I repair vintage tube amps in Houston, Texas. Guaranteed work
and knowledgeable technicians. Not cheap, but great results. I will
be honest with you about what you need to have done to your unit,
and what parts we replaced and what work we have done. You even get
back your old parts. Most musicians can really appreciate the sound of a good vacuum tube amp. Tube amps have been part of the sound of Blues, Jazz and Rock for a long time. They add pleasant harmonics to the input that makes the sound "fuller." Unfortunately, the recent upsurge in popularity of tube amps has not been met with a matching upsurge in the number of tube amp technicians. In fact, many older technicians familiar with tube amps are retiring or just leaving the business. Young technicians are not filling in for the loss, and if it was not for all that has been published about tube amps, that skill set could have been lost! You would expect an area as large as Houston to have more electronic shops, but for some reason it does not. Part of the problem is that most multimedia and audio devices have become so cheap that they are no longer economical to repair. But this is not the case with tube amps. When was the last time you saw a tube guitar amplifier in the trash pile? They are becoming more and more valuable as time goes on. A good tube amp can last over 50 years with proper service. Many times the repair including minor parts is less than $165!I repair vintage, classic, and modern tube amps inside the Loop in Houston, Texas. I also repair classic amps, like the first of the solid-state amps, and hybrid amps. I'm familiar with Boutique Amps, as well! I also work on audiophile tube amps. In fact, I have been known to say that "If it has a tube in it, I'll work on it!"Repair time is usually 2 weeks or less if I don't have to special-order parts or if the workload is not too high. I'll let you have some idea when I know what model unit you have. Be sure and let me know when your next gig is, and I will try to work you in if I can. Same-day repair is available if possible. Priority is given to working musicians or others with a recording schedule or who are on-tour. Please give me as much time as possible to repair your amp. If your amp needs a special-order part or an expensive, non-stocked part, I need payment for that part up front to order it. When I have the part, the repair process can continue. Labor Rates are as follows, based on a semi-flat rate adjusted for difficulty.
All repairs are concluded with a final test:
I can rebuild, re-cap, or restore your amp into whatever shape you want it to be. I can repair just what you want fixed, as well. I NEVER put in parts that you don't need, unless it is part of the diagnostic process. If I do put in a part that does not contribute towards the repair of your amp, I don't charge for them, and all old parts are returned. Mods: If you don't like the way your amp sounds, we can discuss what would help it. I don't believe in blindly doing other people's mods to your amp. I could, but there would be no warranty that it would solve your problem or not hurt your amp. First, let's make sure your amp is working the way it should. Then we can talk about how to get your amp to sound the way you want it to. Most amps sound pretty good, but sometimes there are some stinkers that sound bad right from the showroom. And there are some brands that people bad-mouth, but in reality some of their amp models are really good (Crate made a wonderful tube amp at one time!). Those often are the ones they quit producing, by the way. I think the problem is that the accountants get involved and the company starts using cheaper components. On the other hand, expensive components rarely help an amp that is just badly designed from the start. So before you start thinking that some special caps or resistors will make your amp into a winner, lets stop and look at the whole design first. I have studied electronics for a long time, and I have some mods of my own to share. I will consider other people's mods, but YOU are the judge of what sounds best. But I will certainly tell you if I don't think it will help, or whether I think it will give you the sound you are looking for. I've been selected by Mesa-Boogie as their only authorized repair center in the Greater Houston Area. References available. Call... from 11AM-6PM, Monday-Friday. The "Amp Repair Guy." 
Why is this site called TubeModules?Well, I've been developing some plug-ins for tube sockets. My first product was the Hushpuppy. It plugged into your output tube socket without any changes to your amp circuit, and reduced the power output dramatically. That way you could practice or record without having to turn down the volume. It worked pretty well, and in fact I incorporated them into some of my amp designs. But they were a pain to build, and people complained about the price.But the best is still to come. I have released limited quantities of a solid-state replacement for 12AX7 tube. See the Products Page for details. |
On A Personal Note: I'm a technician who really enjoys the sound of guitar music. So most of my time is spent on repair, design, and listening. I've been doing technician work since the mid-70's, in audio, digital, video, radio, and in industrial and computer electronics. I've worked on lots of things, but I've now chosen tube-type amps to repair.
Mailing List Signup - No regular schedule for newsletters. See how much a custom amp might cost with Amp Cost Estimator. Want to be an Electronics Technician?http://www.circuitrework.com/index.shtml There are lots of ways to do it. I learned from many books over the years, starting with "The Boy's First Book of Radio" back when I was a young teenager.The newest revision is available from many book sellers, but I found a downloadable PDF of the 1954 - Boys First Book of Radio from this site but I don't know if its legal to download. Don't bring the law down on yourself. Check your own country's laws before using this service. This book was exciting to me as a kid, because I had no idea how a radio worked. I experimented until I learned that, by golly, electronics works just as advertised! That started off a long career in electronics, computers, and mechatronics. You have to start somewhere, so get on your favorite search engine and find stuff. Libraries are free, and there's lots of free resources out there. I recently found Learn About Electronics, a really nicely done site with lots of stuff even I liked, including animated transistor simulations that let you mess around with one without actually risking blowing the thing up. After you learn about electronics, you can get certified at places like International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians. NEW! I've collected some tutoring videos on my Video page for you to start out on. Even if you don't know Ohm's Law, you have to be able to solder. See the Soldering Tutorial at CircuitReWork's site. Really good information! Some things from my Products page!Click image for more.
  
Call me --- 11AM-6PM, Monday-Friday. |
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Serving the areas around Houston, such as Austin, San Antonio, New
Braunfels, Katy, Conroe, Corpus Christi, Bryan, Round Rock,
Georgetown, Huntsville, Galveston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Port
Arthur, Victoria I am servicing: Acoustic, Alembic, Alesis, Allen, Ampeg, Ashdown, Ashton, B-52, Bad Cat, Behringer, Blackheart, Bogner, Carr, Carvin, Crate, Crown, Diezel, Earth, EBS, Eden, Electro-Voice, Epiphone, ENGL, Fender, Fuchs, Gallien-Krueger, Garnet, Genz-Benz, Gibson, Hartke, Hiwatt, Hoffmann, Hughes and Kettner, Ibanez, Johnson, Kendrick, KMD, Koch, Korg, Krank, Kustom, Laney, Legend, Line 6, Marshall, Matchless, McIntosh, Mesa/Boogie, Metaltronix, Madison, Orange, Peavey, Randall, Rivera, Rocktron, Roland, Selmer, Silvertone, Soldano, Sound Research, Sovtek, Squier, Sunn, Supro, SWR, Tech 21, THD, Top Hat, Trace Elliot, Trainwreck, Traynor, Two-Rock, Valco, VHT, Vox, Yamaha, Yorkville Sound. I would like to see: Andrews, B.C. Rich, Blackstar, Bruno, Cornford, Elmwood, Framus, Heritage, Matamp, Mojave, Naylor, Reeves, Rick-Tone, Ross, Session, Sewell, Soultone, Stephenson, Straub, Suhr, Synaptic Amps, Tone King, Yerasov |
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Solid-State
Tubes are here! See My Products Page for details. Get
the tube sound without the tube problems!
See how much a custom-build amp might cost with Amp Cost Estimator. I can then send you a detailed description and an invoice for a down payment to start work on your amp. Feeling appreciative? Like what you see here? Drop a few coins in my tip jar. Sorry, no sound effects. Here is an excellent article on how the design of guitar amps came to be where it is today. Guitar Amp Tone History. Listen to my friend's Industrial Shred style. Visit his website at Irron! My friend Dennis Odocharty on lead guitar with videos of the Houston band Lady and the Tramps. My friend Cathy is a wonderful crafts-person with years in the theater biz... See Cathy's Theatrical Costumes for any purpose. Maybe you could use a new look onstage for you next tour! She does props and sets, too. Check her out and see what she can do for you. Recently she sequined a jacket for an up-and-coming country star. He looked good in it! Weather for Houston, Texas, 77019 The following map only represents your ISP, not your computer. What your Browser tells everyone about you. Scary! That isn't me, that is your browser telling on you! Vintage Guitar Tube Amp Repair! www.tubemodules.com Experienced vintage amp repair. 60's and 70's Fenders and Marshalls a specialty. Boutique Amps and Modded Amps - no problem! Custom Amps www.tubemodules.com Want an amp built specifically to your needs? Tired of having more than one amp because no amp you can find does what you want it to do? Look! The ARRL Handbook has set the standard for Ham Radio enthusiasts and communication engineers through the years. You learn enough about electronics from one of these to get your FCC license! Great tube information! This is the 1959 edition. Caution: 59MB - Large File! ePanamorama.net Vast array of references, resources, nearly everything! Electronics Hobbyist Web Site GREAT Links! Don't pass this one by! Electronic references, circuits, data, repair info. Tucows shareware, freeware, free programs ResearchBuzz - The Ins and Outs of Searching. Learn to search like a pro! SoYouWanna - tells how things are done. Simple to complex explanations. Reference Desk - whatever you want to know: Dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. BabelFish - translate to/from any language! Internet Archive Lots of media files, movies, art, books, and the famous Wayback Machine! Fun With Tubes! Great site! This is a non-commercial site which is dedicated to passing on and preserving knowledge of vacuum tube circuits and electronic techniques. There are lots more schematic and technical links on my Technical Info, Schematics Links and Ads Page. FreeWebSubmission.com |
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Need parts?I have a parts request page for you. Use my new Amp Parts link.Hints and links concerning the sound of your amp at AmpTone.net Build it yourself DIY information and links at Amp-Kit.com There are lots of schematic and technical links on my Technical Info, Schematics Links and Ads Page. A guide to replacement guitar amp speakers from Loudspeakers Plus is here. (Look for the small links just under the title that lead to separate Eminence and Jensen replacement charts, too.) There are lots of schematic and technical information links on my Technical Links and Ads Page. Choosing Speaker Wattage and Ohms to maximize Sound Output and minimize burnt speakers and amps! A techish article from Antique Electronics and tubesandmore.com! Speakers and Power Explained Off-page article: How to repair circuit board problems, by billm. I use these methods as well. Good dude. Reference Material: J.B. Calvert's wonderful and scholarly reference on Vacuum Tubes and general electronics. Lots of theory and practice on amplifiers, both solid-state and tube-based. Schematic Sources and Other Technical and Electronic Information Links:
I actually buy from some of these advertisers, so I choose people I would like to buy from. Off-page video... Mojotone's "How to bias a tube amp". Good, solid instructions! |
