How long should it take a tech to install a tranformer

walknbluez · #1 09-16-2010, 12:14 PM

My amp went to a tech on 8/3. He had to wait for a transformer to be delivered which he got about 7 days ago. How long should it be taking him to install and set everything up?

CrashClint · #2 09-16-2010, 01:03 PM

Depends how many people are in front of you for repairs. If the transformer is plug and play it could take 15-60 minutes depending on how much he has to take apart to get to the transformer. If it is soldered in, it could take two hours and if your dealing with tubes it may take longer but it shouldn't take more than a day.

walknbluez · #3 09-16-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

Depends how many people are in front of you for repairs. If the transformer is plug and play it could take 15-60 minutes depending on how much he has to take apart to get to the transformer. If it is soldered in, it could take two hours and if your dealing with tubes it may take longer but it shouldn't take more than a day.

Well I figure I should be at the front of the line now since it's been there since 8/3.

It does have tubes, six of them. Not sure if it is soldered or not.

So he's had the transformer for a week now and my amp has been there for a month and a half.

timmus · #4 09-16-2010, 01:07 PM

Is he a full time tech? or does he repair amps in his spare time? I do the latter and sometimes life takes the place of time spent in the shop. MY intent is to spend 3-4 nights a week in the shop but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

I used to do it full time and usually if a part comes in, I always tried to get to it and get it installed within 72 hours...when you're in the middle of a repair on the bench, or if you have a bunch of amps awaiting parts and the parts all come in around the same time, which can happen because alot of times I'd order in quantity to get better pricing/shipping costs (get over the minimum), I would usually work from the longest waiting parts amp and move up, at the same time, juggling quick fix amps to make a few $$$ for the day.

Maybe a quick call or email to him and see if he can give you an ETA...for me, a friendly email always worked better than an unfriendly one...sometimes it moved the amp that was being asked about to the front of the line...

ez-rhino · #5 09-16-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmus

Is he a full time tech? or does he repair amps in his spare time? I do the latter and sometimes life takes the place of time spent in the shop. MY intent is to spend 3-4 nights a week in the shop but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

I used to do it full time and usually if a part comes in, I always tried to get to it and get it installed within 72 hours...when you're in the middle of a repair on the bench, or if you have a bunch of amps awaiting parts and the parts all come in around the same time, which can happen because alot of times I'd order in quantity to get better pricing/shipping costs (get over the minimum), I would usually work from the longest waiting parts amp and move up, at the same time, juggling quick fix amps to make a few $$$ for the day.

Maybe a quick call or email to him and see if he can give you an ETA...for me, a friendly email always worked better than an unfriendly one...sometimes it moved the amp that was being asked about to the front of the line...

This. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

An experienced tech will theoretically be able to turn something like that within 2 hours, max. Juggling customers is one thing, I understand, I do that with my profession, but that seems like a long time to have your amp in someone's shop. Unless of course he had to order the part, which for it to take this long, is likely on backorder, and will be in his shop even longer.

I'd send a polite email inquiry or just call him, and ask for an update or ETA, nothing wrong with that.

walknbluez · #6 09-16-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmus

Is he a full time tech? or does he repair amps in his spare time? I do the latter and sometimes life takes the place of time spent in the shop. MY intent is to spend 3-4 nights a week in the shop but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

I used to do it full time and usually if a part comes in, I always tried to get to it and get it installed within 72 hours...when you're in the middle of a repair on the bench, or if you have a bunch of amps awaiting parts and the parts all come in around the same time, which can happen because alot of times I'd order in quantity to get better pricing/shipping costs (get over the minimum), I would usually work from the longest waiting parts amp and move up, at the same time, juggling quick fix amps to make a few $$$ for the day.

Maybe a quick call or email to him and see if he can give you an ETA...for me, a friendly email always worked better than an unfriendly one...sometimes it moved the amp that was being asked about to the front of the line...

He's full time. I heard good things about him and he advertises on CL but I would have to say his weak point is communication.

I did email him yesterday and politely asked "Can you give me a status on the repair and a rough idea when it will be complete?"

Haven't heard back yet.

CrashClint · #7 09-16-2010, 04:42 PM

I have a great amp tech for about 8 years, but the last time I took an amp in I had to wait a week to have it repaired. Word got out about how good Yontz's work is and now even Guitar Center uses him for repairs. I think for most people it is 10-14 days now whereas long time customers get worked in a little more quickly.

walknbluez · #8 09-16-2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

I have a great amp tech for about 8 years, but the last time I took an amp in I had to wait a week to have it repaired. Word got out about how good Yontz's work is and now even Guitar Center uses him for repairs. I think for most people it is 10-14 days now whereas long time customers get worked in a little more quickly.

Yeah but you would think that since he's had my amp for a month and a half, and got the part 7 days ago, that he could at least call or email me and tell me what the delay is. I don't want to call after emailing him (with no reply) and then have him do a half ass job just to get it out of his hair though.

CrashClint · #9 09-16-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walknbluez

Yeah but you would think that since he's had my amp for a month and a half, and got the part 7 days ago, that he could at least call or email me and tell me what the delay is. I don't want to call after emailing him (with no reply) and then have him do a half ass job just to get it out of his hair though.

I agree, what brand amp do you have?

I just saw in your signature a peavey.

walknbluez · #10 09-16-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrashClint

I agree, what brand amp do you have?

I just saw in your signature a peavey.

Yes, it is a Peavey VB-2. I brought it into him and he ordered a cheap part (forgot the name), got the part in and then that wasn't the problem because he discovered a short in the transformer. So Peavey stepped up and sent him a transformer. I called him about a week ago to check on it (because it had been about 7-10 days since he said he had talked to Peavey) and he said "oh it just came in yesterday" (which was a day he was closed so I gave the benefit of the doubt for not calling to let me know it came in). So now I'm just waiting for the transformer to be installed and bias set and all that.

jastacey · #11 09-16-2010, 06:01 PM

You don't have a back-up amp?

walknbluez · #12 09-16-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jastacey

You don't have a back-up amp?

Yes I do. I'm currently using a SS Workingman 4004 but I want my tube amp back.

jastacey · #13 09-16-2010, 06:15 PM

My tech usually takes 6-8 weeks to get things done ... he has a busy shop and it's usually worth the wait ...

JimmyM · #14 09-16-2010, 06:42 PM

ya, agreed. most techs i know are tremendously backlogged if they're any good.

walknbluez · #15 09-16-2010, 08:26 PM

Sounds reasonable then. I'll just let him do what he needs to do. I wish he was a bit more communicative though. He could have emailed and said "transformer came today, I should be able to turn this around in about 2 weeks". At least that is how I do business with my customers in my business.

JimmyM · #16 09-16-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walknbluez

Sounds reasonable then. I'll just let him do what he needs to do. I wish he was a bit more communicative though. He could have emailed and said "transformer came today, I should be able to turn this around in about 2 weeks". At least that is how I do business with my customers in my business.

tru dat, but otoh, the more time he spends doing emails for everyone like that, the less time he's working through his backlog

Selta · #17 09-16-2010, 08:51 PM

more than meets the eye.

timmus · #18 09-16-2010, 09:11 PM

There are times I spend over an hour per night on the internet, ordering parts, answering emails, researching for parts that might be extinct or figuring out how to sub a part and even talking to customers on the phone (you can't believe how verbose some of my customers are!)...all time I could be sitting at the bench making money...Alot of shops are one man operations, such as mine...I do everything, by myself...I figure for every hour I spend at the bench, I spend on average, about 15 minutes ordering parts, emailing/calling customers, invoicing, etc etc...it adds up fast.

timmus · #19 09-16-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ya, agreed. most techs i know are tremendously backlogged if they're any good.

I hear that...tonight I just picked up eight amps from a local music store that is a central drop off / pick up point for me. That's on top of the 6 others I have in line right now...and I'm a part time shop. I don't know if I'm all that good but I'm pretty much the only game in town...amp techs are rare around here and I know that....people keep bringing me amps.

The only reason I still don't do this full time is the cost of health insurance...I have to slog in a 9-5 job that I really don't care for so I can afford the insurance, and then come home and if I'm not too tired, have band practice or whatever else cries for my time, I have supper and then spend several hours in my shop doing what I really love to do...

Munjibunga · #20 09-16-2010, 09:20 PM

About 20 minutes.