How to best approach amp repair for a living...

[Tonegeek]

This will save you $7.95 + shipping (the cheapest I could find it).

http://www.ectownusa.com/MarkLeBlancGro ... ssBook.pdf

too bad, i just ordered it. thanks, tho

[LeftyStrat]

@lefty: I am going to definitely try to get a handle on running my business in a way that works. One thing I am sick of is having the fate of my future in someone elses hands and that they benefit more from my skills than I do. Interesting that your worked for Amazon. My former company uses their cloud services.

If you're interested, I was just offered something from a company out of Norcross, GA that is looking for cloud experts, and willing to let them work full time remotely.

I was the principle designer of Amazon's massively parallel build system, and a contributor to their deployment systems and AWS. I left because of the pager load and Amazon's inability to understand work/life balance. My wife and kids were suffering from the 3 am pages I got on a regular basis.

When I turned in my resignation, my manager called me to try to convince me that Amazon really had a respect for work/life balance. Unfortunately the fact he did this at 11:30 PM on a Saturday night kind of diluted the message.

[MCK]

When I turned in my resignation, my manager called me to try to convince me that Amazon really had a respect for work/life balance. Unfortunately the fact he did this at 11:30 PM on a Saturday night kind of diluted the message.

That is hilarious. Kudos on your decision.

[hitchcaster]

Good advice so far. @Phil_S: book ordered. also thanks for mentioning "Billable" hours. It helps to be reminded that there are many hours you can't bill for and that you must factor that into the equation.

I see the amp repair thing as very doable around here. There is some competition but I am good at diagnostics whether its electronic or computer code, my prices are fair and I am fast. I know the local musicians because I am one and also worked sound production years back for many of them. I also get referrals from several mom/pop music stores and the best guitar repair guy in town. I don't stock a lot of parts but can see where that might become necessary to get the work done more quickly. Plus shipping charges add up. If I commit to this thing full time, I will get some inventory. Since I also build amps, I do keep some parts on hand and on occasion have raided my build stash to get an amp fixed. People do like it done quickly especially if they don't have a backup but so far I have been able to accommodate most situations.

I have no desire to do warranty work but understand it might be a necessary evil. Realistically i may have to keep doing what I did at my corporate gig which was systems analysis/programming. I could do some contract work and balance that with amp repair until I can grow the business. Building a fleet of rentals is a cool idea, but there is not much need for that in my area although I do know a few studio owners that I could ask about that. Since I have contacts at a couple of live music venues where I once did production I considered offering my services on an emergency basis to help support touring acts that have an immediate need. There are lots of opportunities here. I know growing a business is hard work but it is at least already started and generating some income and I get repeat business and referrals from satisfied customers. I have all of the tools I need. Selloutrr asks "can I really test tubes?" No, I don't own a tube tester. The best tube tester I know of is the handle of a screw driver. A tube tester is one of those tools that probably helps from a marketing perspective but in reality it is not that helpful unless you are buying and selling tubes. Maybe I should post another topic just about tube testers and are they really necessary for guitar amp repair purposes. I bet opinions would be all over the place. I will probably get one just to say yes I have a tube tester. A bias checker, that's another story. A must have. I have 2 of those and need another. I digress. I think I will give this repair thing a go.

ive found my tube tester to be very useful... great for weeding out bad tubes which is worth the price alone... plus you can use it to match or resell tubes which adds value and pays back for the price of the unit.. just FWIW

[Tonegeek]

If you're interested, I was just offered something from a company out of Norcross, GA that is looking for cloud experts, and willing to let them work full time remotely.

Unfortunately, I had no exposure to Cloud programming. My experience is mostly with MS technology. Thanks, though.

When I turned in my resignation, my manager called me to try to convince me that Amazon really had a respect for work/life balance. Unfortunately the fact he did this at 11:30 PM on a Saturday night kind of diluted the message.

Same thing was starting to happen at my job. First they cut out work at home, then I got handed the on call phone (which is with me now for the last time) and they mandated a 50 hour week for half the company. Oh yea and laid off 100 people since January- all the old, experienced people of course. I still like programming, but can't deal with the corporate culture, at least the way it looks at this company. Amp repair won't pay as well, but I am good at it and it gives me ideas for building amps.

[boots]

This thread really resonates with me. I've been suffering from the work/life balance thing too. I have what would be considered a good job, working for a boss who is a very successful rain maker, but I've come to the realization that all my hard work and dedication are just making a rich man even richer, at the expense of my own health and happiness.

I'm seriously considering bailing out of my career to do something I enjoy, and cutting out the middle man who benefits more from my hard work than I do. Unfortunately, it would be hard to make much of a living building/repairing amps. Or gardening, or brewing beer, or.... It's hard to make much money from hobbies!

So here I sit, feeling trapped in my current job, and wondering what I want to be when I grow up.

[tsutt]

Be thankful you have a job. I have had only partial work for 5 years nothing since last sept. Having been a mechanic at NWA seems to be like having the black plague. i know many who havent been able to find anything for several years. I went an attorney the other and he was saying the same thing as he asked what i did. and at 51 its getting harder they want young punks so they can pay absolute minimums.

[LeftyStrat]

Here's an idea. We collectively decide on a brand name. We get a certain Malaysian company to sell rebranded parts (the non heavy ones) to us, have them shipped by crate to someone living in a port city. He ships them out to various builders across the country. They build them and tweak them with help of the community here, and then sell them locally.

We could name them TAG.

Cause you know, TAG knows tone.

[xtian]

Then we'll also ship in a container-load of amplifier BUYERS from overseas, and distribute these along with the kits. Built-in market!

[M Fowler]

Two of us repairing amps will take turns being the bad guy in town, eventually we will turn down all repairs if were smart.

[tubeswell]

Probably best not to do amp repair for a living

[Cygnus X1]

Dying here...laughing and crying at the same time!

I know for a fact that even if repairs/building somehow became my primary income producer...I would learn to hate what was once a hobby of passion.

So I'll keep my day job (former machinist now industrial safety), and try to keep the amp stuff as it is right now.
A non-paying hobby.

[jjman]

I'm not clear on whether health insurance in currently obtainable thru your wife's employment. I’m from NJ where (until very recently thanx to Mr. Christie) the teachers paid zero for health insurance for their entire family. Now they pay a few peanuts. I know a gym teacher that makes $70,000. I’m sure things are different in NC.

Unfortunately health insurance can be a huge factor in considering where to work and whether to be self employed. Yes, the cost of the insurance may be tax deductible if you are self employed, but spending money merely to get 30% of it back is still spending money.

Everything could change in a year when the new rules kick in. Some employers will add coverage, some will drop it, some will increase the cost to the employee, some people will switch to “private” plans, some will choose to go without but get the smaller tax refund (aka “penalty.”) Nobody knows what the new premium costs will be so this may actually be the best time to go it alone since everything could change in a year with regard to your health insurance.

[Diablo1]

Probably best not to do amp repair for a living

Ding ding ding....a winner.

We need another Beatles, so that every 12 year old picks up an electric guitar and gets in a band.

What the fook is an air guitar good for?

[JazzGuitarGimp]

What the fook is an air guitar good for?

Or a "Guitar Hero" controller, for that matter? ....don't get me started!