Let’s Talk Amp Service

[EOengineer]

Yeah, yeah…we all know it isn’t sexy, but I just dropped 3 amps off at the local amp tech knowing I’m in for $600-800 depending on what he finds and whether I pursue a mod on 2 of the amps…so it’s on my mind.

How often are you guys sending things off for service? What kinds of work are you having done? What’s it running you? Who are you using?

 

[Deadpan]

For awhile I was on a rolling cycle where I would drop off another amp when I oicked one up. Mostly mods but at times amps would fail and need service.

I am lucky that my tech is very reasonable and I have been with him for awhile and am a continued customer.

Some amps I have had modded a few times.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Maybe not as often as I should but I'll always pay attention to how they're behaving and also if something looks suspect. Its definitely cheaper in the long run to give them a once over before something goes wrong, and if you use the same tech they'll know what state its in and itll be easier in the long run.

Luckily Marshall are really close by and they're just unbelievably cheap and quick with their work. Buying valves from them also works out a bit cheaper, which unfortunately is a consideration - before I'd buy valves based on brands and models I like, but with preamp valves costing like £30 now when they used to be £10-15, I'm just happy to have something that isnt too microphonic or noisy.

 

[EOengineer]

I’ve historically had a terrible time finding a reputable tech due to my affinity for Mesa amps, but recently found Eric Summer of Viking Amps who luckily used to be a Mesa authorized tech. He does all my amp work now. He’s not the cheapest, but he is thorough and knows his stuff.

It’s only been in the last few years that several of my amps aged enough to need caps and whatever you call that 20 year service.

In the passed 3 years I’ve had the following work done:

- Recap 70s Deluxe Reverb and replace reverb transformer, converted pull boost to bright cap bypass.
- Converted my Granger SuperPlexi to straight up 70s Superlead specs plus a bright cap bypass on the bright channel volume.
- Recap Mesa Mark III and III+ mod. Currently back there to adjust one of the cap values we were experimenting with.
- in progress: Mesa Dual Rec Rev G is getting recapped and probably the series loop mod or the one to make the loop full range if I can find the details.
- in progress: Budda SD18 getting recapped and the switchable bright mod.

hoping to not have to do a ton of maintenance for a LONG while after all this.

 

[EOengineer]

For awhile I was on a rolling cycle where I would drop off another amp when I oicked one up. Mostly mods but at times amps would fail and need service.

I am lucky that my tech is very reasonable and I have been with him for awhile and am a continued customer.

Some amps I have had modded a few times.

Just curious, what mods did you get? It’s so tempting once you find a tech you trust.

Maybe not as often as I should but I'll always pay attention to how they're behaving and also if something looks suspect. Its definitely cheaper in the long run to give them a once over before something goes wrong, and if you use the same tech they'll know what state its in and itll be easier in the long run.

Luckily Marshall are really close by and they're just unbelievably cheap and quick with their work. Buying valves from them also works out a bit cheaper, which unfortunately is a consideration - before I'd buy valves based on brands and models I like, but with preamp valves costing like £30 now when they used to be £10-15, I'm just happy to have something that isnt too microphonic or noisy.

So you can just waltz (literally, I hope) into the Marshall factory and be like “I tried to ride it down the stairs, pls halp“ and a dude will run over with a soldering iron??

For some reason I thought you were working on your own amps.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Just curious, what mods did you get? It’s so tempting once you find a tech you trust.


So you can just waltz (literally, I hope) into the Marshall factory and be like “I tried to ride it down the stairs, pls halp“ and a dude will run over with a soldering iron??

For some reason I thought you were working on your own amps.

Ha they have a servicing department at their factory where you can basically just drop an amp off. I think sometimes they can even do a while you wait service and people will nosey around the museum. Their pricing is also really old school, there's no charge for a checkover and the price of work is barely more than the cost of parts. Its always cool dropping stuff off because in the reception area there's a ton of amps and always stuff I've never seen before.

The main tech there these days is Dave Wittering (who's an absolute geezer), I think the main tech before him had been there for a good 40 years or so, and got him trained up. I dont think there's anyone on the planet who's had their hands in the rare/old Marshalls more than them. I have a habit of hunting down rare/obscure stuff and Marshall have their own schematics and knowledge of that stuff that can be tricky (or hard to read) with info thats online. I think they've redrawn schematics if someone brings in something obscure in particularly good condition (say if its a Park or something they dont have many of). I use another tech if I want to tweak a circuit or for non Marshall stuff, and he rules too. I'm too much of a wimp to tinker with stuff myself, but I love learning about schematics and the circuits and how they work.

 

[EOengineer]

Ha they have a servicing department at their factory where you can basically just drop an amp off. I think sometimes they can even do a while you wait service and people will nosey around the museum. Their pricing is also really old school, there's no charge for a checkover and the price of work is barely more than the cost of parts. Its always cool dropping stuff off because in the reception area there's a ton of amps and always stuff I've never seen before.

The main tech there these days is Dave Wittering (who's an absolute geezer), I think the main tech before him had been there for a good 40 years or so, and got him trained up. I dont think there's anyone on the planet who's had their hands in the rare/old Marshalls more than them. I have a habit of hunting down rare/obscure stuff and Marshall have their own schematics and knowledge of that stuff that can be tricky (or hard to read) with info thats online. I think they've redrawn schematics if someone brings in something obscure in particularly good condition (say if its a Park or something they dont have many of). I use another tech if I want to tweak a circuit or for non Marshall stuff, and he rules too.

This is awesome. What a cool experience!

 

[Deadpan]

Just curious, what mods did you get? It’s so tempting once you find a tech you trust.

Mostly variable negative feedback and depth mods. Sometime I'll add gain stages or alternate component values and make them switchable.

 

[laxu]

Thankfully I have had to use amp repair services only a few times and otherwise it's just been something like a busted tube.

Here in Finland I've used Uraltone, who sell a bunch of parts and kits (would like to build one some day) or Bluetone who make amps and cabs.

I'd probably be more concerned with amp techs disappearing before tube amps. Finding someone who knows how to work on these things is not so easy.

 

[PLX]

I do all this stuff myself.

ymmv

 

[TubeStack]

I don't have a lot of amps (two Electra Dyne heads + various Mesa cabs), but I usually bring a used amp in once, soon after I buy it, to get looked over and tuned up, then never again. Just change the power tubes myself when needed and good to go for several more years.

 

[la szum]

I do all this stuff myself.

ymmv

Same. As much as I can and have learned anyways. I had such awful luck
with Amp Techs prior to that, including theft, harvesting tubes from my amps
and replacing them with known inferior tubes. Ended up reporting one
guy to the Police and found out he was doing it to dozens of people, including
contract work with music retailers.

Worst thing of all this guy is still "in business."

Haven't taken an amp in to a "tech" since.

 

[Life Eats Life]

Same. As much as I can and have learned anyways. I had such awful luck
with Amp Techs prior to that, including theft, harvesting tubes from my amps
and replacing them with known inferior tubes. Ended up reporting one
guy to the Police and found out he was doing it to dozens of people, including
contract work with music retailers.

Worst thing of all this guy is still "in business."

Haven't taken an amp in to a "tech" since.

This happened to me with transformers in a vintage Marshall.
So, I didn’t say anything, just how great it was and I’m bringing him my next amp.
Guess what I installed in that box of hell I brought him?
Fire fire with FIRE ANTS EVERYWHERE.
Creepshow in the house

 

[PLX]

This happened to me with transformers in a vintage Marshall.
So, I didn’t say anything, just how great it was and I’m bringing him my next amp.
Guess what I installed in that box of hell I brought him?
Fire fire with FIRE ANTS EVERYWHERE.
Creepshow in the house

 

[spawnofthesith]

I've only had to take an amp to a tech twice in my life, and its been well over a decade since either of those cases

 

[itchyfingers]

I feel like its a crapshoot, but probably also depends on how many miles you're putting on that particular amp (or amps). Repair expenses add up for sure. I have owned a few vintage amps, and they definitely have seen the most work. I am always determined to gig with them, because I am an idiot. One of them I've decided to basically retire and baby it with bedroom volume. The other I'm remaining stubborn on.

 

[EOengineer]

Fast forward a couple months - Both the amp tech and I got busy and I just got my amps back. I feel so fortunate to have such a great amp tech local to me.

The Budda SD18 issues ended up evaporating after the cap job and tube change. Big relief there.

I had him install a 3 way switch that progressively opens up the top end of the amp to allow for a bit more compatibility with my Gibson type guitars. It’s absolutely dead quiet and sounds so good.

The Dual Rec rev G proved to be more involved. There was a noise issue when it went in, required chasing a bad ground connection and one mildly microphonic 12ax7 in V1, naturally. Both master volume pots were replaced. Full cap job. Swapped out the 6L6 for EL-34.

Came back dead quiet as well and sounds so much better than before. The low end is both tighter and more solid before. I have some nos 5751, 12au7, and CV4024 that I want to swap into a few key spots that I feel really opens these amps up.

The Mark III had a very minor tweak to reduce the value of C30 from 1uf to 500pf to open up the top a little more. It’s a factory Blue Stripe so c30 is usually empty. I put in the 1uf to tame the top and went a little too far. Haven’t had a chance to play this yet but I’m excited for it.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I’ve had 3 amps worked on by 3 different techs. All 3 were highly regarded. None of them ever actually fixed the issue and one I believe ripped me off. Never again. I do my own work now.

 

[Deadpan]

Fast forward a couple months - Both the amp tech and I got busy and I just got my amps back. I feel so fortunate to have such a great amp tech local to me.

The Budda SD18 issues ended up evaporating after the cap job and tube change. Big relief there.

I had him install a 3 way switch that progressively opens up the top end of the amp to allow for a bit more compatibility with my Gibson type guitars. It’s absolutely dead quiet and sounds so good.

I am grateful for my tech too. Was a nightmare before I met him.

What is the switch changing?

Jeff Bober installed a bright cap on mine but it's still not enough.

 

[maguchi]

I been taking my tube amps to a place in Burbank, CA name of "Amphole." The owner/tech Bob is great with vintage amps and reissues.

I also go to a place name of "Audio Repair Specialists" in Woodland Hills, CA what was recommended to me by the little Mesa Boogie store in Hollywood. That Mesa Boogie store closed down. But the place in Woodland hills is still there and the guy who's a tech from the former Soviet Union (not sure which country) is fast and does a great job.

And I recently sent my Alessandro Plott combo off by FedEx to Alessandro High End Products in Pennsylvania for a 20 year "tune up" caps etc. I also got a new Fender Princeton Reissue converted from PC board to handwiring by Alessandro about 5 years ago. George Alessandro upgraded some parts, the reverb and speaker. It sounds awesome.

As far as pricing, it varies a lot by what you're having done. I paid anywhere from like $65 bucks to $400 depending on what you're having done.