It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:35 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:12 am
Posts: 19
I would like to have the amp I posted pictures of a few days ago looked over by a good tech. Who would you guys trust with a vintage amp? Recommendations please.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:51 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
Where do you live?...and really,how does it sound?
There are things that need replacing like filter caps,but what you need to do is find where the pros go in your area...the guys who make a living with their gear and then research that before letting some wannabe "tech" open it up.
Just sit back and not rush into anything,a great amp tech who knows what he is doing will not generally do a whole overhaul,but in trying to preserve the vintage tone,work with the owner and replace what needs to be and tweak the rest.
I'm at work and don't have the link,but will later...but look at Nashville Amp Service...Todd Sharp is the owner and is also on the Tone Quest Report site with articles and advice....they are highly recommended in the Nashville area....just take a look and read what they have to say on this subject.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 6:55 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
here ya go....
http://amprepair.com/index.htm


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:17 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:12 am
Posts: 19
I live in Ohio near Cleveland but don't mind shipping if I know I am sending it to someone who is really good.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:28 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Rebelsoul wrote:
Just sit back and not rush into anything,a great amp tech who knows what he is doing will not generally do a whole overhaul,but in trying to preserve the vintage tone,work with the owner and replace what needs to be and tweak the rest.


+1

Find yourself some aging geezer with a hole-in-the-wall shop who understands the tweed chassis architecture, still calls caps "condensers", and knows the differences between a paper-interleaved Triad tranny and a Schumacher.

Best of luck

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:03 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:38 am
Posts: 4333
Location: Tennessee
Race66 wrote:
I live in Ohio near Cleveland but don't mind shipping if I know I am sending it to someone who is really good.

Yep,like Arjay mentioned,look around and see who is the best in your area...there will be somebody who knows their stuff,and usually it's a person who has done it for a long time.
What you have is an excellent speciman of a tweed amp...from the looks of it,there won't be a lot of major repairs,sometimes the old components that have drifted from spec somewhat give that vintage tone that will be lost if everything is replaced,sure,it will be to spec,but will it sound as good?
Vintage tubes amps are a class all their own,and being the owner of one just means you're the current caretaker....that amp is music history,and you don't want to ruin what you have there.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:45 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Rebelsoul wrote:
that amp is music history,and you don't want to ruin what you have there.


Absolutely!!!

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 58 Harvard amp
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 10:54 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:29 pm
Posts: 614
Location: SW Ohio
Race66 wrote:
I live in Ohio near Cleveland but don't mind shipping if I know I am sending it to someone who is really good.


Just go to the local vintage shop. Ask them who does their work. Let me assure you they don't just let anyone work on their amps. That's how I found my amp tech. And he's a guy that works out of his basement and literally used by everyone.

Here in Dayton - I use http://chrisivanaudio.com/

Just googling "vintage guitars cleveland" - seems Heights Guitars gets good reviews.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: