so, you want that amp fixed but haven't a clue where to turn.
Well look no farther. I do work on vintage hi-fi amplifiers and preamps. Let me say this first.
I do not make circuit modifications to the amps other then to make them easier to set bias on or to make them
more reliable and safe. As for adding all kinds of trick whooptido regulators and the latest Whosiwhatsit Yabozo
mods to make your classic into something it was never intended to be, you may as well look elsewhere. But if you
want your amp restored to original working condition I can do it. Most of these old hi fi veterans are pushing over
40 years old. Obviously some parts will be drifting in value and need to be replaced if the poor thing is ever going to
perform as it did when tail fins and doowop were king! I do not believe in replacing just the minimum to get it working.
A tube amplifier, preamp or receiver generally needs certain components replaced even if they check good or are
working fine for the moment. The reason is that most of these old units have probably been collecting dust in closets
and attics for several years. In that time, capacitors have dried out, resistors have drifted in value, controls and jacks
have corroded. All this stuff needs attention. One of the major headaches when dealing with vintage hi-fi components
is trying to find someone to work on the unit who is competent, who actually likes the stuff and is willing to restore it,
and who is not going to rip you off. In general, the biggest problem is just finding someone to work on the unit.
In my case, I work on these old amps because I like them. I'll admit that certain units like the Scott 399 tend
to make me cringe due to how cramped the chassis is, especially the power supply, but I still like the units. Heck,
as I stated on another page, I have some 23 tube systems set up at my house. Most all were total wrecks that
were rescued from being tossed by their previous owners. Anyway, I do this work on a first come first serve basis.
Also I do not take on more then I can handle. So, if I am up to my neck in amps, I'll let you know. If I know I can
get right on your unit, I'll tell you so. It is rare that I need to keep an amp any longer then a couple weeks. I can generally
rebuild a sad but working Scott 299 in a couple nights. Heck, I restored a dead 299 that needed two output
transformers and a full electronic restoration as well as all new power supply capacitors in three evenings.
I like to test them for at least 10 hours before shipping. What I initially do is open the amp up, try to get it to power up
with my variac, and then let the owner know what I feel it will need. I'm pretty good with my estimates. Then if
you want it done, I'll restore the unit. If you feel it is going to be too much of an investment for you, then all I ask
is that you send a check for return shipping and we can part friends.
So, if you are up against a wall, your wife is telling you that you have 1 month to get that hi fi relic to either
sing for it's lunch or get tossed out with last night's leftovers, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.
You can e-mail me at: