Tech availability

[tarior]

When a unit comes in that I know well, I give two main options: proper restoration for $X, or a crucial service and components refurbish that typically costs about half. About 2/3 of people opt for the Full Monte. It's a better value in the long run.

No matter what, I make it policy that a unit either gets fixed properly, or it doesn't get fixed. A Pioneer (for example) will not leave the shop with a single 2SA725/726/750 transistor, or any other known troublemaker, in it no matter what the original complaint. I hate working on anything repeatedly.

 

[gadget73]

Learn to do it yourself. Thats what I did. This was 20 odd years ago when I was playing with tube tabletop radios. Nobody would work on them so I read books and somewhat figured it out. Then you practice and break stuff. Eventually you'll fix more than you break.

 

[tarior]

Eventually you'll even get to the point where you can go back and fix everything that you broke or totally couldn't figure out previously.

 

[DaveVoorhis]

Eventually you'll be able to wave your hands over the gear and it'll fix itself.



...
Well, no, you won't. But you will be able to fix it yourself.

 

[tater415]

Universities and colleges still teach relevant electronics skills and theory, but interest in vintage gear is primarily driven by nostalgia and fashion so it's inherently self-limiting. As us nostalgists die off, and as fashion changes, there will be -- and already are -- few opportunities even for techs interested in vintage gear to make a living repairing it, and that means limited (and expensive) repair opportunities for the relatively small number of people that will join the vintage audio hobby in the future.

Depending on where you are and what you can do, that may represent a problem, or it may represent an opportunity.

You're never too old to learn as long as you're committed to learning, but as I discovered in my mid-40s, the biggest obstacle to doing the kind of electronics work I did as a teenager was my aging eyesight. I now wear varifocals, which are necessary but annoying. Multiple bench lights and a magnifier are necessary to work on modern gear, and are helpful with vintage solid-state gear. Tube/valve gear I can still see from across the room.

I had the same problem you have with my eyesight . I finally give in and went and got Lasik eye surgery one of the best decisions I ever made

 

[quiet]

Ok. I will start with a help request for my Pioneer SM-B 201 in the tube gear section. Work very good, warms up, distorts.

 

[Big Harry]

I agree with ConradH, repairing vintage equipment is a labor of love as there isn't much money in it compared to the time expended to do the repairs. I'm now retired, but still do repairs and restorations to vintage audio equipment, old radios and test equipment because I have a well equipped bench and the knowledge to do competent repairs. I do it because I want to not because I have to to make a living.

 

[z-adamson]

Yup, a labor of love.

Too much work, too much investment, few folks willing to pay. This is a hobby, not a career. Kinda like the old ladies that quilt. Hours and hours of work and investment for something that can't be sold for a price that fairly compensates. 99 out of 100 quilters do it for hobby. The other 1 actually makes money.

There are 2 shops here in Portland Oregon area that seem to stay busy. I would not send them any work unless held st gunpoint though.

 

[James Deeley]

Bumping this thread as I see Portland came up a couple of times. I recently purchased a Yamaha ca-2010 that I believe is all original. It sounds fantastic and looks beautiful and I would like it to remain that way so I’m considering a full restoration. If you don’t recommend the shops in Portland where would you recommend? Thanks!

Yup, a labor of love.

Too much work, too much investment, few folks willing to pay. This is a hobby, not a career. Kinda like the old ladies that quilt. Hours and hours of work and investment for something that can't be sold for a price that fairly compensates. 99 out of 100 quilters do it for hobby. The other 1 actually makes money.

There are 2 shops here in Portland Oregon area that seem to stay busy. I would not send them any work unless held st gunpoint though.

 

[ScottFan355]

When a unit comes in that I know well, I give two main options: proper restoration for $X, or a crucial service and components refurbish that typically costs about half. About 2/3 of people opt for the Full Monte. It's a better value in the long run.

No matter what, I make it policy that a unit either gets fixed properly, or it doesn't get fixed. A Pioneer (for example) will not leave the shop with a single 2SA725/726/750 transistor, or any other known troublemaker, in it no matter what the original complaint. I hate working on anything repeatedly.

My man

 

[quiet]

I finally fixed my first SS unit. The Pioneer tube unit is fixed but it doesn't count because I got so much help it's questionable as to just who fixed it, me or AudioKarma.
I'm talking about a Grundig SS receiver that came DOA this very week.

First I gave it a thorough visual inspection during which time I spotted a tiny 3/8 inch gap in the circuit board. Then using my best professional heat control technics I welded it up after performing a reconstruction of the board with cyanoacrylate reconstruction compound.
I performed this delicate and very difficult procedure in a record fast 4 hours with no assistant on hand.
I am now an expert electronics technician ready to give professional advice to anyone who may need it.

 

[Tech12]

Know that it just not what I want to hear. I wanted to hear that the rise in vintage popularity is attracting new techs. But no. So it appears the only units to be properly repaired will be the choice ones worth the big tech fees. Well, I have a Heath oscilloscope. I plan to get a good multimeter, signal generator, power supply, solder station, vari-arc... What else am I going to need just to stand a chance? At 60 am I to old to learn?

Hi: Your never too old to learn but sadly nowadays there are no courses left, when I started in the trade in the Mid 70's there were plenty of courses to be had but they've all long gone. New Techs coming into the industry will be lucky to find training in modern technology never mind the vintage stuff that makes us smile.
If you're interested in learning Valve technology, your best bet would would be to get hold of the excellent books by Eugene Trundle and Tony Thompson. Definitely well worth reading.
Good luck with your learning.

Oop's sorry, only just noticed your in the USA. May be different books available to you.

Andy

 

[quiet]

Know that I've started the journey it remains to be seen just how much damage I do before it turns to the good.

 

[Tech12]

Hey quiet: When your starting out take things slowly & don't be in too much of a rush to dive in. If there's something your not sure of, take a step back and maybe grab a coffee. I still do that now, when something has me scratching my head. Maybe just walk away for a while & come back with a clearer mind, it's surprising how many times you'll take a fresh look and say ***??*** I should have spotted that.
As for test equipment, don't be in a big hurry to dive in and buy loads. I always tell people to buy 1 instrument at a time & learn to use it well before getting the next, the most important being a good multimeter.
Something like the Simpson 260 or Avo 8 being top examples of multimeter ideally suited to vintage equipment, I still have an Avo 8 on my bench to this day & wouldn't be without it.
In reality a large proportion of all faults can be found with just a multimeter and some logical thought.

 

[quiet]

I've purchased about 30 1965/1975 receivers off ebay in the last year. All but 4 came plug and play (for now). The four that did not come 100% do work very well and sound great with issues.
All the sellers made good right away but none wanted to pay to return the units. These are the candidates for recovery efforts. What are my chances? Or should I ask they're chances? They are as follows.

1965 Sansui TR-707A ----This is the one that interest me the most.
R ch hiss @ 0 volume,
R ch hum @ 0 volume.
All functions, all the time, gets no louder with volume increase.

1965 Harmon Kardon SR-900
Exploded large cap 5 minuets after first power up but continued to play well until blowing main fuse 5 seconds later. I was surprised how long it can take to find the power button. .

1965 Lafayette LR 900-T
Weak r ch

1965 Kenwood TH-60
Weak left ch
hum both chs @ 0 volume, gets no louder with volume increase.

 

[432HzBob]

I have a 1979 Luxman receiver I want to send out to a good repair shop. Hard to find. Who do I trust?
I know something about soldering and caps and what not but she needs a true pro to do it right.
I fried something inside but am sure it can be fixed and made even better,
I am willing to sell alot of other lesser amplifiers to get this one unit running beautifully again.
It's a shame it's hard to find a good tech these days but I understand.
It's a true skill repairing electronics and the equipment an time involved in doing it right.
Skilled work like that isn;t and shouldn;t be dirt cheap.
When I was a kid in the 80's, most techs were trained well in the military, usually radio guys from the Navy or AF.
Those old timers did indeed know their stuff.
Any tips for a good shop around here?
I'll trade a perfect shape, but non working, (blown something inside) SX-950 straight across to have my Lux recapped and restored.
Thanks AK-ers and God Bless the Techs who keep this great old stuff running!!

 

[quiet]

Does your Lux have any unobtaniam parts inside?

 

[Tech12]

Hi quiet: Did you bring the Harmon up on a Variac Or through a dim bulb tester ?. You should never bring vintage gear straight to mains, it can often end in tears.
If I was teaching someone then this is the sort of fault I'd start them with, normally relatively easy to figure out what went wrong & repair the problems and once completed successfully will give you the confidence to go on to something else.
First thing you need to do is get a copy of the Schematic, grab a tea or coffee and have a study of the PSU section.

 

[quiet]

Nope , the seller said it was just tested and ready to go.

 

[432HzBob]

Does your Lux have any unobtaniam parts inside?

No, it's a R-1120A, not the R-1120 which I read has strange OP chips.
But this I believe is more rectifier/power supply oriented.
Blows the main 7amp fuse but not any of the other 6 fuses dedicated to other things in there.
I'll find whatever it needs even if I have to fly to Asia like Rob't Deniro did in the Deer Hunter to rescue Christopher Walken.
...to find the parts....
It's all there. I want badly to get the thing working again.
I want it rebuilt bulletproof over-engineered for the next 40 years.