Basic service / Repair
Restoration
Mods and custom builds
Rates
$65 bench fee – includes first hour of work, bias, cleaning pots, tightening hardware, and oscilloscope confirmation of proper output/ clean sine wave – fee reduced for very simple fixes (e.g. bad tube)
$80 for every hour after the first up to $425 max labor fee
$50 to bias output tubes – same-day and mobile-service available (fixed bias only)
Full restorations and new builds negotiated at a fixed price depending on project
Costs of common repairs and modifications:
~ $140 for filter caps in a reissue Fender Hot Rod / Blues series, reissue Fender, or similar modern amp.
~ $240-$300 for full electrolytic recap + grounded power cable for 20-100w amps (i.e. Deluxe through Twin Reverb, Vox AC30, most Marshalls) – reservoir, filter, bias, cathode bypass caps and associated resistors
~ $140 for addition of post-phase-inverter master volume (non-invasive using extra speaker jack, input jack, etc.)
~$350-$425 for complete overhaul of a vintage amp – all electrolytics, new pots / resistors / signal caps / wiring as needed, cleaning of chassis and circuit board, new power cord
(Extra charge added for Mesa, vintage Vox, and other select amps. Costs may vary based on the needs of the individual amp)
Other services:
$50-100 replace grill cloth (does not include materials but I can order your preferred grill cloth)
$20 for same-day speaker swap and wiring
I do work on pedals as well. In reality, most pedals that retail for < $200 often meet diminishing returns quickly (i.e. you may as well buy a new pedal). But if you have a known, simple issue (dirty / broken pots, broken switch / jack) or need a vintage pedal repaired, I’ll be glad to help.
$0–40 for consultation / valuation of vintage amplifiers
Buying a vintage amp or speaker? I am an expert in vintage Fender, Vox, and Jensen speakers (among others) and know the market for both player’s- and collector’s-grade amps. Often, sellers on Reverb, E-bay, and Craigslist ask a premium for amps that have ugly mods, swapped signal caps, non-original components (output transformers, speakers, etc.) or mismatched cabs and chassis. I can help you evaluate an amp honestly either locally in-person ($40) or via an online listing (free! email me).