approx cost for amp "refresh"?

[BloodRose]

my jcm 800 is making alot of crackling noises once I turn it on. Not bad once its hot, but I figure we are headed toward a rework.. Plus the plastic around the input jacks is all chipped and broken away.. Ive never had a tube amp serviced, so anyone have a guess as to what it would cost for jacks and caps and whatever else is normal for an old tube amp? ( aside from tubes, Ive priced those.) Im looking for ball park, I know it will vary.. ALSO, is there anyone that is highly recommended? thanks

[BloodRose]

Really? Nothing?

[gibson175]

doing a re-tube and rebias yourself (even if it means you have to buy a bias probe) is much cheaper, faster and more satisfying than sending it to a tech.You dont even need to open up your amp for that. Changing tubes is just regular maintenance like changing tyres on your car. If that doesnt sort out the crackling then go to the next stage.
If a retube and rebias doesnt fix things then have a look at the filter caps and check them. Yes- they are the big ones that can kill you, but anyone with half a brain and access too google can discharge them safely.
So worst case, you need to buy some new caps and possibly a soldering iron and do it yourself...again really not very difficult and again much cheaper and more satisfying than sending your amp to a tech
Once you have a soldering iron, its equally as simple to replace the jacks yourself. They are only a couple of dollars.
After all that is done you can give yourself a pat on the back for making your amp as good as new, and have the knowledge that you can do a retube/rebias and or cap change yourself in the future.

[Strat111]

Who sells Bias probes and how does one go about re-biasing? I used to have an amp tech do all my work, but he retired, so this is something of interest to me.

[TwilightOdyssey]

I paid $600 back in '05 when I had my 800 recapped and had a small power supply mod done by Harry Kolbe ...

[glassman]

A 100w will cost more than a 50w; in my shop it could be anywhere from $180 to $320 for a full cap job, cleaning and setup, depending on output and which model 800. If someone else has been in there and screwed things up, it will cost more. Lots of variables...I never shoot a price until I've tested the amp and had a look inside.

[MetalManiac]

my jcm 800 is making alot of crackling noises once I turn it on. Not bad once its hot, but I figure we are headed toward a rework.. Plus the plastic around the input jacks is all chipped and broken away.. Ive never had a tube amp serviced, so anyone have a guess as to what it would cost for jacks and caps and whatever else is normal for an old tube amp? ( aside from tubes, Ive priced those.) Im looking for ball park, I know it will vary.. ALSO, is there anyone that is highly recommended? thanks

dude, don't take this lightly. DO your homework. Would you take your baby into someone you aren't sure about?
Its gonna run at roughly 2 bills for a recap and to replace the jacks, which is what you need. Buy the set of new JJ tubes off MF, and take them to the tech. you are looking at between 200-300 all told after the new tubes

[gibson175]

Who sells Bias probes and how does one go about re-biasing? I used to have an amp tech do all my work, but he retired, so this is something of interest to me.

plenty of bias probes on ebay to choose from. It really is easy to do it with one of them.

[zzmoore]

Are you in need of a tech.?
We may be able to recommend a good one, but I am not sure how close they might be to "Tween A Rock And A Hard Place"........

[ItsaBass]

Not counting the cost of tubes, I usually pay between $75 and $150 to get an amp "refreshed." Amps with more parts are more expensive, obviously. The $150 I spent was on my Ampeg V4 (4x6L6-sized power tubes and 7 pre-amp tubes, a few of them oddballs). The low end is for 2xEL84 amps and the like.

[ArtieToo]

Hey BR . . . let me toss this thought out there. Didn't you used to go to Don's pawn shop on Blanding? Do you remember Buddy Scott? (Tall, geriatric looking ex-hippie.) Buddy is one of Jax's premier guitar luthiers. I've partnered with him to do his electronics work, including amp repair. I have 4 decades worth of electronics repair, but little "tube" experience per se.

I'd be happy to take a look at your amp. Jack and cap replacement is simple. We can talk about tube "stuff" with Buddy. For you . . . I'd work cheap.
6-pak cheap.

PM me.

Artie

[Strat111]

Artie, I remember Don's pawn shop on Blanding Blvd. In fact I bought my old Kramer & my Shure wireless from there. I went back a while back & it wasn't there anymore. What happened to it? Did it close down? Could you PM me with yours and Buddy Scott's info. I'd like to have a reliable luthier handy, as I like my necks scalloped and the person who used to do my scalloping (Ronnie Griffin in Waycross GA) seems to be having health & family issues from what I have been told. I also would be interested in an amp guru (tube amps), as my previous one (Bill Ferris) retired.

[BloodRose]

A 100w will cost more than a 50w; in my shop it could be anywhere from $180 to $320 for a full cap job, cleaning and setup, depending on output and which model 800. If someone else has been in there and screwed things up, it will cost more. Lots of variables...I never shoot a price until I've tested the amp and had a look inside.

mine is 50w and has been modded by a reputable tech. Has worked fine for years since that work, so this wouldnt be fixing a hack job, just taking care of aging.. I understand about looking first.. I wasnt looking for a Quote, just a ball park, so I know what I need to save for. I dont want to send it out to someone, have them say it'll be $500 and only have $150 saved and have to say, ok, send it back to me, or hold it for 4 months...


Metal maniac, Im not taking it lightly. Thats why Im asking. trying to get a realistic price and not looking for lowest bidder and also see if anyone recommends a reputable provider.

Artie, Ill clean out some space and hit you up later. Yeah, I remember him.. Bummer that Don retired..

ZZmore, Im in JAX FL
I need tubes for one amp and my other is making crackling sounds.. Ironically, it did cause me to drag out the old PV ultra plus that I had sealed up in plastic and that beastie ROARED !!! Brought a BIG smile to my face..
Thanks for the input everyone!

[Etuoo33]

Hey BR . . . let me toss this thought out there. Didn't you used to go to Don's pawn shop on Blanding? Do you remember Buddy Scott? (Tall, geriatric looking ex-hippie.) Buddy is one of Jax's premier guitar luthiers. I've partnered with him to do his electronics work, including amp repair. I have 4 decades worth of electronics repair, but little "tube" experience per se.

I'd be happy to take a look at your amp. Jack and cap replacement is simple. We can talk about tube "stuff" with Buddy. For you . . . I'd work cheap.
6-pak cheap.

PM me.

Artie

I live out in Melrose 25 miles south, and if your moniker is true I might need your technical expertise. I have a Peavey classic 30 that needs some TLC. No reverb and other minor issues, would you be interested in taking a look?

[Powdered Toast Man]

I think it depends on how much work the amp ends up needing. My 73 SF Champ was acting up recently and my tech gave me some options based on what he found in there. I ended up getting a full cap job and restore to original spec (it had been molested pretty bad by some previous owner) and it ran me about $200.

[schecterplayer]

Mesa Boogie quoted me $175 recently for a full cap job on a 60 watt MK II. In local shops the price seems to be roughly in line with that or a little more. I wouldn't pay more than about $250 unless you amp had been modified or has more wrong with it than just jacks and capacitors.

[Stratman]

Send it to Jeff Seal, he is a member of this forum and without doubt one of the best.

[Lewguitar]

The do-it-yourself thing about changing your own filter caps was bad advice, IMO.

I sure would not go in there and do it myself if I've never even had a tube amp serviced and if I didn't have enough experience to already own a soldering tool.

Changing pre-amp tubes? Any kid should be able to do that.

Changing power tubes and biasing them yourself without any prior electronics experience or knowledge? I dunno...