Q. Can you ‘restore’ my vintage Marantz 2270 receiver?
A. Well, contrary to what you might have read on the interweb, ‘restoration’ is not possible, but I will repair it and bring it up to good operational performance**… (Please take into consideration it’s 40 years old). As many critical components and cosmetic parts are no longer available, ‘complete restoration’ is impossible, regardless of what you read on the interweb.
** My goal and skills focus on your specific stereo component, the electronic and physical condition of your stereo and what it really needs or not. I then provide you an accurate, informed recommendation about what is needed and options. It’s then your decision on what repairs or specific work is done.
Q. I have some old speakers… Advent… I think. They were my parents. Are they worth fixing?
A. Maybe… Based on the model and condition, which we can discuss over the phone when you call, most speakers can be repaired to near-new audio performance. Maybe the woofers just need re-foaming? (common for older speakers). Most Advents are great speakers!
Q. My Fender Blues DeVille guitar amp isn’t sounding right. I depend on it and need it fixed! It loses power sometimes and I’ve had the tubes tested. Can you help?
A. Yes! Fender amps are among my specialties. As I worked on many makes and models, I am familiar with common symptoms/problems. This allows me to fix a problem so it won’t reoccur. The symptom on your DeVille is somewhat common and there is a specific repair which will fix it …and keep it fixed!
Q. I’ve read that vinyl is making a comeback so I hooked up my old Dual turntable to listen to some albums. The light comes on and the record spins, but the tonearm won’t move at all. It also makes a hum through the speakers…. I’m not sure about the needle. Do you fix turntables?
A. Indeed! As I’ve been a tech since the 70’s, I’ve repaired literally thousands (!) of turntables and ‘vintage’ gear. Your Dual which has most likely suffered from being in storage since forever… It needs the dried grease removed from multiple mechanisms under the deck and re-lubrication; needs the motor and idler or belt checked; needs the stylus checked… etc.. The good news is I can likely can make it work ‘like new’… (well, almost).
Q. I have a Bose CD/Radio and it stopped working. Do you repair Bose?
A. Glad to take a look at it, but after being a Bose authorized servicer for 10+ years, Audio Doctor, along with all other repair shops in the states were stripped (by Bose!) of access to Bose parts, service information or tech repair help. In Bose’s on-going, highly effective and clever business model, which has profited from some of the best marketing strategies in all of consumer electronics (my humble opinion), this change in the customer service model now allows Bose to obstruct customers from having their units fixed locally and instead, sell them another, newer one for more profit!! Ship it to them and they’ll take care of you for a large fee. Be careful if you call Bose and hang tightly onto your wallet as you do. Their phone sales people are very skilled….
I DO fix most models of Bose speakers…just not their electronics.
Q. My Peavey bass amp is blowing fuses. I tried replacing the fuse, but it still won’t work. I read on the internet there’s simple a part that needs replacement. Can you help?
A. Absolutely! The bench charge of $79 will cover my time to get your amp on the bench, remove the head from the cabinet, check the speaker and look into the reason the fuse blows. Depending on what actually happened to cause the fuse to blow (failure in the power supply, preamp, power amp, etc…or maybe liquid residue from that beer that got spilled inside), determine part(s) needed and the time it will take to remove/re-assemble any circuit boards, panels, set bias, etc., I can then tell you the cost for the specific repair and to fix any other issues it might have (noisy controls, loose knobs, lamps out, etc.) The decision on how much or little you want fixed is yours!
Q. I bought a cool, vintage Pioneer stereo at a garage sale. It lights up but I can’t seem to get any sound from it. I don’t have much money into it. Can you take a quick look at it to tell me if it’s worth fixing?
A. Yes, that’s what the $79 bench charge includes and covers. I don’t work for free (anymore). Just like calling the doctor, and saying you have a sore knee…. and want to know what the cost will be, you have to go in be diagnosed so a diagnosis/recommendation/cost estimate can be made. I don’t do ‘free estimates’…. nor does your doctor.
Q. I have a Technics SL1200MKII DJ turntable which I recently bought used on eBay. It’s been well cared for. One of the audio channels intermittently hums or cuts out. How much will it cost to fix?
A. Like my answer to the above question, you’d need to bring it in. It might be the phono cables, headshell wiring, cartridge, or hopefully not, the tonearm wiring. My main concern is you bought it on eBay. Unfortunately, that’s a major RED FLAG to me based on customer’s equipment brought in for repair after they bought it on eBay…. That issue will be considered when I make the diagnosis and repair recommendation.
Q. My Marshall Lead 100 guitar amp head works fine, but after it’s been on for an hour or more, it either develops a loud hum or makes a static noise. I usually run just one cabinet. Do you fix these?
A. Yes. I repair most all models of Marshall amps. Some of their newer units which use digital switching many need factory service, but most failures are not related to the digital circuits and as such, I can do most repairs. All tubes are tested, rated and output tube bias is set to factory spec.
Q. My Klipsch powered subwoofer in my home theater stopped working the other day. The red light is on, but I can’t get any sound. Do you have any idea what might be wrong?
A. Yes! There’s a number or reasons for the symptom you describe. Other than pilot error (turning the subwoofer output on the AV receiver off), the ‘amp plate’ has to be removed from the subwoofer cabinet to access the electronics to determine what’s wrong or to test the woofer itself. NOTE: Some subwoofer manufacturers do not provide any parts or service on their products. Instead, they provide a new or remanufactured ‘amp plate’ in the event one fails. This typically involves shipping the faulty amp plate back to the manufacturer for replacement.