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Can you help me a pick a receiver restoration technician?

W

wweinberg

New Member
I have a Marantz 2600, a Marantz 2500 and a Pioneer SX-1980....all vintage "monster" solid-state receivers.
I have narrowed down my exhaustive search for a qualified, responsible and passionate restoration technician to two individuals, both located in Pennsylvania. John Wargo at Wargo's Electronic Services and Chris Ready at Ready Audio. Both of these gentlemen are highly experienced, technically impressive, extremely affable and informative on the phone and within a few hundred dollars of each other for their estimate. Any opinions, reviews or other suggestions? Thanks in advance!
 
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Chris does a lot of Marantz and is probably one of the best for the 4400. He replaces a lot more than just caps, but you get what you pay for and he will not do only half the job because if something goes wrong later because you didn't go far enough...

He has done a bunch of Pioneers for a friend and a 4400 for me all nice results and quick. It is what he does, Marantz and some others.

I would have done the 4400 but that unit is 50 pounds of parts in a 25 pound bag and just wanted it done and if someone a 20 min ride from me has done about 100 of them, that seems a no brainer.
 
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hi
i live in new cumberland, pa. , harrisburg area. There is a repair place called retro addicts in york, pa. He's a younger guy and seems involved in his work. I haven't used him yet, but give a call.
also, where are the places you mentioned as I want to make a list of possible technicians myself.
 
Reviews?
Well, Blue Shadow up there does some nice work.

I've known Chris for 11 years, have a restored Kenwood, plus about a dozen Pioneers done by him. He turns them around reasonably fast and swings for the fences when getting these going. Last time there 3 beautiful Marantz units were awaiting their owners. I convinced a friend to have his 2280 restored and he now raves about it.
He also isn't that far away.
I have no experience with the other contender
 
Dave1384 said:
Reviews?
Well, Blue Shadow up there does some nice work.

I've known Chris for 11 years, have a restored Kenwood, plus about a dozen Pioneers done by him. He turns them around reasonably fast and swings for the fences when getting these going. Last time there 3 beautiful Marantz units were awaiting their owners. I convinced a friend to have his 2280 restored and he now raves about it.

I have no experience with the other contender
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Thanks!
 
I take my equipment to stereo and video repair company in Southern California. they have been in business since the mid-seventies. They rebuilt my Marantz 2600 and my Pioneer SX 1980 and my Sansui G 33000 and my Technics sa-1000 just to name a few. Within the last 3 years they have rebuilt or repaired over 25 of my receivers and still counting.
 
Blaine Hagstrom up in Washington.Worked on several of my units,great work,reasonable,and quick turnaround. He's an AK member.
 
wweinberg said:
I would prefer the "left coast" since I live in L.A., but I'm open to shipping to anywhere in the USA.
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Doug at Audio Specialties here in PDX does a good job. He gave me a range to get my 2215B right and was closer to the lower end. He gets great reviews, and often when you see vintage stuff on CL you'll see something like, "recently serviced by Doug at Audio Specialties."

Only thing is he has a ton of work (probably because he's so good). I was bummed when he told me 5 weeks and was hoping I'd get a call early (it's my first Marantz and I was Jonesing). Lo and behold, I got the call yesterday at 3 weeks to come pick it up.

https://local.yahoo.com/info-21963569-audio-specialties-limited-portland

douglasrsiegel@gmail.com
 
wweinberg said:
I would prefer the "left coast" since I live in L.A., but I'm open to shipping to anywhere in the USA.
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L.A. area? Take a look at pacificstereo.net in Apple Valley. The guy if obsessive about his work, which is an ideal quality for a restoration specialist. Look at the before and after photos on his website. For repair work, Northridge Electronics in Simi Valley is the absolute best. Tom was a circuit designer so you will be getting the doctor, not the nurse. He does all his own work, which is important because some shops farm out jobs. Always check to see if the owner is the technician. This is very important.
 
tater415 said:
I take my equipment to stereo and video repair company in Southern California. they have been in business since the mid-seventies. They rebuilt my Marantz 2600 and my Pioneer SX 1980 and my Sansui G 33000 and my Technics sa-1000 just to name a few. Within the last 3 years they have rebuilt or repaired over 25 of my receivers and still counting.
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Thank you for your post. . Are you be able to tell me the name of the business and/or some way for me to contact them?
 
Left coast, shoulda said so in the first post.

But as stated Tom at Northridge Electronics is a great tech for service. Don't know about restoration.
Blaine in WA is also well regarded for rebuilds.

Without YOUR location was are just throwing out tech/rebulders names and locations. Glad you added that.

If there isn't a SoCal restorer, Irebuildmarantz is in the Bay Area
 
wweinberg said:
Thank you for your post. . Are you be able to tell me the name of the business and/or some way for me to contact them?
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Stereo and video repair company
909 944 7474
They are working my Fisher 2015 and my Marantz 2385 and my Carver mx150 right now
 
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