Amp Techs - What to reasonably expect?

[agedhorse]

It's the only Boogie certified tech that's not another two to three hours from Charlotte.
I shouldn't have used Carolina slang...he ordered the part, received the part, and I authorized the repair. So far it's been a horrible experience.
To make matters worse, my other Boogie head also needs to be fixed!

I believe I suggested sending it back for factory service when you asked about it. Factory service right now is about 6 weeks out and we hold pretty tight to that time. It does vary by season. If the part is available, we have it in stock.

 

[lildrgn]

Late last summer, an acquaintance gave me an Ashdown ABM 300 that powered up, but wouldn't provide sound. It would hum, but no bass sound. I contacted Ashdown and they gave me some suggestions that were all over my head. I know a local tech who has fixed my Trace Elliot, as well as my guitarist's amp. I contacted him and he said he'd take a look at it.

This was in early September.

This tech and I go back a couple years, with the aforementioned TE repair, as well as seeing him at shows, even with him supporting our shows as a general stagehand. Nice enough and knowledgeable enough, though a little quirky, for sure.

When I contacted him after about a week, he gave a flippant (quirky) answer of, "well, since you spent nothing on this amp to get it, you're sort of getting what you paid for. Also, I haven't had time to look at it yet." I chalked it up as XXXXX being XXXXX and left him alone for a bit.

Fast forward another two weeks or so, I reached out, no response. As he said, since I got it for free (and have 2 working amps besides), I figured I'd let it go.

Holidays come and go and I reached out to him a week or two ago, both via text and Facebook Messenger. No response on either. I specifically used FBM because I see he is active on the regular on FB and figured he'd see my message there. No response.

At this point, I'm gonna call him and arrange to pick it up. I don't care if it's working or not; as I said, not my main amp or even needed at this point. My main reason for wanting it was to get into the Ashdown world, having always wanted one. I also don't have any extra cash for getting it fixed up at the moment, but I can certainly hang onto it until I do.

Not worth burning bridges over, I don't know what's going on in his life. Though if he had no time or didn't know how to fix it, a simple update would have satisfied me.

 

[Snarf]

This could become a broad discussion but to start with, I'm wondering what others think is a reasonable range of time in which to hear back from an amp tech after dropping off an amp.

Being mindful that things happen, including holidays, and people can be very busy.

A couple years, give or take.

 

[lug]

This is why I always start by rubbing chicken bones over the amp to see if it's a simple voodoo fix first.

 

[mattj1stc]

It probably depends on where you live. In Dallas, I'm fortunate enough to have both a great amp tech and a great guitar tech. Both are individuals who do their own thing. Found both through referral.

 

[kesslari]

@Grinderman have you gotten back to your amp tech to ask for a date, or a "date for a date" (e.g., when he can look at it and get back to you with a time/cost estimate)?
Seems like a reasonable thing to do.

 

[Grinderman]

A couple years, give or take.

This is why I always start by rubbing chicken bones over the amp to see if it's a simple voodoo fix first.

See, I'm here for the humor at least as much as anything else.

 

[Grinderman]

@Grinderman have you gotten back to your amp tech to ask for a date, or a "date for a date" (e.g., when he can look at it and get back to you with a time/cost estimate)?
Seems like a reasonable thing to do.

I left him a voice message yesterday. I might just go over there later today or early next week.

 

[Grinderman]

Late last summer, an acquaintance gave me an Ashdown ABM 300 that powered up, but wouldn't provide sound. It would hum, but no bass sound. I contacted Ashdown and they gave me some suggestions that were all over my head. I know a local tech who has fixed my Trace Elliot, as well as my guitarist's amp. I contacted him and he said he'd take a look at it.

This was in early September.

This tech and I go back a couple years, with the aforementioned TE repair, as well as seeing him at shows, even with him supporting our shows as a general stagehand. Nice enough and knowledgeable enough, though a little quirky, for sure.

When I contacted him after about a week, he gave a flippant (quirky) answer of, "well, since you spent nothing on this amp to get it, you're sort of getting what you paid for. Also, I haven't had time to look at it yet." I chalked it up as XXXXX being XXXXX and left him alone for a bit.

Fast forward another two weeks or so, I reached out, no response. As he said, since I got it for free (and have 2 working amps besides), I figured I'd let it go.

Holidays come and go and I reached out to him a week or two ago, both via text and Facebook Messenger. No response on either. I specifically used FBM because I see he is active on the regular on FB and figured he'd see my message there. No response.

At this point, I'm gonna call him and arrange to pick it up. I don't care if it's working or not; as I said, not my main amp or even needed at this point. My main reason for wanting it was to get into the Ashdown world, having always wanted one. I also don't have any extra cash for getting it fixed up at the moment, but I can certainly hang onto it until I do.

Not worth burning bridges over, I don't know what's going on in his life. Though if he had no time or didn't know how to fix it, a simple update would have satisfied me.

Oy. That is not the sort of journey for me.

If this new-to-me Magnavox SVT curved line weren't sold in good working condition from a reputable company with some warranty to back that it works, besides the fact it's in excellent condition, I'm not sure I'd take it if someone gave it to me. You're situation says it all about why.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Whenever I drop something off for service I usually ask what their backlog is. With an electronics repair shop, the answer can be weeks.

Also, it can take awhile to get parts. I received my Klark Teknik DN9848 back from repair in Nov 2023. The repair shopped received it in Nov 2022. They originally thought they would be able to turn it around in a few weeks. I called them approximately once a month for the duration.

Considering Klark is part of Music Tribe now was probably a factor!

 

[Wasnex]

Considering Klark is part of Music Tribe now was probably a factor!

Yep. Music Tribe sent me to a third party repair center, which I believe is now standard practice for items that are out of warranty. The repair center ordered parts from Music Tribe. Months later, when the parts came in, they were wrong. After another month with no status, I opened a ticket with Music Tribe and the only thing they would tell me is they were out of the part and had no idea when they would get them in.

I got online and found another shop that claimed to have been a KT warranty center back in the day. The owner asked for photos of the encoders and immediately identified the brand and series. This gave the authorized repair shop enough info to order the correct part from an electronics part supplier.

I suspect if I had not engaged, the unit would either still be waiting for parts, or it would have been returned unrepaired.

The sad thing: A few years back, I had Music Tribe do the same repair on another DN9848. I also had them service a DN500+ compressor. Turn around was fast and the repairs held, so I was very pleased with the level of service. But, since then they restructured and apparently gutted their user support and repair functions.

 

[lildrgn]

Oy. That is not the sort of journey for me.

If this new-to-me Magnavox SVT curved line weren't sold in good working condition from a reputable company with some warranty to back that it works, besides the fact it's in excellent condition, I'm not sure I'd take it if someone gave it to me. You're situation says it all about why.

Just talked to my guy, he has been working on priority projects with the understanding, as I mentioned, that mine is not. He's doing tests when he can. I told him I could pick up as is, but he wants to keep at it. Basically told him to keep me posted when/if it's fixed and we'd go from there.

Good luck with your amp.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Yep. Music Tribe sent me to a third party repair center, which I believe is now standard practice for items that are out of warranty. The repair center ordered parts from Music Tribe. Months later, when the parts came in, they were wrong. After another month with no status, I opened a ticket with Music Tribe and the only thing they would tell me is they were out of the part and had no idea when they would get them in.

I got online and found another shop that claimed to have been a KT warranty center back in the day. The owner asked for photos of the encoders and immediately identified the brand and series. This gave the authorized repair shop enough info to order the correct part from an electronics part supplier.

I suspect if I had not engaged, the unit would either still be waiting for parts, or it would have been returned unrepaired.

The sad thing: A few years back, I had Music Tribe do the same repair on another DN9848. I also had them service a DN500+ compressor. Turn around was fast and the repairs held, so I was very pleased with the level of service. But, since then they restructured and apparently gutted their user support and repair functions.

I tried to facilitate some Tribe product repair and replacement parts for a couple customers, all forms of communication attempts went unanswered.

 

[groooooove]

it's such a case by case basis.

truthfully no amp tech possesses 100% in both business / customer service skills, time management, as well as actual repair work.

there's a shop by me thats very well known and reputable, they usually run on time with about a 3 week estimate.

 

[Grinderman]

Just talked to my guy, he has been working on priority projects with the understanding, as I mentioned, that mine is not. He's doing tests when he can. I told him I could pick up as is, but he wants to keep at it. Basically told him to keep me posted when/if it's fixed and we'd go from there.

Good luck with your amp.

Good luck with yours too. You had a very specific dream amp and you went for it, you're braver than me.

 

[johnnynitro]

If you're happy then you are.

There's no way I'd go to a tech that takes 7 weeks to do anything at all, especially for a basic inspection and possible estimate on a new-to-me amp with no known problem, not in this market. There are too many other reputable options here in that regard for one thing.

To be fair. He tells me this when I talk to him before dropping the amp off. Also once he calls to tell me what is wrong and the cost. It's always ready for pickup within two days. I'm talking about a repair. NOT a basic inspection.

 

[Minimalist]

This could become a broad discussion but to start with, I'm wondering what others think is a reasonable range of time in which to hear back from an amp tech after dropping off an amp.

Being mindful that things happen, including holidays, and people can be very busy.

I would think that a time frame is discussed/communicated before you dropp the amp off.

 

[Minimalist]

I respect that people are busy and their time... I don't like to seem or to be the pushy type but yeah... it's about time.

It's not pushy to follow up if the other party is not communicating as they said they would. About a week is not 2 weeks.

 

[Grinderman]

I would think that a time frame is discussed/communicated before you dropp the amp off.

As I mentioned before, the tech/proprietor said he'd get back in touch with me in about a week about his findings of inspection when the amp was dropped off.

There's no apparent or known issue other than putting the output tubes back (shipped long distance separately from the amp) and adjusting bias, balance, and hum controls.

It's not pushy to follow up if the other party is not communicating as they said they would. About a week is not 2 weeks.

Yes. I've called him and left a message.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

What’s the typical “bench fee” these days, in other words the non refundable fee just to crack it open. Does $50 sound average?