Services
SERVICES
Repair and restoration of tube amplifiers and audio equipment in Downtown Los Angeles.
Serving musicians, audiophiles, and recording studios since 1989.
Vintage and modern units are serviced with an emphasis on reliability, performance, and long-term serviceability.
How It Works
• Drop-Offs: Available by appointment in Downtown Los Angeles.
• Estimates: Provided upon request following bench evaluation.
• Typical Bench Time: Most amplifier repairs require 1–2 hours of bench time.
Labor Rates
• Labor: $50 per half hour (one-half hour minimum)
• Rush Service: $100 flat fee for priority bench access
Modern Production Amplifiers
Stabilization & Reliability
Modern production tube amplifiers often include design and component choices that limit long-term durability.
Many common failure points can be corrected to improve reliability and service life.
Stabilization measures may include:
• Reinforcing weak points — addressing board-mounted jacks, solder stress, and ribbon cable connections
• Component upgrades — replacing underspecified capacitors and resistors in heat-stressed stages
• Correct biasing — optimizing operating conditions for tube life, efficiency, and consistent performance and tonal response
Maintenance & Preventive Service
Tube amplifiers operate at high voltage and generate significant heat. They require periodic inspection to ensure reliable operation and prevent avoidable failures.
Routine maintenance may include:
• Annual check-up — verifying bias, cleaning and tightening internal connections, and testing tubes for drift before failure
• Preventive service — identifying components showing early wear to reduce the risk of collateral damage
Addressing issues early helps preserve reliability, optimal performance, and sound quality over time.
Equipment Suitability
Equipment is accepted when its construction supports long-term serviceability and repair value.
Entry-level and limited-service designs are not serviced when repair cost exceeds replacement value.
Service Standards & Warranty
All work is performed with an emphasis on reliability, safety, and long-term performance.
• 90-Day Warranty — covers workmanship and parts/tubes supplied here
• Rigorous Testing — units are burned in, bench-tested, and ear-tested prior to release
• Tube Evaluation & Optimization — original tubes are retained when they test strong; weak tubes are identified through laboratory-grade measurement and replaced only when necessary
• Documented Tube Testing — laboratory-grade measurements are provided when replacement is recommended
• Transparency — components are replaced only when testing indicates need