Hello it's me

[soundguruman]

When we elevate a technician to the status of a God, we are headed in the wrong direction.

Pretty much all technicians have their own methods of troubleshooting amplifiers.
Some of them rely on textbook method, some of them are self taught.
This does not mean that any particular method is the wrong method, it just means that we are all different and want to achieve the same results.

I spend a lot of time troubleshooting and repairing guitar amplifiers.
I have done this over the passed 40 years or so. I have learned a lot from doing it, but I don't think that I know the whole sausage.

And I realize, neither does anybody else. That's a fact.

And so, above all-- when you work on these guitar amplifiers, keep it safe. safety is job one.
Don't be shocking yourself, or winding up as statistic!

And keep it civil. If you have a different idea about how to fix an amplifier, say so. But that does not mean you need to attack the people who repair differently than you.

I am a licensed professional. I had to work pretty long and hard to get that electrician's card. Keep working, you can get one too.
May all your guitar amp repairs be successful! (even if they are made in China)
Perestroika, Comrades.

[Steve Conner]

Sorry dude, but engineering is an objective line of work where it's possible to be right and wrong in absolute terms, rather than just "different". (that's why antisocial nerds like me like it so much! ) If you give wrong information, you can expect to get called on it.

For instance, suggesting that an electrician's license qualifies you to do electronic repair is wrong information. I wouldn't let a guitar amp tech rewire my house either.

[soundguruman]

Actually here in CA, you are not qualified "unless" you do have a cert card.
Repairing here is illegal without a professional license.
I'm sure it's different elsewhere.
(so you can relax, we are legal)

[JoeM]

Who issues a license in CA for amp repairs?

[soundguruman]

There is basically three ways to be licensed in CA....
as a corporation, LLC
as a contractor (as I am)
or as an appliance repair person, through California BEAR. (Bureau of Electronics Appliance Repair)

A business license does not qualify anybody in CA., you must have a professional license.

And let me tell ya, you better not get caught without a license. It gets ugly.

So in CA. you have to have at LEAST 3 licenses:
1. A city business license, if you work in 2 or 3 cities, you must have 2 or 3 licenses for those cities, etc...;
2. A State tax license. You collect and file sales taxes...
3. A professional License, one of three above...
And last-- if you work outside incorporated city limits:
You must have a "county" business license TOO.

Oh man.

[JoeM]

I'm referring specifically to an electronic repair license. A corporation or LLC is an entity choice, not a license. What classification does the State Contractors Board use for electronic repair (not electricians)?

[soundguruman]

There is no specific classification for audio electronic repairs, "per se" as a contractor.
C7 or C10 is considered good enough.
But you can also apply for a specialist classification if you want...this is not a normal classification, but one created for professions that are not in standard subcategories.
If you want to get a license, BEAR is probably the easiest. It's not a contract license.

[imaradiostar]

Next thing you're gonna tell us is that you invented diode biasing and you're a rocket scientist.

Kidding, of course.

JT

[Wombaticus]

Next thing you're gonna tell us is that you invented diode biasing and you're a rocket scientist.

Kidding, of course.

JT

Thanks, you just made my Sprite come out my nostrils. Lol.

[olddawg]

Things may have changed. I worked as a bench tech in CA for 25 years. I was not aware that there was legal requirement to have a license to work on equipment. Now some manufacturers like Yamaha required you to take a test and prefered you to be a CET to be authorized. Myself, I have an ancient AS Degree in electronics and was a CET. I was an authorized tech from Akai to Zenith ten years ago. But that is just me. Lots of techs working in CA have no formal training or certification at all last time I looked. There is a fairly large gear manufacturer in Escondido that pays their techs minimum wage. You don't get a lot for that except the guys doing the so called jobs Americans won't do. Lol. I've seen some good techs with no formal training. I've trained a few myself. Seen my fair share of crooks, fools, and parts changers too. I've seen the worst techs come out of the TV advertised trade schools imhe. But as far as the Bureau and licenses....I thought they just handled complaints. And they are really understaffed to even manage that. Unless things have changed. Now electricians...they are supposed to have a contractors license. But that's a whole different ballgame.

[Chuck H]

+++1

It seems that appropriate tax liability and business licencing is the priority in the Sunshine State!!! I don't find anything that involves actual professionalism WRT electronics business or practice. As long as you pony up to the maannn your good. Hardly a guage for qualification. But it gets the state government paid for the tax portion of the work!?!

[soundguruman]

As a matter fact,
pony up won't get you no where.
You have to demonstrate years of experience, signed off by employers, years of college ed, and you have to pass a professional exam.
Indecently, approximately 70% fail on the first try.
There is in fact, quite a strict gauge for qualification, in CA.
I convinced myself that I would fail on the first try, but I scored 89%, which is as a matter fact in the top 3 percentile.
(the questions are written so nobody can score 100)
Those years of college paid off finally.
Now, if only work would come back to California, we would have it made. All the contractors I know are unemployed.

There are plenty of techs with no official qualifications, some great and some, as you know, terrible.
(ask dumbassbob about technicians, if ya wanna see what terrible is)

[soundguruman]

Next thing you're gonna tell us is that you invented diode biasing and you're a rocket scientist.

Kidding, of course.

JT

No, but I invented something else that is cool.
My father is a rocket scientist, not me. I didn't want to be like him.
(if you look in the Apollo 13 movie, when they show NASA footage, there is a shot of him, about 3 seconds long, in the control room.)
These guys, including him, calculated the return flight path with slide rules.

[Wombaticus]

As a matter fact,
pony up won't get you no where.
You have to demonstrate years of experience, signed off by employers, years of college ed, and you have to pass a professional exam.
Indecently, approximately 70% fail on the first try.
There is in fact, quite a strict gauge for qualification, in CA.

This is may be true of the general process of getting contractor's certification, but it's nonsense generally speaking. If you look at the FAQ on the BEAR website, there is the following:

6. Are there any examination, education, or experience requirements for a registration issued by BEAR?

No.

In other words, pretty much anybody that isn't a convicted felon can simply write a $165 cheque, and Huzzah! They are a licensed Electronic Service Dealer in the state of California.

Incidentally SGM, your C7 contractor's certification that you like to brag about is for low voltage only -- 91V tops. That of course excludes the vast majority of tube appliances. Heck, you aren't even allowed to install low voltage fire alarm systems.

[soundguruman]

This is may be true of the general process of getting contractor's certification, but it's nonsense generally speaking. If you look at the FAQ on the BEAR website, there is the following:

6. Are there any examination, education, or experience requirements for a registration issued by BEAR?

No.

In other words, pretty much anybody that isn't a convicted felon can simply write a $165 cheque, and Huzzah! They are a licensed Electronic Service Dealer in the state of California.

Incidentally SGM, your C7 contractor's certification that you like to brag about is for low voltage only -- 91V tops. That of course excludes the vast majority of tube appliances. Heck, you aren't even allowed to install low voltage fire alarm systems.

I also have a General Electricians Certification, besides the C7 license.
It's not bragging, it's a fact.
Please, tell us what professional qualifications "you" have?