Friday 8 April 2016

Looking For A Guitar Amp Repair

By Laura Wallace


A lot of valve and solid state amplifiers will now and again develop a fault or require routine inspections or servicing. Electric guitar players will at some point need to find a company to carry out a guitar amp repair. There are a few things to take into consideration before having any work done on this important piece of equipment.

There are many variations in models and each of these will be have different functions and parts needed when components fail. A standard head is a standalone amplifier that requires separate speakers to enable the sound to be heard by the audience. The other type is a combination with an integrated speaker built into the cabinet and these are more common for home use due to their compact size and price tag.

A vacuum tube amplifier will probably need more maintenance than a transistor model. Spare tubes are often carried by gigging musicians and will need to be replaced if they are not performing properly. Any work that you have done on these amps should be carried out by a technician due to the voltage and to ensure the work is guaranteed.

If your amplifier is a solid state model, regular servicing is still recommended and some of the little jobs can be carried out in the home workshop. Small repairs can be done in little time with only a few basic electrical tools such as a soldering iron and the correct screw drivers. More severe faults may need the attention of a technician and most guitar stores will offer a repair service.

Spares required for repairs and routine servicing can either be found on the net or in high street retailers specializing in guitars. Used parts can be useful for some jobs as long as they are of the correct type and have been tested. Using recycled spares is useful if you are on a limited budget and for common fixes such as a damaged speakers or badly worn controls.

Factory made parts should always be used when possible particularly on vintage or valuable amplifiers. Using manufacturer components will ensure that the value is not affected and that they will be the same as the ones fitted when new. Many makers and authorized stores will carry old parts for vintage models and these should be used. The amp builders are also the better choice for carrying out the repairs due to their specialist knowledge on models they have made.

For the amateur repairer there are various publications available with detailed diagrams and also step by step videos that can be purchased. After making certain that the correct spares have been sourced and the appropriate tools you can begin the repairs. Always have your work examined by a qualified engineer as many music clubs will need recognized certificates for any equipment used at their venue.

The price of repairs will vary greatly depending on the model, age and work needed. Ranging from just a few dollars for a small repair to thousands for a more serious and major job. Using and online firm to do your repairs can often work out cheaper but courier costs may have to be factored in to your budget.




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