Bad amp tech's !!!!

[Paleo Pete]

I've seen the same scenario with computer repairs and guitar techs. That's why I learned to do all my own guitar work...I'm sure I fixed at least 50 computers that were already worked on by another local shop, and the guy was making way more money than me, and the most common comment was that he sent it back to them worse off than when he got it...

Basically the same for guitar techs. I started learning more because a guy here where I live now had made a complete mess of two friends' guitars, and he had TIED the strings on...tied knots in the damn things...pickup heights all over the place, intonation nowhere close, truss rod way off (and should never have been touched), both were a complete mess. I'm just glad he never told me he could "fix" one of mine...Saw another guy here a few weeks ago bend kinks in both sides of guitar strings he was putting on, then cut them off about 1/8 inch. I told him he needed to leave a lot more string and he claimed he knew what he was doing...yeah right...he'll never touch mine.

I don't even claim to be anywhere near an amp tech, I do a top notch soldering job but that's about it. I know a little, probably just enough to be dangerous. Thing is, I know that and I tend to ask questions of people who do know, like here, before I touch anything. But with guitars and computers, nobody touches mine but me. I've fixed enough of other people's shoddy work.

Don't even get me started on carpenter work...after doing trim work for 8 years I wouldn't go anywhere near a new house. Fixed a lot of shoddy framing there too.

[Mick Bailey]

I agree. Hate it when they put the output tubes bases on a pcb. I guess its the sign of the times

Try working on an amp that has all 4 EL34s soldered directly to a through-plated PCB. that's right - no sockets, just the pins soldered in directly. And for good measure the tracks to those pads won't take any heat.

[Mark Black]

Try working on an amp that has all 4 EL34s soldered directly to a through-plated PCB. that's right - no sockets, just the pins soldered in directly. And for good measure the tracks to those pads won't take any heat.

The horror! Truly a great Halloween story...

[drewl]

Ha, as a beginner guitarist I saw a picture of Pete Townshend standing over a guitar with a soldering iron.
I figured if he could do it, so could I.

[The Dude]

As a step sideways, I suspect that the profusion of bad repairs is one ugly consequence of the high quality of this and perhaps other internet forums.

The uninitiated but eager beginner thinks all they need is a soldering iron and some parts and they're an amp tech. Either that or they're stricken by a bad case of BUMS (Blind Urge to Mod Syndrome) and manage to get some things working, some things not so much.

Then there's that whole "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" idea.

I've heard the guitar described as the easiest instrument in the world to play badly, but one of the hardest to play well. I suspect that amp repair may have some similar characteristics.

Yes!...and this is perpetuated by companies preying on idiots by telling them that if they mod their amp like (insert latest trendy guitar player here) and install pickups endorsed by (insert latest trendy guitar player here) they will sound just like (insert latest trendy guitar player here). In actuality, "that guy" will sound more like himself playing through your rig than you will playing through his.

[The Dude]

Try working on an amp that has all 4 EL34s soldered directly to a through-plated PCB. that's right - no sockets, just the pins soldered in directly. And for good measure the tracks to those pads won't take any heat.

That is nuts! Was this the result of a bad build, a poor repair, or other. I'm curious how and/or who thought this was a good idea.

[Leo_Gnardo]

That is nuts! Was this the result of a bad build, a poor repair, or other. I'm curious how and/or who thought this was a good idea.

I don't know which amp Mick found with tube pins soldered directly to circuit board, but back in the 80's one of my acquaintances in the sound biz, Warren "Peace", used to burst into laughter everytime he saw or heard mentioned Peavey, because he had run across a Peavey constructed that way. Which model, I dunno. Early 70's Peavey's, I wouldn't put it past 'em. Talk about a disposable amp - planned obsolescence.

[Mick Bailey]

It's a Hi-Fi amp, an AMC CVT 3030. Here's a pic;

Rational Hi-Fi: AMC CVT 3030

A real pain to replace those tubes. The safest way is to smash out the glass and empty out the base, then drill out where the pins are rivetted over on the inside. The phenolic base can be removed and this leaves the individual pins. Each can now be heated and pulled out and a socket installed. Except that the assembly no longer fits - its too tall. So the heatsink has to be cut away.

The first one I did was by attempting to remove the tube in one by using desolder braid on each pin. Not a good technique as too much heat is needed by the time all the solder is mopped out of the through hole. The tracks and pads easily lift.

I saw a really poor amp last year with a failed 12Ax7 soldered directly to the board - recent Chinese manufacture. I couldn't find any reference, picture or anything. It just said 'MU-80 Guitar Amplifier' on the front. Appalling construction - the worst I've seen.

[The Dude]

That is quite possibly the worst idea I've seen.

[flyingdutchman]

A real pain to replace those tubes.

I strongly suspect the idea here is that the entire assembly should be replaced.

I saw a really poor amp last year with a failed 12Ax7 soldered directly to the board - recent Chinese manufacture. I couldn't find any reference, picture or anything. It just said 'MU-80 Guitar Amplifier' on the front. Appalling construction - the worst I've seen.

You really don't wanna know about the Chinese bottom-of-the-barrel crap that's crossed my workbench in the last few years. Most of it is simply not fit for purpose, it ain't worth the solder that holds it (just barely) together.

And have you ever had the chance to take a look under the chassis of one of those "Music Angel", ahem, audiophile power amps? They look like kits put together by some absolute beginner hobbyist.

[soundguruman]

You don't know what bad is, until you have seen this hacks work.
Just be thankful he didn't repair your amplifier....hahahahahahahahahahahhhhhb!
Apparently, he charged hundreds of dollars to "replace" the transformers in this poor Hiwatt.
I think he uses only the finest, hand selected parts! (you are familiar with "hand selected" parts?)
After I dug the pinched transformer wires out from between the transformer frame and the chassis...I tore it all out and started over from scratch.










Can you top that? It's going to take an effort.

[The Dude]

A plumber by trade.

[soundguruman]

This guy is supposed to be the "top tech" in this area. "The guy" to go to.
No, I am not making this up. You are not having a bad dream, it's real.

[Tom Phillips]

Guy says my 1968 Ampeg SVT still doesn't work after another shop had it. Will you take a look. Attached is a look at the power amp guts. No further explanation possible.

[The Dude]

Nice "cap job". Hopefully the customer didn't have to pay much for the repairs, but that's not usually the case. Sadly, how it usually works is that the worst techs get more money because it takes them longer to figure things out and they charge hourly- something for the guys who know what they're doing to remember. The experienced guys are often guilty of under charging because it takes them far less time to do the same repairs (I include myself in this scenario). Every once in a while I have to step back from things and check myself on rates. I usually find that I'm not charging as much as I should be. All those years of experience should count for something.