EICH amp Service?

[AgostoMortal]

Are there any dealers of EICH (or tecamp) that repair their heads? or any good local Solid state amp repair guys in South Florida?
My EICH T500 is acting funny and need someone to take a look at, some local guys directly say they wont touch it. Why is that? this is a simply Modern SS amp.
Thanks

 

[agedhorse]

Many techs are very under-qualified to work on modern solid state amps, they just don’t have the necessary skills.

 

[AgostoMortal]

I am wondering why...I had one guy that was confident that did not do a good job on a similar amp, then 2 guys (with good reviews and reputation) that work with both Tube and SS amps and equipment (mixers, etc) Refuse to work on this? what is the deal. why is that? parts? complex schematics? I am surprised to see this.

 

[agedhorse]

I already explained it to you.

 

[J Wilson]

johnfoxbass.com

fatbasstone.com

. . . are the only two dealers EICH list on their website, both in New England

You must remember techs are like surgeons in that once they open your amp up, they're now responsible. They may understand what they're looking at, but without real schematics and access to the factory parts, it's a gamble you wouldn't take, either.

Especially when a small business can get wrecked just by pressing that ,REVIEW button.

 

[groooooove]

Many techs are very under-qualified to work on modern solid state amps, they just don’t have the necessary skills.

I definitely get this,

but a curious question - could someone like you fix an amp like that, or is there more than just experience and skill to it, such as having access to schematics or parts?

 

[J-Bass RMR]

this is a simply Modern SS amp.

It's just like looking under the hood of a modern car to my 87 year-old father in law, who used to pull the engine from his vintage Chevy truck and re-build it just for fun.
His tools and diagnostic equipment aren't just outdated - they're useless.
There is nothing remotely familiar to him under the hood.

From what I understand; (much from my old tech when I asked him to simply replace the input jack in a class D amp....)

While not digital, class D represents a significant departure in technologies from tube amps and class AB amps.
His tools and diagnostic equipment are outdated. (oscilloscopes, soldering equipment, and even basic hand tools.)
You can't just open up the amp, and visually follow the "path" of the components and see what's going on.
Compared to "traditional" circuit boards, the new class of amps have miniaturized (and very delicate) almost microscopic circuits, requiring special tools and special training - and that can be a significant investment.

 

[LowTorque]

Many techs are very under-qualified to work on modern solid state amps, they just don’t have the necessary skills.

I already explained it to you.

That's more off a statement than an explanation. I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs? Is the technology so complicated?

 

[ardgedee]

My EICH T500 is acting funny and need someone to take a look at, some local guys directly say they wont touch it. Why is that? this is a simply Modern SS amp.

The T500 is a 500 Watt Class D amp.

This is an example of what a 500 Watt Class D amplifier module looks like. It is 3 inches wide: If you rest one on the top of a coffee cup it might not completely cover it. Your Eich would have something like this in addition to a power supply, a preamplifier section, circuits for the user controls and sockets, and whatever else.

Modern amps are not simple, and they're built in modular form so that each section serves a different function and can be treated as a discrete component. This is why repairs after proper diagnosis usually involve swapping modules rather than performing on-board surgery: It's cheaper both for the repair shop and for the customer.

Your local shops are unlikely to have above-board access to Eich parts, which is why you're being told to use an authorized service center.

I am wondering why...I had one guy that was confident that did not do a good job on a similar amp, then 2 guys (with good reviews and reputation) that work with both Tube and SS amps and equipment (mixers, etc) Refuse to work on this?

Your question answers itself. The first guy you mention was confident because he didn't realize how little he knew, and he did a bad job. The two guys with good reputations understood their own abilities well enough to not make the same mistakes.

 

[Geri O]

That's more off a statement than an explanation. I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs? Is the technology so complicated?

Potato, potato….

That’s been a good question for many years now.

 

[LowTorque]

Potato, potato….

That’s been a good question for many years now.

And still no good answer?

 

[Passinwind]

That's more off a statement than an explanation. I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs? Is the technology so complicated?

Speaking only for myself, as a reasonably well qualified former audio electronics technician, I simply found greener pastures with a much higher upside. The last man standing out here with a private repair shop and with decades of very high level experience worked at Intel for long enough to pay off his house, for example. And both of us had to mix a whole lot of live shows to make ends meet, and in my case I had to play quite a few gigs as well. To be expected if you don't choose to live near an urban area these days, from what I've seen.

 

[DuluthDank]

From demos I've heard, Eich might be the among the best sounding amps on the market, to my ears. The issue of servicing them in the USA is one of the reasons I haven't spend the big bucks on one yet. It's not cheap stuff.

 

[Wasnex]

I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs?

Ultimately the answer is economic. If repairing amps was a good way to make a living, then more people would want to do it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

That's more off a statement than an explanation. I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs? Is the technology so complicated?

The effort to learn all of the skills needed to trouble shoot and fix at the subcomponent level is rather high and the skill needed to just replace a motherboard is rather low. Yet the bench rate is the same.

 

[agedhorse]

I definitely get this,

but a curious question - could someone like you fix an amp like that, or is there more than just experience and skill to it, such as having access to schematics or parts?

All of the above.

That's more off a statement than an explanation. I think the question is, why are there not more qualified techs? Is the technology so complicated?

Yes, the technology is more complex and many techs already struggle with simpler technology. Troubleshooting skills are difficult to acquire, take a lot of effort and the return on investment is pretty poor (with a small number of exceptions).

The effort to learn all of the skills needed to trouble shoot and fix at the subcomponent level is rather high and the skill needed to just replace a motherboard is rather low. Yet the bench rate is the same.

Even the basic troubleshooting skills are a struggle, many techs can’t even correctly identify the problem no less which PCB might be at fault!!!

 

[AgostoMortal]

Well, all this significantly changes the equation of what amps to use. I love the thing, it sounds great on both upright and electric, its compact and lightweight (less than 3 pounds), perfect for me. But not being able to repair it or maintain it locally or even in the US. sucks big time. And off course will affect any amp choice in the future.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Well, all this significantly changes the equation of what amps to use. I love the thing, it sounds great on both upright and electric, its compact and lightweight (less than 3 pounds), perfect for me. But not being able to repair it or maintain it locally or even in the US. sucks big time. And off course will affect any amp choice in the future.

Big consideration with Mesa and Genzler. Both have a great history in this area and the tone is better than “Eh”. Just a little. Heh.

 

[J Wilson]

Often, as you can see here, the catch with boutique, offshore amps is they very well may have boutique, offshore service.

 

[ardgedee]

But not being able to repair it or maintain it locally or even in the US. sucks big time.

Eich's website says to email them if you need support. Have you asked them if they have any authorized service centers in the US?