Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
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Skaforlifeologist
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
depends. if you don't already have tubes to do it and the person/people are putting in tubes for you, and depending on the tube type, that could possibly be about right. like i said though, that depends.
depends. if you don't already have tubes to do it and the person/people are putting in tubes for you, and depending on the tube type, that could possibly be about right. like i said though, that depends.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
sounds about right, assuming you don't have the tools/knowledge to rebias the amp yourself.
sounds about right, assuming you don't have the tools/knowledge to rebias the amp yourself.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
Ehhh I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, retubing is a lot of tech's bread and butter, on the other... a lot of times you're paying them to run a meter and twist a knob for about 30 seconds.
Rebuilding the whole bias section on an old amp I can see charging $40 for, but most modern amps have a bias pot, so if yours is one of these I'd probably just buy a bias meter. I should have got one a long time ago, but this Deville I got is the first new production amp I've owned in... 4 years?
Ehhh I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, retubing is a lot of tech's bread and butter, on the other... a lot of times you're paying them to run a meter and twist a knob for about 30 seconds.
Rebuilding the whole bias section on an old amp I can see charging $40 for, but most modern amps have a bias pot, so if yours is one of these I'd probably just buy a bias meter. I should have got one a long time ago, but this Deville I got is the first new production amp I've owned in... 4 years?
Low_fidelity2100
New member
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
+1 to what SRS said...Also, what amp is it? Some amps are more of a pain to service than others, so that could be adding to the Price. This is why most people buy tubes themselves, and do this stuff themselves...Tech's will Rape you in the face if given a chance, Because they can. If you don't want to do the Biasing yourself, some techs will be ok with you bringing in the tubes you wish to use and then just charging you bias the amp.
I know I certainly wouldn't pay $25 each for an Ruby tubes...Buy some JJ's, EH's, Tungsol's, etc... from Dougs Tubes, or Tube Depot, etc...it'll cost ya slightly less, and sound a **** load better.
+1 to what SRS said...Also, what amp is it? Some amps are more of a pain to service than others, so that could be adding to the Price. This is why most people buy tubes themselves, and do this stuff themselves...Tech's will Rape you in the face if given a chance, Because they can. If you don't want to do the Biasing yourself, some techs will be ok with you bringing in the tubes you wish to use and then just charging you bias the amp.
I know I certainly wouldn't pay $25 each for an Ruby tubes...Buy some JJ's, EH's, Tungsol's, etc... from Dougs Tubes, or Tube Depot, etc...it'll cost ya slightly less, and sound a **** load better.
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
The way I see it, if I resent paying someone else to do a job for me, I can either learn to do it myself, or shut up and pay the man. I could probably figure out how to change my own oil, but that would require going under the car and getting dirty, when I could be sitting in a uncomfortable chair in a waiting room, paging through year-old magazines on topics I don't care about, and half-watching an old Law & Order episode.
Wait a minute. What was I saying?
The way I see it, if I resent paying someone else to do a job for me, I can either learn to do it myself, or shut up and pay the man. I could probably figure out how to change my own oil, but that would require going under the car and getting dirty, when I could be sitting in a uncomfortable chair in a waiting room, paging through year-old magazines on topics I don't care about, and half-watching an old Law & Order episode.
Wait a minute. What was I saying?
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
For me, it's a real pain, because I have to remove the amp from the chassis altogether. For others, though, it's cake. I think it really depends on the amp and whether or not he's charging you for tubes.
For me, it's a real pain, because I have to remove the amp from the chassis altogether. For others, though, it's cake. I think it really depends on the amp and whether or not he's charging you for tubes.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
My opinion is to buy the best possible tubes, get a bias tool and meter, then start learning to do it yourself. Then you'll be spending less than $40, and getting your amp biased where it sounds the best.
Heck, I've even done it by ear, with the lights out so I can see that they're not getting over heated. The worst thing that can happen is the plates get hot, then you turn it all down. That's with no meter or bias tool, just a mini screwdriver.
My opinion is to buy the best possible tubes, get a bias tool and meter, then start learning to do it yourself. Then you'll be spending less than $40, and getting your amp biased where it sounds the best.
Heck, I've even done it by ear, with the lights out so I can see that they're not getting over heated. The worst thing that can happen is the plates get hot, then you turn it all down. That's with no meter or bias tool, just a mini screwdriver.
RealtyViking
New member
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
Need to know which amp.
Some are a pain if you have to remove the chassis from the case to swap tubes, but even the worst combos I have seen only have 10-12 screws to remove. Also need to know if you have to bias since many amps are cathode biased or are non-adjusable fixed bias. If you do have to bias then some amps have test points that you can bias with a $10 radio shack volt meter.
I have sworn off techs for all but the worst issues. My tech is now charging $85 an hour so it adds up quick. So no it is not worth it unless you need to bias with a special meter.
Ruby el34s and many other brands can be purchased for about $30 online. Sounds like your tech is just about doubling on the price of tubes and estimating a half hour of work which is about right.
Need to know which amp.
Some are a pain if you have to remove the chassis from the case to swap tubes, but even the worst combos I have seen only have 10-12 screws to remove. Also need to know if you have to bias since many amps are cathode biased or are non-adjusable fixed bias. If you do have to bias then some amps have test points that you can bias with a $10 radio shack volt meter.
I have sworn off techs for all but the worst issues. My tech is now charging $85 an hour so it adds up quick. So no it is not worth it unless you need to bias with a special meter.
Ruby el34s and many other brands can be purchased for about $30 online. Sounds like your tech is just about doubling on the price of tubes and estimating a half hour of work which is about right.
PVFan
Fudgeitallologist
Re: Does $90 seem a little steep to re-tube the power section of a 40 watt amp?
$40 for an hour of labor?
People here expect free work or something? Sounds very fair to me. It also sounds like they didn't really go the extra mile while they had the thing open.
Ya get what ya pay for, yadda and etc. I happily pay my techs $85 an hour. They go the extra marathon mile.
$40 for an hour of labor?
People here expect free work or something? Sounds very fair to me. It also sounds like they didn't really go the extra mile while they had the thing open.
Ya get what ya pay for, yadda and etc. I happily pay my techs $85 an hour. They go the extra marathon mile.
