Everybody's a Tinkerer
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
I spend time at my local guitar center showing off my amps. I've had their in house luthier over to my shop to hang. I've sold them vintage stuff I've rebuilt, and they're begging me to work on or bias amps all the time. I'm just too busy with making money elsewhere or building amps right now to care. One day I'll probably take them up on it.
"It Happens"
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Cliff Schecht
- Posts: 2629
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:32 am
- Location: Austin
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Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
Everybody is a tinkerer but the second you start talking on a more technical circuit level instead of using buzzwords that everybody is familiar with, you'll quickly find out who is a tinkerer and who is serious about their electronics. I think it's great that amp building is becoming so popular but it bugs me when people don't even bother trying to understand what they are doing (and when these amps don't work, people expect others online to fix it for them). It's not the end of the world obviously but for someone who has spent years trying to learn electronics and tubes, it's almost offensive when people expect you to figure out and fix their circuits when they can't be bothered to figure out what's wrong themselves. I don't expect everyone to pursue a PhD in electronics, but don't expect others to help you if you aren't willing to even attempt to figure out what's wrong yourself.
I don't even bother with the GC in town, they carry mainly crap and thrive off of guys like described in this thread - people who invest in crap and tout it as the greatest. I don't get why one would spend money on a Marshall DSL/TSL anything when, for the same price, you can get a great boutique or even real vintage amp. This works out well for me though as a lot of techs won't even work on amps with SS stuff inside. Unless you have a lot of experience, modern amps can be a bear to work on anyways (Peavey's being an exception here). The thing that small guys like myself can offer that most shops can't is fast turnaround time. Serious amp builders tend to have a lot of parts on hand (at least I do) and so I usually have what is needed to get a repair done quickly. For me, if I'm not busy with other stuff, I can usually have an amp done in about an hour.
I don't even bother with the GC in town, they carry mainly crap and thrive off of guys like described in this thread - people who invest in crap and tout it as the greatest. I don't get why one would spend money on a Marshall DSL/TSL anything when, for the same price, you can get a great boutique or even real vintage amp. This works out well for me though as a lot of techs won't even work on amps with SS stuff inside. Unless you have a lot of experience, modern amps can be a bear to work on anyways (Peavey's being an exception here). The thing that small guys like myself can offer that most shops can't is fast turnaround time. Serious amp builders tend to have a lot of parts on hand (at least I do) and so I usually have what is needed to get a repair done quickly. For me, if I'm not busy with other stuff, I can usually have an amp done in about an hour.
Cliff Schecht - Circuit P.I.
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
I prefer the small start up guy over the big brand, chain store, or service center that bullshits me about what they think they can do for me. That's right, the guy who's hungry and is full of fresh ideas like Ken and Alex were. Besides, who's amps fetch the big bucks today?
On a side note, whenever a chain store sales clone has offered me an extended warranty I have always replied, "Is the product you're selling really so poorly made that I need to pay for it twice?"
On a side note, whenever a chain store sales clone has offered me an extended warranty I have always replied, "Is the product you're selling really so poorly made that I need to pay for it twice?"
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." Hilmar von Campe
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
(I don't think I have this "Quote" feature figured out?)
"Unless you have a lot of experience, modern amps can be a bear to work on... The thing that small guys like myself can offer that most shops can't is fast turnaround time."
Yes, the solid state amps are difinitely tough to work on without a schematic. Some manufacturers don't make their schematics easily available un less you are one of their "authorized" service centers. A lot of them, though, are available on the internet.
It takes the patience of a saint to follow traces on a PCB and figure out what the circuit looks like without a schematic. I have found that the lion's share of amps needing repairs in the guitar shops are the solid state ones, which tells us something about the quality of those things. The ones I have looked at are certainly "consumer electronics" grade in my book.
And yes, it does seem to take forever if a dealer orders a part from a manufacturer. It seems common for amps to be sitting in the shop waiting for parts for 4 to 6 weeks. I'd be pissed if I was a gigging musician and I had to wait that long for my amp to be repaired.
To me, tube circuits are a lot easier to work on because you can practically "see" the circuit laid out in the chassis. It used to be that guys who knew tubes were rare, since they quit teaching tube theory in the schools. But now it seem like everybody and their brother are experts on tubes, since tube guitar amps have become popular again. I guess that's a good thing. Now, if we could only get RCA to start making tubes again!
"Unless you have a lot of experience, modern amps can be a bear to work on... The thing that small guys like myself can offer that most shops can't is fast turnaround time."
Yes, the solid state amps are difinitely tough to work on without a schematic. Some manufacturers don't make their schematics easily available un less you are one of their "authorized" service centers. A lot of them, though, are available on the internet.
It takes the patience of a saint to follow traces on a PCB and figure out what the circuit looks like without a schematic. I have found that the lion's share of amps needing repairs in the guitar shops are the solid state ones, which tells us something about the quality of those things. The ones I have looked at are certainly "consumer electronics" grade in my book.
And yes, it does seem to take forever if a dealer orders a part from a manufacturer. It seems common for amps to be sitting in the shop waiting for parts for 4 to 6 weeks. I'd be pissed if I was a gigging musician and I had to wait that long for my amp to be repaired.
To me, tube circuits are a lot easier to work on because you can practically "see" the circuit laid out in the chassis. It used to be that guys who knew tubes were rare, since they quit teaching tube theory in the schools. But now it seem like everybody and their brother are experts on tubes, since tube guitar amps have become popular again. I guess that's a good thing. Now, if we could only get RCA to start making tubes again!
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
what you need is a store front so you can become a certified tech for major brands, Ampeg, Peavey, Fender, Marshall, etc. then you have tech support - all manuals and field notes to troubleshoot and solve know problems.
a good rework station doesn't hurt for PCB solid state gear.
then you carry tubes , $1000 @ cost buy in all product, stocking 4 or 5 different brands so you aren't stuck forcing a client to pick one type of tube they do love choices. You don't make a whole lot of profit as a tube dealer a couple $ usually is all. but you save time and shipping, and make a name as the fast go to guy.
a good rework station doesn't hurt for PCB solid state gear.
then you carry tubes , $1000 @ cost buy in all product, stocking 4 or 5 different brands so you aren't stuck forcing a client to pick one type of tube they do love choices. You don't make a whole lot of profit as a tube dealer a couple $ usually is all. but you save time and shipping, and make a name as the fast go to guy.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
selloutrr,
Good point on tubes.
I was the only guy in town that had KT66 tubes in stock and that brought me business going over a customers Marshall Vintage Modern comb. It needed new preamp tubes as well. Advised him to keep some of the old ones for spares. It had so much tube rattle, I just happen to have silicon o rings to fit the KT66 tubes. He was very happy when I finished.
No I didn't do anything special but some people don't know how to replace tubes, rebias or how to handle noise issues.
I didn't make much money but it brought a new customer and he told his friends which really helped.
Mark
Good point on tubes.
I was the only guy in town that had KT66 tubes in stock and that brought me business going over a customers Marshall Vintage Modern comb. It needed new preamp tubes as well. Advised him to keep some of the old ones for spares. It had so much tube rattle, I just happen to have silicon o rings to fit the KT66 tubes. He was very happy when I finished.
No I didn't do anything special but some people don't know how to replace tubes, rebias or how to handle noise issues.
I didn't make much money but it brought a new customer and he told his friends which really helped.
Mark
Re: Everybody's a Tinkerer
that's how you play the game.
You do what they can't and make them happy, It's not usually hard to fix an amp, just time and having the right parts on hand, or a way to source them.
The rest is making the client go "WHOA!" so they tell a friend.
You do what they can't and make them happy, It's not usually hard to fix an amp, just time and having the right parts on hand, or a way to source them.
The rest is making the client go "WHOA!" so they tell a friend.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge