper to buy a new one) and the third marked up the PCB with a magic marker of all the things he "thought" should be replaced. THe amp had a muddy rhythm channel and a lead channel you could barely hear dimed out. I cleaned and re-tensioned the preamp sockets, shielded the preamp tubes (now quiet as a church mouse) and sent him on his way - to the tune of $220. And he was thrilled to death! He came back a few weeks later because I told him to junk the crappy sounding GT preamp tubes. So I retubed the preamp and the thing sparkles now. That is how I got the 3 delivered last Friday - from his buddy. But I don't have time for this, hence my prices! And just my luck, if I tried to make a go of it, nobody would send me squat! Har!
THanks guys!
Jim
Tiny Daddy
I will work on all amps
Posts: 538
(3/8/04 10:56 pm)
Re: Scarry!
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"which cap causes the problem" it's the 100p cap from the first op-amp + input to ground, causing the problem in two Peavey 112 amps I got in from Loredo.
Also the power supply used wimpy 1-amp diodes, so I replaced with 2.5A 1000V Fast diodes and replaced the 100 Volts output transistors with 250 Volt transistors. And replaced all the old electrolytics, fuses and a blown op-amp. Was dealing with a guy in Loredo who calls himself Sam the AX Man, seemed to be starting a shop and needed some help but has faded back into the woodwork. Anyone else heard of him?
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