2. amps-preamps
  3. 1323446047

Servicing amplifiers from very small companies?

A lot of us buy amps/preamps from what are virtually one-person operations. In general, can these be serviced if the company shuts down? How easy is it for a skilled service shop to deal with a unit with which they are not familiar, even assuming all the parts are available (and is even this a good assumption?).

(I don't even want to ask about speakers or CD players/transports, as I don't think the prospects are good in those areas, but I was hoping prospects were brighter with electronics with no moving parts.)

I know this question has come up with Shindo in relation to parts, but I thought I would expand it.
rgs92
rgs92 OP
974 posts
 
Thanks Swampwalker. I originally wanted to title the thread "What to do with paperweights?" but I like 'Boat Anchor' better.
raquel
841 posts
 
If a tech has a schematic and replacement parts are available, it can generally be fixed.

Swampwalker is correct - tube gear is generally easier, and it's important to point out that when you retube a piece of tube gear, you largely have a new piece of equipment.

A problem that some solid-state amp manufacturers would rather not acknowledge is output transistors going out of production - "boat anchor" is exactly what you'd have if you lose an output transistor in such a case.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,936 posts
 
Not only that, but there are a lot of bootleg copies of transistors on the market these days. So replacement power transistors have to come from a very reputable source.
rgs92 OP
974 posts
 
Well that's fine, as I like tube preamps best and that's what I use. By the way, I heard the Atmasphere amps driving the TAD monitors at Axpona NYC last June -- really compelling sound going on there.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,483 posts
 
I would guess that they can be made to work, but not as well as the company that originates them. I have been burned too many times to buy from small companies.
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