Recommended Amp Techs

[BOD2]

GEE Electrics in Liverpool, 0151 228 2280
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These guys are fast and efficient Ex-Trace Elliot wizzo chap www.gmaudio.co.uk
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I did get a name of a bloke in Bexhill off the web [email protected] www.servicesound.com
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Chris Ward at the Bass Centre in London is fantastic - great with amps, preamps etc. 02073779300
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I use a bloke in Chiswick. Jon Griffin at G-tek, his phone number is 0208 9946477 and you can email him at [email protected]. Let him know that Steve who has the Burmans put you on to him.
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Anyone in the NW:- [url="http://www.amprepair.co.uk/"]http://www.amprepair.co.uk/[/url]
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I use Soundburn Audio in Bristol (0117 9555766) - a one man outfit but he seems to be able to fix anything. Plus, he doesn't charge you 20 quid just to look at your amp.
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For those of you in central london, John Kelly (of John Kelly amps fame) is a very talented and brilliant bloke. Comes highly recommended; reasonable prices and always ready for a chat (he has many stories to tell). John is also the official Mesa tech for London. You're in good hands.
Here are his details:

John Kelly (Electronics) Ltd
020 7359 8001
28 Rheidol Mews
London
N1 8NU
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Andy Collins [email protected]
01323 442035
Unit 3b, Hackhurst Lane Industrial Estate, Lower Dicker BN27 4BW
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Steve Malem who repairs the amps at www.antonesguitars.co.uk is a genius. A very clever man who is slightly eccentric but a boffin who delivers every time ! He is incredible with vintage stuff and can bring anything back from the dead.
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For those of us North of the border I can highly recommend -

Dennis Marshall at
[url="http://www.emersonwilliams.com"]http://www.emersonwilliams.com[/url]
Land line : +44(0)1506 826333
Mobile : +44(0)7713 251211

Emerson Williams Limited,
10 Links Court,
Bo'ness,
West Lothian,
EH51 9UD,
Scotland
Email: [email protected]

Dennis is a Mesa Boogie specialist and approved repairer, like most of these guys he is a tad eccentric but nicely so. His preamps are the mutts nutts but are not cheap. He's one of the old school who repairs things so they work, not just to make money, if that makes sense. He takes pride in what he does and goes beyond what you'd expect him to do.
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I have used electrofix.co.uk on Alma Vale rd: Graham - orange hair and odd attitude but does a good job on valve amps. Sells valves and used PA kit too.
34 Alma Vale Road Clifton Bristol UK BS8 2HY

tel: 0117 923 9119
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I think I need to add one for the West Midlands contingent:

Pacific Sound & Light Ltd.
505 Bristol Road
Selly Oak
Birmingham
West Midlands
B29 6AU
United Kingdom

Tel: 0121 471 3110
Fax: 0121 471 3103

Great guy there for ss or valve work - if it doesn't get fixed, it doesn't get charged.
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Brian Bond in London. Leave your gear at the Bass Gallery, he picks it up, performs his magic etc... www.thebassgallery.com
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Anyone else in the Carlisle / North Cumbria area should definitely visit Dave at DEV Engineering. One man show again, mad as a hatter, but when you step into his workshop, you understand he's a serious techy... He specialises in repairing camera and VT equipment, but used to work for Marshall and apparently built his first valve amp "when I were about 10 or 11" so he knows his stuff.
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Anyone in the Surrey/Hampshire area looking for a decent amp tech, try [url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/[/url]. I dropped off a pair of speaker cabs to him last Friday as one had a possible blown crossover. I got them back this evening. Very, very fast turnaround.

His speciality is definitely valve amps though, but he's an incredibly knowledgeable chap.
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In the north east if its a vavle amp DCooke try www.cameronelectronics.co.uk in Sunderland. I will be taking my Mesa 400+ down there soon, i've not yet been so cant say if there good or not.
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I can completely recommend Dave Lunt in Stockport 0161 432 9698
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And..........If in the South West,
www.hartnollguitars.co.uk has an Amp Tech that does all sorts.
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Is it OK to recommend myself?

I'm in North London.

I've been repairing valve and transistor amps (on and off) for thirty years. I'm a Chartered Electrical Engineer with 20 years experience in the Electronics industry. I can do anything from a service to a complete rebuild. I can do modern amps but generally you're better off taking them to dealers. I don't do guitar electronics.

I don't charge just to have a look, I don't charge if I can't fix it (although I can't remember the last time that happened). I charge for parts at cost.

I can generally turn stuff round in under a week, but if its urgent and you're prepared to pay I can do it quicker.

TW
[attachment=85:TW.jpg]

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For anyone in Coventry or going from B'ham across the A45 to Northampton, Manor Electronics (right on the A45 near Canley) are bang on - the kind of people that are always busy and dont need to advertise, such is the greatness of their reputation.
Top blokes.
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Central London.

There's a guy called Frank in a workshop attached to Angel Music who's excellent. Angel Music is on the 1st Floor above Music Ground in Denmark Street.

Frank's rates are £35 per hour plus parts. He's a don when it comes to valve stuff. He'll do solid state stuff too if you ask him.
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[NickThomas]

Here's Andy Collins' (as listed above) website. [url="http://www.antech-systems.com"]http://www.antech-systems.com[/url]
I've since had my abm serviced by him and he did a great job. Touch over £60 if I remember rightly.

Nick

[Muppet]

Mike Swain at Panic Music

[url="http://www.panicmusic.co.uk/"]http://www.panicmusic.co.uk/[/url]

The UKs only official Ampeg repair centre, they do virtually all types of amps, PAs, mixers etc.

Very busy so worth booking in advance

[99ster]

Just had my vintage 1965 Ampeg B-15 restored by Steve Rowse [url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/[/url] - highly recommended for valve amps.

[Hamster]

[quote name='99ster' post='31359' date='Jul 13 2007, 04:08 PM']Just had my vintage 1965 Ampeg B-15 restored by Steve Rowse [url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/[/url] - highly recommended for valve amps.[/quote]


I had to see Steve today, this time to repair and service my Mesa Boogie. Fantastic service once more.

Recommended (again) without reservation.

Hamster

[studavis]

Just thought I'd let you know about Steve at Musical Electronic Repairs and Spares in Birmingham. He's located up a set of stairs at the top of a door next to Sound Control. Cracking bloke, who is a nice guy and is knowledgeable on all amps. He's one of these sort that doesn't have to advertise, kept in business by word-of-mouth...

He turned round a full service on Hartke within about 2 days and it sounded lovely afterwards. He's only open on Mon, Thurs and Saturday so give him a call before popping up!

0121 233 9390

[stingrayfan]

[quote name='99ster' post='31359' date='Jul 13 2007, 04:08 PM']Just had my vintage 1965 Ampeg B-15 restored by Steve Rowse [url="http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/"]http://www.stevesamps.co.uk/[/url] - highly recommended for valve amps.[/quote]
+1 on Steve. He's a good guy with lots of great advice. He fixed my Trace Elliot combo for me.

[Sugden]

Got to say Im not sticking up for Pacific Sound & Light Ltd in birmingham. I took my amp to them about 2 weeks ago and got told he was busy but had a turn around of about 2 weeks I said great. Thinking in my head either way I'll be fine for my gig on the 15th. Ring up yesturday to be told o yer your amp hasn't been touched and the guy gets back on the 14th from a two week holiday.

Didn't even mention it and didnt call me like he said or look at them a week and half ago like he said too. Terrible way to treat a customer I think.

So Im taking them across town to steve as recommended above. He at least said he wasnt going on holiday and would do the best he could.

[Johngh]

[quote name='studavis' post='52120' date='Aug 29 2007, 08:01 AM']Just thought I'd let you know about Steve at Musical Electronic Repairs and Spares in Birmingham. He's located up a set of stairs at the top of a door next to Sound Control. Cracking bloke, who is a nice guy and is knowledgeable on all amps. He's one of these sort that doesn't have to advertise, kept in business by word-of-mouth...

He turned round a full service on Hartke within about 2 days and it sounded lovely afterwards. He's only open on Mon, Thurs and Saturday so give him a call before popping up!

0121 233 9390[/quote]

I have just given Steve a call about a possible problem with my amp. He gave me some great advice about things to try without asking me to bring the amp in on some wild goose chase. Thanks Steve !

[mike257]

I (and other band members) have had somewhat questionable experiences with GEE in Liverpool. Although there's no doubt that John Gee himself is profoundly knowledgeable in his field (a quick chat with him will teach you more about the physics of cab design than any book ever will), i've found there to be issues with the quality of their repair work on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately, there's nobody else around here really, so we're kind of stuck with him!

[pacific]

[quote name='Sugden' post='56258' date='Sep 5 2007, 10:13 PM']Got to say Im not sticking up for Pacific Sound & Light Ltd in birmingham. I took my amp to them about 2 weeks ago and got told he was busy but had a turn around of about 2 weeks I said great. Thinking in my head either way I'll be fine for my gig on the 15th. Ring up yesturday to be told o yer your amp hasn't been touched and the guy gets back on the 14th from a two week holiday.

Didn't even mention it and didnt call me like he said or look at them a week and half ago like he said too. Terrible way to treat a customer I think.

So Im taking them across town to steve as recommended above. He at least said he wasnt going on holiday and would do the best he could.[/quote]



Oh Bugger hands up my fault, i took the customers number down wrong and could'nt contact him to tell him i was going on holiday and i would arrange a loan amp for him, its rare i cock up but i did this time sorrry
phil
Pacific Sound and light

[ray_6ao7]

if anyone's around the midlands i highly recommend [b]Manor Electronics[/b] in [b]Coventry[/b] [b]tel: 02476714755[/b]

or for a guitar/bass tech you cant beat [b]Trevor Buck [/b]at [b]PMT[/b] in [b]Birmingham [/b][b]01213595056[/b]

i've had work done at both places and they are really good fair priced guys...Manor Electronics held onto my amp for a week and didnt charge me and Trevor is the most fair tech i've met...he did some electrics work on my bass which took about 20minutes and didnt charge me

[Merton]

[quote name='Hamster' post='34702' date='Jul 20 2007, 01:58 PM']I had to see Steve today, this time to repair and service my Mesa Boogie. Fantastic service once more.

Recommended (again) without reservation.

Hamster[/quote]
Is Steve still around? No answer to emails or phone, need his amp surgery skills!!

[99ster]

[quote name='Merton' post='127793' date='Jan 25 2008, 03:10 PM']Is Steve still around? No answer to emails or phone, need his amp surgery skills!![/quote]


Steve emailed me on Wednesday (he's working on a 1968 Kustom head for me) - so he's around but maybe just not in today?

[Merton]

[quote name='99ster' post='127805' date='Jan 25 2008, 03:29 PM']Steve emailed me on Wednesday (he's working on a 1968 Kustom head for me) - so he's around but maybe just not in today?[/quote]
I'm just impatient, he's just called Popping in to see him with my poorly amp on Sunday

Cheers!

[pete.young]

For folks in Suffolk who don't know about Paul Glazebrook , he has just done an excellent job replacing a duff op-amp on my EA iAmp 350, and has also rebiased and serviced both my Burman valve amps in the past. Excellent service and a very reasonable price - he does setups too.

Sounds like GM Audio need to be removed from the list in the light of recent events.

[blunderthumbs]

[quote name='mike257' post='59894' date='Sep 13 2007, 02:32 PM']I (and other band members) have had somewhat questionable experiences with GEE in Liverpool. Although there's no doubt that John Gee himself is profoundly knowledgeable in his field (a quick chat with him will teach you more about the physics of cab design than any book ever will), i've found there to be issues with the quality of their repair work on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately, there's nobody else around here really, so we're kind of stuck with him![/quote]
I can Highly recommend David Lunt of Stockport
I took a Peavey amp to him before X.mas to repair and he sorted it no problem
If he can he likes to do it while you wait which saves you putting loads of miles on your vehicle.
He only charged me £30.
He's a nice guy too.
His number is 0161 432 9698.

[skankdelvar]

+1 on Steve Rowse in Surrey.

Done loads of stuff for me - all good. Apart from repairs, if you've got a specific sound in mind, he encourages you sit there with him while makes adjustments. Also plays mean blues harp.

www.stevesamps.co.uk

Edited July 29, 2008 by skankdelvar

[tayste_2000]

[quote name='blunderthumbs' post='179914' date='Apr 18 2008, 04:27 PM']I can Highly recommend David Lunt of Stockport
I took a Peavey amp to him before X.mas to repair and he sorted it no problem
If he can he likes to do it while you wait which saves you putting loads of miles on your vehicle.
He only charged me £30.
He's a nice guy too.
His number is 0161 432 9698.[/quote]

+1000

I used Dave Lunt recently. I had a 70's Simms-Watt head and when you turned it on all it did was hum, no signal through it or anything. £200 quid later it's fully serviced, retubed (4 Pre's, 4 Power) completely safe with IEC fitted for power so a complete overhaul and all this done in less than 24 hours.

I have another Simms-watt head that needs the same work and he said he'd show me what he does so I can learn about how these beasts work.

So I seriously recommend this guy, he's rewiring a bass for as we speak and I have a long long list of stuff for him to do after that I normally wouldn't trust anyone to do.

His mobile number is 07966 263 616

[steve-soar]

[quote name='tayste_2000' post='252502' date='Aug 1 2008, 09:34 AM']+1000

I used Dave Lunt recently. I had a 70's Simms-Watt head and when you turned it on all it did was hum, no signal through it or anything. £200 quid later it's fully serviced, retubed (4 Pre's, 4 Power) completely safe with IEC fitted for power so a complete overhaul and all this done in less than 24 hours.

I have another Simms-watt head that needs the same work and he said he'd show me what he does so I can learn about how these beasts work.

So I seriously recommend this guy, he's rewiring a bass for as we speak and I have a long long list of stuff for him to do after that I normally wouldn't trust anyone to do.

His mobile number is 07966 263 616[/quote]Plus 2000. I took an Ampeg SVT IIP preamp to him yesterday for repair. I bought it from the states as they are quite rare in this country.
After two weeks of it working, it started to make spluttering, static, popping noises. On the recommendations of various Basschatters I took it to Dave.
Entering Daves workshop is an experience in itself, an American radio station was playing Blues in the background and a look around the subterranean workshop overwhelmed the senses with many beautiful vintage amps adorning its floor space.

Get on with it!

OK, the pre, after a lengthy examination was pretty tired, it was still producing a signal but the problem was a mix of dry solder joints, transformer repair, resistors and tubes replaced. So after a complete circuit test and three and a half hours of work, it was collected today and sounds ten times better than when I first got it.
He has transformed it, it is the SVT sound that I was after and now it will be reliable after its complete rebuild.

It was a bit of a trek for me but I don't think I will take this kind of equipment anywhere else after today.

[Riddler]

[quote name='NickThomas' post='1805' date='May 18 2007, 09:23 PM']Here's Andy Collins' (as listed above) website. [url="http://www.antech-systems.com"]http://www.antech-systems.com[/url]
I've since had my abm serviced by him and he did a great job. Touch over £60 if I remember rightly.

Nick[/quote]

Recently had my Nemesis NC320 repaired by Andy Collins. £60 and he gave a very quick service as I had a gig coming up.

Thoroughly recommend.

Cheers
Graham

[Machines]

Just had my ABM repaired by Pacific Sound & Light on recommendation from here. Free quote and extremely fast service (3 days including a Sunday !).

Superb communication from them and no nonsense, anyone in the Birmingham area should go here for any gripes.

[Mzungu71]

Living at the apparent end of the universe as I do (Lincoln) does anybody know of any amp techs in the East Midlands at all? We're all trying to keep our carbon footprints less than size 12

Ta

[binman]

[quote name='BOD2' post='1334' date='May 18 2007, 11:20 AM']--------------------------------------------------
For those of us North of the border I can highly recommend -

Dennis Marshall at
[url="http://www.emersonwilliams.com"]http://www.emersonwilliams.com[/url]
Land line : +44(0)1506 826333
Mobile : +44(0)7713 251211

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Update for Dennis Marshall

THE WORKSHOP
6 Main Street
Newmills
KY12 8SR
01383 881761
0771 325 1211

[AndyThomas]

Hi Bod2

I'll try and remember you in the future. Wherabouts in North London are you? I've got my Warrick Pro IX with Brian Bond at the moment.

I may need my Daughter's guitar practice amp fixing, but I suspect it may be best to scrap it and start again

Andy

Edited May 27, 2009 by AndyThomas