Amplifier repair shops closing down

[67Mopar]

I need to have a capacitor adjustment done to my GVT15 amp to rid the effects loop of low-level hum. I could find only one tech in my area that is still in doing repairs, the rest are out of business. The tech said that if he had to rely on music equipment repairs, he would be forced to close his doors. Music gear repair use to be the bulk of his income, but not anymore. He has a contract with Disney now, which is the only reason he is still open. Should that end, he will be forced to retire. Peter Wells @ Wells Electronics was the primary repair technician here in Orlando for over three decades... Gone! I use to run into Pat Travers there from time to time. When I asked what happened with Wells Electronics, he replied; "The same thing that is happening to everyone else... there's no money in it anymore. Kids today have little to no interest in playing an electric guitar. Most who do play are now purchasing digital modelers, most of which uses SMD construction."

Most of the new production amplifiers are using SMD. No repairs or mods on these... board replacements only. Once the manufacturer ceases replacement board production, it becomes a parts donor. Manufacturers are also beginning to cease producing of through-hole components. If you happen to have a cache of TH passive parts, hold onto what you have. I'm purchasing spare PSU capacitors for my keepers. All but one repair shops in the Orlando area have closed their doors. The repair centers that do remain, contract with parks like Disney and Universal. SMD servicing [board replacement] requires IFT devices that cost literally thousands of dollars per unit. Service centers must purchase these IFT devices, if they want to become/remain a qualified service center.

 

[mxaniac]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I need to have a capacitor adjustment done to my GVT15 amp to rid the effects loop of low-level hum. I could find only one tech in my area that is still in doing repairs, the rest are out of business. The tech said that if he had to rely on music equipment repairs, he would be forced to close his doors. Music gear repair use to be the bulk of his income, but not anymore. He has a contract with Disney now, which is the only reason he is still open. Should that end, he will be forced to retire. Peter Wells @ Wells Electronics was the primary repair technician here in Orlando for over three decades... Gone! I use to run into Pat Travers there from time to time. When I asked what happened with Wells Electronics, he replied; "The same thing that is happening to everyone else... there's no money in it anymore. Kids today have little to no interest in playing an electric guitar. Most who do play are now purchasing digital modelers, most of which uses SMD construction."

Most of the new production amplifiers are using SMD. No repairs or mods on these... board replacements only. Once the manufacturer ceases replacement board production, it becomes a parts donor. Manufacturers are also beginning to cease producing of through-hole components. If you happen to have a cache of TH passive parts, hold onto what you have. I'm purchasing spare PSU capacitors for my keepers. All but one repair shops in the Orlando area have closed their doors. The repair centers that do remain, contract with parks like Disney and Universal. SMD servicing [board replacement] requires IFT devices that cost literally thousands of dollars per unit. Service centers must purchase these IFT devices, if they want to become/remain a qualified service center.

Board level SMD work by hand is now a skill all of its own. IPC certified SMD repair technicians can repair the boards, but they aren't from my experience the guys that can troubleshoot and diagnose the repair. So in addition to all the cultural shifts in the USA you've got a division in roles that affects this. Excess inventory is now considered a cardinal sin now too so replacement boards will be prohibitively expensive. My guess is some enthusiasts will still be around and we'll end up shipping things around to get them repaired and UPS/FedEx/USPS will make all the money.

The question I often ponder though is what would it take for society to place a larger value on small venue live shows. As a culture we spend extremely large sums of money on entertainment, yet talk to any local musician and they will often lament on how for most people performing is a passion devoid of income. If you can't make money (or gain fame / notoriety) performing then less people will pursue it and the equipment will become more and more niche. Why will we sit in the nosebleeds and watch a choreographed show of people using autotune but not see a local act? I've gotten off topic but I think that's why everything is declining. I think this would be an interesting topic on its own.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Amp Techs in my area are scare, and we keep losing what we have.

I keep mine well paid ...

 

[LLL]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

When I asked what happened with Wells Electronics, he replied; "The same thing that is happening to everyone else... there's no money in it anymore. Kids today have little to no interest in playing an electric guitar. Most who do play are now purchasing digital modelers, most of which uses SMD construction."

Exactly.

There's no money in it anymore... well, unless you're okay with getting (maybe... hopefully) $50 bucks (your cut) on the weekend in a stinky bar for a lot of time and effort and of course, putting your gear at risk. But even then, you're not going to actually make any money, you're going to lose money when you add up all the cost outlay to be a weekend warrior at your local watering hole vs. your cut (of course, you will naturally be considered an "expert" online in all things gear related if you choose the bar band route, because everybody knows that bar band players are the brightest, most talented, most knowledgable and most experienced musicians out there). Sure, some bar bands can actually make a living, but those are few and far between. :lol:

I mean, undoubtedly these guys play in a bar somewhere - and they're obviously at the top of their game both performance-wise and gear-knowledge-wise:

Typical.

Back in the day, a group played the bars as a starting point to "pay their dues"; to sharpen their band & playing skills and hope eventually someone in the crowd was a big record co. man with a contract in hand, so they could move on to an actual professional gig (hit the "Big Time") with an album in tow... but since those days are gone and since kids have little to no interest (mainly because of lack of discipline, ADHD with their smartphones and the piss poor state the music biz is in) in playing guitar, the bar band scene is, apparently, now the lofty pinnacle of "professional" rock band "success". :lol:

The times they are a changin'...

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Bar bands are about Alcohol sales for the club.

You can be the crappiest band in 5 States but if the Bar owner sells lots of Booze while you play you'll be back every week.

Its not about the music.

Just like Cable TV is about advertising & not about content.

 

[LLL]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Bar bands are about Alcohol sales for the club.

You can be the crappiest band in 5 States but if the Bar owner sells lots of Booze while you play you'll be back every week.

Its not about the music.

Just like Cable TV is about advertising & not about content.

Indeed.

I'll bet there's a correlation between alcohol sales and gear knowledge... e.g. the more sales, the more smarter you think you are.

And ironically, add some actual alcohol to the equation, and "you're" a g-d gear genius. :lol:

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I think a lot of it has to do with the area, but I have never relied on it for full time income, and I do work with smd. The problem is that you have lulls in business. Some months it’s good others not, and I as well as others I’m sure prefer steady income.

The other thing too is that you almost never get paid worth the time you put into it.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I Toured in Missouri, Illinios & Florida from 1982' to 1993' i thought if we played enough we could "make it" in Music but we also drank alot.
We never really got anywhere & raising a Family & running a Business took priorities.

Ive been sober 17 years and have no desire to play Bar & Clubs anymore doing 3am loadouts and frankly its not safe at night around here.

I love to play music but doubt i will be in a working band that doesn't have "issues".

And i have a handful of friends that played back in the day in the same situation.

The Players that do play out around here really arent that good its more "who you know".

Music like amp techs has changed alot the last 35 years.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I thought 'the big time' meant having a bunch of YouTube followers and never needing to leave your room.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Damn, around here we actually have a fair amount of really good techs, and a few of those are younger guys as well. I know a lot of them do instrument repair as well or have other related jobs in the industry.

 

[LLL]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I thought 'the big time' meant having a bunch of YouTube followers and never needing to leave your room.

"The Big Time" has always been, and always will be - signing on to a major label, cutting albums and touring.

You know, like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Megadeth, Katy Perry, Van Halen, etc?

Today, that opportunity is all but gone.

Playing in a bar, while fun (at times), is no huge accomplishment; it doesn't even compare in the slightest to "The Big Time".

In fact, it typically is nothing more than pursuing your hobby while getting a little beer $ out of it (if you're lucky after adding up all the hidden costs like transportation, gear wear & tear, etc). It would probably be impossible to count all the bar bands (good or bad) that have ever existed, but I would venture in the high millions.

YouTube, while a different medium, is no different as the above (again, for most). You can get paid (monetization) as well. I'd say Pete Thorn (for example) prolly does decent... but if you really want to rake in the good bucks, you need at least a million followers and need to be pumping out vids all the time ("PewDePie" comes to mind, and does stupid video game reviews for ADHD teenyboppers).

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Power supply caps aren’t going to be SMT... :chairfall

Or more accurately, you’ll be able to get power supply caps for a long time.

Through hole will be like tubes. Allen Bradley stopped making them years ago, but if the boutique demand is there someone will make them.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

"The Big Time" has always been, and always will be - signing on to a major label, cutting albums and touring.

You know, like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Megadeth, Katy Perry, Van Halen, etc?

Today, that opportunity is all but gone.

Playing in a bar, while fun (at times), is no huge accomplishment; it doesn't even compare in the slightest to "The Big Time".

In fact, it typically is nothing more than pursuing your hobby while getting a little beer $ out of it (if you're lucky after adding up all the hidden costs like transportation, gear wear & tear, etc). It would probably be impossible to count all the bar bands (good or bad) that have ever existed, but I would venture in the high millions.

YouTube, while a different medium, is no different as the above (again, for most). You can get paid (monetization) as well. I'd say Pete Thorn (for example) prolly does decent... but if you really want to rake in the good bucks, you need at least a million followers and need to be pumping out vids all the time ("PewDePie" comes to mind, and does stupid video game reviews for ADHD teenyboppers).

Youtube wanted to compensate me {$$$} for some of my videos but i was worried about copywrite issues as that wasn't transparent enough for me.

Bands like their Eagles & many more signed away their rights to their own music and spent decades in Court fighting to get that back namely in the their case fighting David Geffen.

 

[LLL]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Youtube wanted to compensate me {$$$} for some of my videos but i was worried about copywrite issues as that wasn't transparent enough for me.

You have to post it as "Music Education".

I was making $$$ off of my YT channel until they upped the monetization requirements to 1K followers.

Currently at 510, so have a ways to go! :lol:

I put a lot of effort into each video, but I didn't put much effort into quantity of vids (running 2 businesses tends to do that).
I'm sure I could have had a lot more followers if I pumped out even 1 video a month. As it was, 1-2 vids a year.

It was a nice little side project that trickled cash in... I post a vid when I have time, which currently isn't much.

And for as little as I actively promoted any of it (once in a blue moon), it's funny how I've racked up 500 followers (with
little to no effort in promotion) by just having the channel sit there.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Power supply caps aren’t going to be SMT.

True, but finding the full size capacitors is becoming more difficult. I tried the half-size cans, and I didn't care for them. Although they are the same value, they seem to cycle faster than the large cans. I experimented with this using the variac on a Mojave "Dirty Boy" amplifier several years ago. There was a audible difference between the two.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I dropped-off the Ampeg GVT15 today. The hum is definitely 6oHz, and it does not hum if I use a jumper cable in the loop. AC supplied devices only. I suppose it's a goofy ground design, possibly capacitors? Anyway... For example, the tech told me today that all Fender amplifiers that are not made in the USA or Mexico get automatically tossed in the trash. The entire amp, not just the main board. He pulls the sticker off the rear chassis, attaches it to the repair document, and Fender sends out a new replacement amplifier. This is good for 5 years. I wonder if Marshall is offering the same with its Origin line?

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

Power supply caps aren’t going to be SMT... :chairfall

Or more accurately, you’ll be able to get power supply caps for a long time.

Through hole will be like tubes. Allen Bradley stopped making them years ago, but if the boutique demand is there someone will make them.

Most likely what’s going to happen in the near future and is already to an extent is that most electrolytics will be phased out for film, you can already buy a wide variety of high voltage, high value film caps in values upwards of 47uf, for not much more than high voltage electrolytic. This is great for cap life and reliability, and arguably sound, but bad in terms of footprint or retrofitting something already in existence.

One day you may even see hv smd devices.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

I dropped-off the Ampeg GVT15 today. The hum is definitely 6oHz, and it does not hum if I use a jumper cable in the loop. AC supplied devices only. I suppose it's a goofy ground design, possibly capacitors? Anyway... For example, the tech told me today that all Fender amplifiers that are not made in the USA or Mexico get automatically tossed in the trash. The entire amp, not just the main board. He pulls the sticker off the rear chassis, attaches it to the repair document, and Fender sends out a new replacement amplifier. This is good for 5 years. I wonder if Marshall is offering the same with its Origin line?

60hz is typically something in the heater line if it uses ac heaters, or something possibly coupled to a pre-rectification noise source. 120hz is typical for anything ground related or any other coupling from a rectified power source.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

All of us old dinosaurs are going to have to become more self reliant.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Amplifier repair shops closing down

60hz is typically something in the heater line if it uses ac heaters, or something possibly coupled to a pre-rectification noise source. 120hz is typical for anything ground related or any other coupling from a rectified power source.

Thank you. It sounded quite deep from what I recall. It must have been 12oHz than. I assumed 6oHz, since I could only hear it when I plugged AC supplied effects in the loop.