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Intro from South Florida
- Thread starter ihmeyers
- Start date
I heard from Stereo Tom today. Said that a resistor in the left channel burned out. He said one of the issues is they use 5W resistors and with the voltage going through that circuit they should be using 10W at least. He also said the transformer was loose and there were screws bouncing around inside. I am guessing because the guy that sent it to me lives in Hawaii. He did an amazing job packing it so it's not his fault but shipping big, heavy amps are risky. It will cost me $465 which I thought was a lot but it's not like I could fix it. I will say (knock on wood) when Tom fixes something it stays fixed.
p.s. listening him talk about the loose transformer was hysterical, at least to me. He speaks with a very heavy Turkish accent
Tom: Transformer has 4 missing screws. I find 3 inside. Big problem.
Me: Why do you not have suitable screws to use?
Tom: No. Have plenty screws, better ones. Transformer have 4 missing screws. I find 3. Where is other one? You take it out?
Me: No, I never opened it up.
Tom: OK but where did other screw go. I looked for 30 minutes everywhere inside but no screw. I check with powerful flashlight still cant find it. You understand?
Me: Yeah, you can reattach the transformer but if there is another screw still somewhere inside that's no good.
Tom: Right. Could short something out. I would feel better if I knew what happened to other screw. I check again tomorrow.
p.s. listening him talk about the loose transformer was hysterical, at least to me. He speaks with a very heavy Turkish accent
Tom: Transformer has 4 missing screws. I find 3 inside. Big problem.
Me: Why do you not have suitable screws to use?
Tom: No. Have plenty screws, better ones. Transformer have 4 missing screws. I find 3. Where is other one? You take it out?
Me: No, I never opened it up.
Tom: OK but where did other screw go. I looked for 30 minutes everywhere inside but no screw. I check with powerful flashlight still cant find it. You understand?
Me: Yeah, you can reattach the transformer but if there is another screw still somewhere inside that's no good.
Tom: Right. Could short something out. I would feel better if I knew what happened to other screw. I check again tomorrow.
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I got my LM amp back today. Once again Tom did a great job. What wasn't so great was it cost me $465 because it had a repair undisclosed by seller that went bad. The left channel power resistor (50w rated) failed. Tom showed me it was a cheap unmatched replacement to the right channel and the repair had been made without any thermal paste which likely had something to do with it failing, I've been around the block a couple of times, OK a lot of times, but it still steams me when I buy used gear that is described as being untouched when it isn't. I'm pretty sure the seller was the original owner and while he probably didn't know it wasn't a very good repair, he never even mentioned that it had been fixed. I think it's a big problem with our hobby. My buddy collects muscle cars and he tells me it's no different there. Tom upgraded the resistors and I noticed immediately that it sounded better than the parts that were in there.
My 2nd, and maybe more important takeaway from this is what are we all going to do when guys like Tom (late 60s) and Carl from Speaker Savers who fixed my 605B driver retire? I don't think there is a large number of younger generation guys to fix Altecs, JBLs and tube gear. I hope my stuff just keeps working.
Any pics on the work?I got my LM amp back today. Once again Tom did a great job. What wasn't so great was it cost me $465 because it had a repair undisclosed by seller that went bad. The left channel power resistor (50w rated) failed. Tom showed me it was a cheap unmatched replacement to the right channel and the repair had been made without any thermal paste which likely had something to do with it failing, I've been around the block a couple of times, OK a lot of times, but it still steams me when I buy used gear that is described as being untouched when it isn't. I'm pretty sure the seller was the original owner and while he probably didn't know it wasn't a very good repair, he never even mentioned that it had been fixed. I think it's a big problem with our hobby. My buddy collects muscle cars and he tells me it's no different there. Tom upgraded the resistors and I noticed immediately that it sounded better than the parts that were in there.
My 2nd, and maybe more important takeaway from this is what are we all going to do when guys like Tom (late 60s) and Carl from Speaker Savers who fixed my 605B driver retire? I don't think there is a large number of younger generation guys to fix Altecs, JBLs and tube gear. I hope my stuff just keeps working.
I previously wondered what tomorrow might be if the great techs were no more. But there is actually a good amount of DIY’er’s that would/could take up the reins.
Unfortunately no photos and I didn't want to open it. He's an honest guy and showed me the parts. The resistors were mismatched, different brands. The one that went bad had very little thermal paste on the bottom. The good one (right side) looked like it should. I'm not sure what brand he replaced them with (he replaced both so they'd match) but he said it was a much better quality. Low watt resistors I am pretty familiar with, the 25-50W power resistors I don't really know at all. I think it sounds better but I only listened briefly. He said the overall build quality was good and was all point-to-point wiring.
We're going to need those DIYers sooner rather than later. There aren't many guys like Tom that can fix cottage brand tube amps with no schematics. This is 3 different ones he's repaired for me within two years.
We're going to need those DIYers sooner rather than later. There aren't many guys like Tom that can fix cottage brand tube amps with no schematics. This is 3 different ones he's repaired for me within two years.
Thank you very much.
