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TJrhythm

Feb 13, 2016
5
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
5
I have many guitar player friends who need repair for their amps.I'm well versed in electronics but would like to talk about common problems. Any input would be appreciated.
 

hevans1944

Hop - AC8NS
Jun 21, 2012
4,878
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
4,878
Your biggest problem will be getting paid for your services. How well do you barter? Oh, and welcome to Electronics Point, @TJrhythm!
 

TJrhythm

Feb 13, 2016
5
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
5
Hello, thank you for the welcome and prompt response. My plan is to keep my repairs and advertising small and word-of-mouth. As a drummer i can utilize my position to leverage and meet more locals who may hire me to play gigs.
Is there a good source for schematics and service info ?
 

hevans1944

Hop - AC8NS
Jun 21, 2012
4,878
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
4,878
... Is there a good source for schematics and service info ?
For as long as I can remember, there has been a publishing service, Sams Photofact, that sells service manuals, schematics, etc. for almost every make and model of TV, radio, and phonograph available in the USA. Google that phrase and visit my link. Back when there were still Radio and TV Repair Shops, you could purchase a Sams subscription and get periodic updates when new models were released. Here in Dayton OH there was an electronics parts supplier, Stotts-Friedman, who catered to Radio and TV Repair Shops. They had several file cabinets full of Sams Photofact folders (usually there were several different makes or models in each folder) from which they would sell individual folders... good luck if someone had already purchased the folder you needed, because then it would have to be ordered resulting in several days or weeks delay getting the service information needed to make a repair.

Unlikely as it would seem with the disappearance of mom and pop TV service, along with our "don't fix it, buy a new one" economic model, Sams still exists and is still providing Photofact folders which you can now order on-line, no subscription required. They will also contact manufacturers on your behalf to try to obtain service information for products that don't have a Photofact folder. I haven't used a Photofact folder since the late 1960s, but that is where I would try first to obtain schematics and service info for guitar amps, especially vintage vacuum tube amps. You could of course try to contact the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) yourself to see if they can provide what you need. Good luck with that.
 

TJrhythm

Feb 13, 2016
5
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
5
I remember the Sams Photofact. In the 80's I worked for a TV repair business. I did service calls most of the time, but we had a shop with a couple of benches, some on elevated carts with heavy duty casters. My boss kept an updated file cabinet of Sams, without which we could do nothing.
Thank you for the update.
 

SME

May 23, 2015
1
Joined
May 23, 2015
Messages
1
I repair guitar amplifiers and have no problem getting paid. Do a good job and treat your customer fairly and you will have plenty of work. The internet is a good source for schematics.
 

TJrhythm

Feb 13, 2016
5
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
5
I like you're work ethic. I always go the extra mile for my customers.
 
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