Repair

Every amp that comes to the shop gets a thorough diagnostic checkout and comprehensive inspection for existing and potential problems. Defective or substandard components are replaced with new components of equal or superior quality. Critical performance and tone affecting parameters are measured to make sure your amp meets design specs.  These include all power supply voltages, plate voltages, grid and screen current draw and grid bias.  If tubes are replaced, they will be selected for their sonic attributes, ability to adequately handle your amp’s supplied plate voltage and closely matched in the case of output tubes. All electronic components are checked visually for signs of stress or heat damage. The final analysis, of course, is listening to the amp to ensure it produces the characteristic tone it was designed to.

Maintenance

Every amp that comes to the shop for repair receives maintenance in addition to the repair. All tubes are tested for performance, quality, estimated remaining life and microphonics. All tube pins and tube socket contacts are cleaned and all pots are evaluated for noise and proper operation and cleaned and lubricated as necessary. All jacks and switches are checked for proper operation and cleaned as necessary. A visual inspection is made of solder joints, wiring and lead dress and any issues are corrected. Critical voltages are checked and power tube bias is checked and set in all amps that have adjustable bias. Routine maintenance insures that your amp is operating at peak performance and reduces the chance of a problem or failure at a critical time such as a gig or recording session.

Modification

Want great tone from your amp? A number of tone enhancing and tone altering modifications are available that can make a major difference in the tone of your amp. We will work with you to determine the tone and characteristics you want your amp to have and suggest modifications that can give you the sound you’ve been searching for. Tone shaping circuits can be modified and tone affecting components can be upgraded to better sounding ones. The values of components can can be changed to shape your amp’s tone to your taste. Power transformers, output transformers and chokes can be upgraded to improve tone. Changes to negative feedback can make a make an amp sound more open and less veiled. These and other modifications can make your amp sound like an expensive boutique amp.