UK: Amp Tech Recommendations

Just like the thread in Electrics for our guitar tech recomendations, I thought I'd kick off a 2nd thread for Amp tech recommendations in the UK so we have a knowledge base:

Please post your recommendations in the thread and I will update the first post once a day (or more less dependant on how busy the thread gets). I'll kick off:

Henk Phillipsen - Horsham, West Sussex
Works out of www.horshammusic.co.uk
07746 245452

Carries out repairs, services and modifications. Top bloke, cheap rates and great for a chat about the 70 odd amplifiers he owns including some very rare, old amps

Also repairs guitars and ukelele's

(as recommended by Fastboy and Myranda Rose)

Dave Ball - Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Old school (as in time served Rediffusion apprentice etc) repairer in Nottingham
0115 9113964

Never fails to find the fault, never overcharges.
(as recommended by hywelg)

Electronic Music Services - Southend-On-Sea, Essex
http://www.electronicmusicservices.co.uk/
01702 613172

Great prices. I have also heard these guys would make a completely new circuit if an original circuit was knackered..

(as recommended by Archer)

John Chambers - Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
http://www.chambonino.com/

Used him twice, very good, not expensive but always has a lot of work on so may be difficult if you need a very fast fix, he is very accomodating though so call anyway.

(as recommended by relic245)

Dundee/East Scotland

Bluebell Audio - Dundee / East Scotland
http://www.bluebellaudio.com/

His work is good, fault diagnosis, repair etc. Particularly with valve amps, although has also repaired a couple of pedals for me too. Reasonably priced too. Also has a good stock of valves/spares/components. Will source unusual/obsolete parts for vintage gear if he's repairing. Tends to be busy, so don't expect repairs done while you wait!

(as recommended by Stage Struck)

Rainbow Music - Dundee / East Scotland
http://www.rainbowmusiconline.co.uk

Have used them a couple of times for repairs, shop based, his work is reliable. Reasonably priced as far as shop techs go.

(as recommended by Stage Struck)

Malcolm Hine - Edmonton, North London
http://www.mphguitars.co.uk/home.html

Top bloke with many years experience, formerly of Andy's on Denmark Street now doing his own thing.

(as recommended by JCA2550)

Shane Dolman - Brimingham, West Midlands
07763-127166 or shane_dolman@yahoo.com

Accredited London Power PowerScaling installer. Plays guitar in Free tribute band Free At Last. Good guy.

(as recommended by hywelg)


EDIT - Mods, can we make this and the guitar tech recommendations "sticky"?

Old school (as in time served Rediffusion apprentice etc) repairer in Nottingham

Dave Ball 0115 9113964. Never fails to find the fault, never overcharges. He also fixed the powersupply pcb on my Hewlett Packard A1 plotter..... he is versatile.

Brimingham area

Shane Dolman. 07763-127166 shane_dolman@yahoo.com

Accredited London Power PowerScaling installer. Plays guitar in Free tribute band Free At Last. Good guy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hywelg

Edit the edit my man....!

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Edited :)

This one is a moan: I used a guy in Stone in Staffordshire who is supposed to be top notch (and expensive). I took a tubeworks chassis to him with the circuit diagram, being a chassis he didn't have to strip down an amp or combo - just remove the pcb. He repaired tha fault, which was a couple of transistors - not output transistors and that cost £70. A lot of money but I knew he was expensive but good.

However: when I got the amp back I discovered that most of the pots were knackered to the point of being unusable so I had to strip the amp myslef and replace the pots.

Wouldn't you think some one charging that amount of money would have contacted me about the pots before putting the pcb back into the chassis?

The morale is make sure you know what you're paying for before getting work done!

Electronic Music Services - http://www.electronicmusicservices.co.uk/
01702 613172
Great prices. I have also heard these guys would make a completely new circuit if an original circuit was knackered..

John Chambers Nottingham.

http://www.chambonino.com/

Used him twice, very good, not expensive but always has a lot of work on so may be difficult if you need a very fast fix, he is very accomodating though so call anyway.

Dundee/East Scotland

Bluebell Audio - http://www.bluebellaudio.com/ his work is good, fault diagnosis, repair etc. Particularly with valve amps, although has also repaired a couple of pedals for me too. Reasonably priced too. Also has a good stock of valves/spares/components. Will source unusual/obsolete parts for vintage gear if he's repairing. Tends to be busy, so don't expect repairs done while you wait!

Rainbow Music - http://www.rainbowmusiconline.co.uk Have used them a couple of times for repairs, shop based, his work is reliable. Reasonably priced as far as shop techs go.

I am not in the public amp repairing business but I have been in retail electronics servicing all my working life, time served app'ship radio&tv C&G, so man and boy as they say!

So, a few points to customers when contacting tech's.

Obviously, name, addy, phone # mobil# Email#...but then start with make, model and serial number of the amp. If you should have a schematic bring a copy, nobody can have everything and there can be lots of variants.

Be VERY specific about the fault! "Dead" usually means "lights up but no sound"! if dead, say so, if not qualify! If the problem is intermittant it could take some time to find or even "bounce" after the guy thought he had found the trouble.

How did the fault arise? Did any fuses blow? Were they replaced.

Get a breakdown of charges, no one can give a penny or even pounds accurate estimate by remote but ask what 4 way re-valve and bias job would cost for an XYZ, that should tell you if you are staying on the line! Remember an ESTIMATE is just that, an informed guess!

Lastly. Remember, these guys have to live too! If you are fortunate to have a decent job, work out how much YOU would have to charge per hour to make your salary, and remember, in this regard the tech' is "smarter" than you and maybe deserves better pay!

Dave.

Malcolm Hine at MPH Guitars based in Edmonton,North London area

http://www.mphguitars.co.uk/home.html

Top bloke with many years experience, formerly of Andy's on Denmark Street now doing his own thing.

If you speak to him say Hi! from Cam:)