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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Looking For Suitable Amplifier Repair

By Matthew Allen


A lot of valve and solid state amplifiers will now and again develop a fault or require routine inspections. Guitar players, at some point will need to look for a reputable technician to carry out an amplifier repair. There are a few important things to take into account before having work done on these pieces of electrical equipment.

The two types of amp are head units and combos which have one or more built in speakers. The parts needed for this equipment will depend on what kind of unit is being fixed and in some cases the age if it is a vintage model. The combo amps are popular with amateur musicians or bedroom players due to their compact design and fairly low purchase price.

A valve amplifier will need a regular health check to keep it working safely and efficiently. The vacuum tubes will need changing when they are worn and many guitar players will carry spares in their bag. They can be changed in the home or at the venue but you should always have any work done by a qualified engineer to guarantee that it is done correctly.

Solid state amplifiers will also require a regular inspection and a lot of this can be done by the player in their home. Basic faults can be corrected with relative ease using few tools found in most workshops. If the equipment has developed a more serious fault then it is better to have the work done by a local guitar store or professionally trained electrician.

The spares you will need for repairs and servicing can be purchased online or in high street retailers specializing in guitars and accessories. Used components can sometimes be used for some jobs as long as they are of the correct type and have been tested. Using a recycled item is useful if you are on a tight budget and for fixes such as a damaged speaker cone or badly worn switches.

When you are sourcing and buying spare parts there are a few things to think about beforehand. It is advisable to try and use original spares if they are available and many older amps can still be repaired using factory originals. Due to the fairly high value of vintage amps it is recommended that you have the manufacturer or an authorized amp dealer to do the work.

If you are doing the repair in your home there are many instruction manuals or online guides available. As long as you use the correct spares and tools, this can be a cost effective way to carry out your repairs. It is imperative to have all electrical work inspected by an electrician to ensure it conforms to the safety standards required by many clubs.

The costs of repairs will differ depending on what components are needed and the time it takes to complete the job. From a few dollars a simple problem can be fixed but a serious fault will cost a lot more. If you have to send your equipment away, remember that the courier costs and transit insurance will need to be added on to your bill.




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