Really, is this what filter caps cost?

[GeneralElectric]

So I sold a guy my Aguilar AG500 on CL and he had the same problem I had about a year ago.

Link to my original problem here.

I had some guy clean out the FX loop and it worked fine. Cue the amp pretty much living in my basement after the fact. I only took it out to a couple of gigs but I generally played my tube amp.

Even though everyone is telling me to tell him to F*** himself since he played through the amp, I feel bad for the guy because I'm pretty happy with the trade. I told him I'd pay for the repair. Repair guy thinks that 4 filter caps are blown and wants to charge $70 for a set of 4 caps and $65 for labor. Is this out of line? I don't even think its a problem with the filter caps but again with the FX loop.

I'm asking I had my tube amp recapped and rebiased a few months ago for a lot less! I'd tell the guy to go to my amp guy but he's MIA.

Help me TB!

[Lazarus.Bird]

I'll let someone else comment on the actual part cost as I have no idea, but $65 labor while a little on the higher side sounds about normal.

[GeneralElectric]

I don't mind the cost of labor. $65 is about average for a bench cost in the NYC area.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Repair guy thinks that 4 filter caps are blown and wants to charge $70 for a set of 4 caps and $65 for labor. Is this out of line?

If he doesn't figure out what damaged the caps, how would anyone know if the new ones are at risk?

It would help to have some info on the values of the caps. Nonetheless, big filter cap prices vary widely, depending on the exact specs and mounting.

[grendle]

geez, i charge $150 hr for labor and that's half of the MFR rate. That doesn't sound off for that job though.

[Caca de Kick]

The crappy thing is, that tech does even know what's wrong, and "thinks" it needs a cap job. Sounds like the guy is just throwing parts at the amp.

[jungleheat]

You would have to be Jesus of Amps to be worth $150/hr. Considering your average amp costs about 500-1500, anything at all labor intensive and you might as well toss the thing in the garbage and start over with a new one.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

If he doesn't figure out what damaged the caps, how would anyone know if the new ones are at risk?.

+1. Filter caps don't just up and die for no good reason. Most that do die do so of old age, as in well over 20 years.
Prices vary with size of course, but the average SS power supply cap runs around 5 to 10 bucks.

[beans-on-toast]

The labor charge is reasonable.

Cap prices can vary. Paper in oil high end signal caps used in hi-fi systems can easily be in the $20-$40 range each. I replaced some tube amp power supply caps this weekend with good high current capacity caps. They were around $10-$12 each. Four of this type with shipping could run $50. They can cost more though. It really depends on the values of the caps. High current capacity caps cost more. Probably not worth quibbling about for $70.

I don't think that the intent was to sell an amp that is like new. You did say that you would make it right but what happens if this doesn't resolve the problem? There has to be a reasonable limit to what you are willing to pay out.

I would have asked what the make and value of the replaced caps are and what was originally in the amp. You shouldn't be paying for an upgrade to a better quality cap. You can go to a site like Digikey, Mouser, or Newark and look up the cost and shipping. This will allow you to at least satisfy yourself that the expense is reasonable.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by jungleheat

You would have to be Jesus of Amps to be worth $150/hr. Considering your average amp costs about 500-1500, anything at all labor intensive and you might as well toss the thing in the garbage and start over with a new one.

That's why I don't my living on fixing music gear lol. I do high end test equipment.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

The labor charge is reasonable.

Cap prices can vary. Paper in oil high end signal caps used in hi-fi systems can easily be in the $20-$40 range each. I replaced some tube amp power supply caps this weekend with good high current capacity caps. They were around $10-$12 each. Four of this type with shipping could run $50. They can cost more though. It really depends on the values of the caps. High current capacity caps cost more. Probably not worth quibbling about for $70.

I don't think that the intent was to sell an amp that is like new. You did say that you would make it right but what happens if this doesn't resolve the problem? There has to be a reasonable limit to what you are willing to pay out.

I would have asked what the make and value of the replaced caps are and what was originally in the amp. You shouldn't be paying for an upgrade to a better quality cap. You can go to a site like Digikey, Mouse, or Newark and look up the cost and shipping. This will allow you to at least satisfy yourself that the expense is reasonable.

On top of trouble shooting, parts hunting , ordering, fronting the parts cost, then there's install. So the tech is going to have 8 hrs into the unit for $60. Sorry just saying.

[Jerrold Tiers]

"DAMAGED" the caps?

Eh?

There is basically ONE way for a user to "damage" capacitors (other than dropping the unit onto them), and that is to set the amp for 115V and connect it to 230V. The caps MIGHT go before another part does.

Other than that, it is extremely rare for any damage to happen... and usually it will be from the designer overlooking something.

I REALLY don't believe in "blown" caps...... not unless I see the paper and foil myself..... Caps can dry out and lose capacitance, and a class-D might well not like that..... depending on design it might cause low frequency cutout.

OK all the preceding goes to mean that "I AIN'T BUYIN' IT". I don't believe in "damaged caps" or "blown caps".

Likely the loop jacks, especially if you have seen it before. I've seen that issue myself, and made purchasing change to a better made jack from the UK to get rid of it.

For sure I'd clean the loop jacks and I bet that does it again.

if it were anywhere on the power amp, it would need to go home. I'm pretty darn familiar with class-D, and I'd not want to debug a problem in the tripath unit. I don't see a tech getting there reliably.

Aguilar made it, they should know how to fix it.

BTW, the price isn't bad on the repair..... there's a lot of items in the costs, as noted by others...... Basically, for folks who complain about it and quote pricing etc, the only answer is "OK you know what's wrong and you know where to get the parts, YOU fix the &^% thing..... Why'dja bring it here?

[fdeck]

I'd suggest showing the buyer this thread, and explaining who Bill and Jerrold are.

[Elionjamz]

Just to chime in here, I'm the buyer and just want this amp to work/sound properly! Any advice you guys have here is much appreciated as I am by no means electronic savvy.

[Windreaper]

Has your tech measured the DC output lines and made sure the voltages are normal? If you're getting distortion, it might just as well be a bad choke. I've had filtering caps go bad on a SMPS and the noise pattern was more like random garble. Not trying to second-guess the experts, just thinking.

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

So I sold a guy my Aguilar AG500 on CL and he had the same problem I had about a year ago.

Link to my original problem here.

I had some guy clean out the FX loop and it worked fine. Cue the amp pretty much living in my basement after the fact. I only took it out to a couple of gigs but I generally played my tube amp.

Even though everyone is telling me to tell him to F*** himself since he played through the amp, I feel bad for the guy because I'm pretty happy with the trade. I told him I'd pay for the repair. Repair guy thinks that 4 filter caps are blown and wants to charge $70 for a set of 4 caps and $65 for labor. Is this out of line? I don't even think its a problem with the filter caps but again with the FX loop.

I'm asking I had my tube amp recapped and rebiased a few months ago for a lot less! I'd tell the guy to go to my amp guy but he's MIA.

Help me TB!

if you think it's pricey then don't bother. Personally i think thats a bit much for work on a SS amp.

Has he actually had the amp on the bench? a faint out of tune distortion note under what you play is normally a sign of the caps ringing or going bad but that usually only happens in amps alot older than yours.

[grendle]

I hate to say it, but in over 20 years in electronics I would estimate 60- 70% of failures I have seen are capacitor related. Open transistors make up a close second.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by Elionjamz

Just to chime in here, I'm the buyer and just want this amp to work/sound properly! Any advice you guys have here is much appreciated as I am by no means electronic savvy.

Personally if this is a Class D amplifier I'd send it back to the manufacturer. Not too many Techs out there are savvy when it comes to Class D units. I'm one who has never worked on one though I do own two.

[12bass]

Originally Posted by grendle

I hate to say it, but in over 20 years in electronics I would estimate 60- 70% of failures I have seen are capacitor related. Open transistors make up a close second.

Capacitors do fail. However, the amp we're discussing is likely less than five years old and power supply capacitors generally last twenty years or more. Thus, this is unlikely to be the problem area.

Replacement cost for 10,000 μF/ 80 V capacitors is in the range of $10 each from DigiKey or Mouser.

[staindbass]

he wants to charge you by what he "thinks" is the problem? if the filter caps were blown they wouldent work. if they were leaky they would hum. craigs list is an as-is listing, there is no warranty. make sure some one tries equipment before they leave with it. for all you know he damaged it, or ran 6 speaker cabs on it.