Repairs

What will it cost to fix my busted amp or pedal? 

• Pedal repair bench fee: $75

• Amp/synth repair bench fee: $125

• Small amp recapping: $200+

• Large amp recapping: $300+

• Amp restoration: $500+

• Quick fix (30 minutes or less): $50

Bench fees cover the first 90 minutes of labor for disassembly and diagnosis before providing an estimate for the total repair, after which labor is billed at $100/hr. In some cases the bench fee may cover the entire repair. If it looks like the repair will exceed the estimate by more than $25 you will be contacted before proceeding. 

How long will it take?

Repairs usually have a 6-8 week turnaround time. In many cases this may be shorter, but in others it may be longer if hard-to-find parts are needed or if we’re dealing with an intermittent issue. If you need your repair turned around within a specific timeframe please let me know as early as possible.

Can my gear be repaired?

Probably, but not always. For most analog equipment the chances for successful repair are fairly high, but in newer gear that uses ultra small SMD components or microprocessors (modelers, digital delay, anything with a USB port on it) the boards are designed to be replaced instead of reworked. The proprietary components and coding make it impossible for anyone outside the original factory to dig into it. If it’s something like a bad jack or switch, that can usually be handled, but other issues may be beyond the scope of what I can do in my shop.

In the case of some vintage synthesizers and analog delay pedals, chips were used that are no longer being made. Unfortunately the primary solution in this case is to wait until a replacement pops up on eBay, pay $100-200, and hope that that chip isn’t prematurely fried.

Lack of service documentation can also affect whether a piece of gear can be revived. Fixing something without a schematic is a bit like driving with your eyes closed. Reverse engineering a circuit can be time-consuming and sometimes impossible. This is taken into account during initial inspection.

Is it worth it to get my pedal, amp, or synth repaired?

Typically yes, but also it depends. The benefit of repairing and reviving a piece of equipment is that it not only saves something from going into the landfill, but it also gives your gear a chance to be thoroughly checked out and tested by a technician before being put back into use.

For most tube amps, analog synthesizers, and vintage pedals, the cost to repair far outweighs the cost of replacement, especially since replacements are often not readily available. However in the case of newer solid state amps and inexpensive pedals, the cost to repair may be close to or in excess of the cost to buy a new one. I do my best to be honest and up front in these situations, but ultimately the owner must decide how they want to proceed.

Please get in touch via the repair inquiry form to share what’s going on and help us set up a time to get your gear back in action.