Rant about amp techs

[Cliff Schecht]

When I first started amp repair at GC they put my bench next to the guitar techs, which was out on the sales floor. It was impossible to work on stuff with joe customer walking up and practically staring over my shoulder as I was poking around inside an amp that was live. Also having to hear little timmy play "Smells like teen spirit" over and over again was the last straw. I moved my bench into the back of the store and I have since regained my sanity lol.

And I get what you mean when customers are like "Hey here is my amp, can i pick it up in a hour? I have a show tonight" Not knowing you are six deep on the bench. Then when i say its another 30 bucks for expedited service they get all pissy. "You mean you can't work on my amp RIGHT THIS SECOND unless I pay you more!?"

Yes, Virginia.

How did you get setup working for GC? There is one right down the street that I've been considering approaching about doing some side work..

[xtian]

Hey, Cliff, my town got GCed in January 2013. I popped down there a few times, posted a flyer on their bulletin board, and made friends with the luthier. They have no one to repair amps, and were happy to send people my way. I have had six or eight referrals over 15 months.

[beasleybodyshop]

My buddy was the guitar tech at my local GC. He expressed an interest in amp repair and building, and I brought my Express clone into the store to show him. The store manager liked what I built and asked if I would be interested in working part time.

Its an OK gig. I have to give some of those guys a bit more respect than I used to - seeing the sheer amount of customers who really just dont "get it" when it comes to gear - you can see how it makes a lot of those guys really jaded and offputting. This being said, I have ran into my fair share.

"What? why are you charging me for tube testing?"

"So can i pick it up and a few hours? I have a show tonight"

"what is wrong with my amp? Can you just tell me whats wrong and I can go fix it myself?"

"I think its just a burned resistor. Come on man, can you cut me a deal?"

"Im an electrical engineer. I think its [insert random component] that's broken, but im not sure. Can you look at it right now so I can fix it?"

"Can I watch you fix it?"

"I know exactly whats wrong with it, the [insert thing that isnt actually broken] is bad, can't you just replace that? what do you mean its 40 bucks to look at it?"

"one week turnaround? I can take it to Slemmons or Pro Audio Electronics and get it done quicker" - I actually hear this a lot. No. you wont get it done quicker or cheaper - its usually 2 weeks to 2 months turnaround and starting rate is like 50-80 bucks. plus 40 for expedited.

and so on and so forth. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and understandably people want stuff done for cheap. Hell i am one of those people, but the hardest thing I have to explain to people is you are paying for expertise, knowledge and experience. I can't tell you how many times people are like "Oh well i watched this one youtube video..." Well yeah, I learned alot from watching the same youtube videos too, but through every amp i open up and service I gain a little more understanding that you just can't replicate by watching a video. Thats what you are paying for.

Anyways, to make this all relevant I agree Milkman, they should have talked with you before giving them the ol' snake oil. I have had a few custom amps on my bench, and on the really good ones I see personal contact info on a label or such inside the amp - To the ones who invest that level of time and skill into building, they will usually be willing to talk to anyone servicing the amp.

[beasleybodyshop]

When I first started amp repair at GC they put my bench next to the guitar techs, which was out on the sales floor. It was impossible to work on stuff with joe customer walking up and practically staring over my shoulder as I was poking around inside an amp that was live. Also having to hear little timmy play "Smells like teen spirit" over and over again was the last straw. I moved my bench into the back of the store and I have since regained my sanity lol.

If they ever move you back to the sales floor ....... call their insurance company and ask for a sales rep to stop in to speak with you. When they arrive, say "I need to tie a bow in this lacing ..... would you mind holding your finger here <you point to a B+ PS node> while I tie it?"

If you know someone with OSHA, have them there too.

haha. This made my day.

[talbany]

Oh we're doing ads too? Anybody feel free to message me if you are in the Austin area and need good amp work done at an affordable price!

Cliff
My intent was not to spam here..I was simply offering just Milkman a service center in the DC area for his amps if he likes,and not for everyone here who has a guitar amp that needs repair..I stay busy enough as it is..BTW..I think it's a good idea to let people know here if you do repairs as I am sure you are very good at it.

All The Best!

Tony

[Cliff Schecht]

You know, that gets me thinking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use this forum as a way for fellow amp builders throughout the nation to connect and do warranty work for each other. Would be very beneficial to all parties involved and would probably prevent a lot of tubes and chassis from getting busted up in shipping.. Just a thought, I'm sure I could work on most anything you guys produce .

[Phil_S]

You know, that gets me thinking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use this forum as a way for fellow amp builders throughout the nation to connect and do warranty work for each other. Would be very beneficial to all parties involved and would probably prevent a lot of tubes and chassis from getting busted up in shipping.. Just a thought, I'm sure I could work on most anything you guys produce .

Maybe the moderators will consider a directory listing for repairs and whatnot. Really, it's a good idea. Maybe you'll have to pass some sort of litmus test here and maybe pay a modest fee for the listing. I dunno. Details. The devil is in the details.

[M Fowler]

You know, that gets me thinking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use this forum as a way for fellow amp builders throughout the nation to connect and do warranty work for each other. Would be very beneficial to all parties involved and would probably prevent a lot of tubes and chassis from getting busted up in shipping.. Just a thought, I'm sure I could work on most anything you guys produce .

I recommend you TAG guys all the time and hopefully some of the knuckle heads have looked you guys up and said Mark sent you.

I quit doing repairs not much appreciation out there from locals so they can take their stuff to Savage Audio south of Minneapolis and pay out their ass as far as I'm concerned.

[Gaz]

I did a warranty repair for Tim/Milkman when I lived in Portland for a nearby customer, and that was a good experience besides the fact that I gave him the wrong address to send parts to! I charged half my normal rate, and was happy to work on such a well built amp

[talbany]

You know, that gets me thinking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use this forum as a way for fellow amp builders throughout the nation to connect and do warranty work for each other. Would be very beneficial to all parties involved and would probably prevent a lot of tubes and chassis from getting busted up in shipping.. Just a thought, I'm sure I could work on most anything you guys produce .

I too think it's a great idea!!..A listing for those who want to do warranty work for each other (you could just hit the PM button and set it up with whomever you feel comfortable with and has a legit business)..I have made many friends here and also recommend others that are in another state, or where ever they might need work done..What comes around goes around!

Good Luck!

Tony

[Davidg]

I started doing repairs by accident a year or so ago by fixing an amp for a friend
and I must say it has gotten to be a bit of a headache. One problem is I dont charge near what I should, sometimes nothing if its a cool amp or easy fix but I'm trying to get out of that cuz my time is too short and too valuable. Anyway much of the rep a irs I have done have been fixing hatchet jobs done by "techs". Prime example, lady I work with son had a 50 watt 72 Plexi that was mint but was having noise issues and took it to a yech wher
he lives about 30 miles from me, tech said it needs a cap job and needs 150$ u
front to order parts and charges another $150 for labor for f+T caps thats $300 total!! and when he gets it home same problem! So he calls yech tech takes ot back and tech tells him all vintage Marshalls are noisy, brings it to me i has a very loud hum I swap v1 and problem solved. The guy also put one of his little for service decals right on the nack panel of a vintage amp. Some Tech!

[Davidg]

Sorry for the partially illegible post, I was on my phone at work and in a hurry..

[martin manning]

You know, that gets me thinking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use this forum as a way for fellow amp builders throughout the nation to connect and do warranty work for each other. Would be very beneficial to all parties involved and would probably prevent a lot of tubes and chassis from getting busted up in shipping.. Just a thought, I'm sure I could work on most anything you guys produce .

I think some other forums have maintained a listing of techs. But, how would you know the listed people are legitimate, trustworthy, or even competent? Lots of guys get into amp work with very little training or experience, and I'd rather they not "learn" on my amp! How would someone get listed? (just throw their name in?) or de-listed? (who passes judgement?). Consumer feedback could be a good indicator, but there is always that one so-and-so who had (in his opinion) a bad experience and tries to take revenge, and the other side of that, false positives by someone trying to generate business. I don't know the answer... an amp tech guild? Even that could be abused.

[Phil_S]

...But, how would you know the listed people are legitimate, trustworthy, or even competent?

Yeah, as I noted above, the devil is in the details. For starters, we've got this discussion going. (I have no skin in the game. I'm not going to do amp repairs.) The problem is always going to be twofold. One is how to make sure everyone who is competent, trustworthy, honest, and who wants a listing gets on the list. The other is how to make sure anyone who is not all of those things gets kept off the list. It is the sort of thing no one wants to touch with a 10' pole.

I think you build your reputation here by what you post. If you are a builder and you need to offer a warranty repair through someone else, then, as suggested above, PM that person and see if you can work it out.

I don't know about others, but even this amateur has a pretty clear sense of who here would be a good person to trust with a repair. Incidentally, I am thinking that includes a lot of people who post here regularly. Every now and then you get someone who might be iffy, but not so often.

[Leo_Gnardo]

So he calls yech tech

I'm filing Yech Tech with Ten Thumbs Tommy, Knuckle Draggin' Looie, Two-finger Vinny, and Color Blind Charlie, the man without an ohm meter. The list of TAG-disapproved Techs To Avoid.