Priceless Amp Restoration

Specializing in vintage Fender tube amp restoration

An old school vintage website for old school vintage tube amps

Established in 1995

Why you might need Priceless Amp Restoration

• A complete restoration solution.
• Electrical restoration, from simple tune-ups to complete chassis rebuilds.
• High quality, exact fit, components used.
• Tubes by J.J. Electronics, Sovtek, Svetlana, NOS GE, Philips/Sylvania.
• Cosmetic restoration with vintage replacement tolex, grill cloth and hardware.
• Parts distributor for CE Distribution, New Sensor and Magic Parts.

Reliability and the Healthy Tube Amp

High voltage tube amps in poor electrical condition are firetraps waiting to burn up. Believe me, I know. I've had amps go up in smoke while powered up on my bench. Before any mods or enhancements are performed, the tube amp should be brought up to a safe "electrical condition".

The minimum requirement for electrical restoration itemized below, will produce a safe and quiet tube amp regaining that great tube tone.

• Clean chassis for oils and crud.
• Clean and lube all pots, jacks and switches.
• Tighten all nuts, screws and tube socket pins.
• Install a 3-prong power cord.
• Replace all power supply filtering, bias and cathode electrolytic caps.
• To eliminate any snap/crackle/pop noises, replace pre-amp plate resistors.
• Replace output tube screen and control grid resistors.
• Re-tube with a fresh set of preamp and power tubes.
• Set bias, test, play, burn-in and play again and then play some more, re-check bias and ship back.

Don't let this happen to your amp!
(rendering by Kyle Price)

Restoration Services Overview

I offer a complete evaluation of your amp which includes: removing the chassis, visual inspection, testing all transformers, testing all tubes on a Hickok mutual conductance tube tester, check bias and perform a DC, AC and power analysis. You will then be given or emailed a document of data taken on your amp with my suggestions and estimates for needed repair and/or maintenance. Estimate for needed restorations are free if you decide to let me do the work.

Restoration Labor Rates:
Flat labor rate for electrical work = $45hr
Flat labor rate for cosmetic work = $30/hr

All labor guaranteed. You don't like it, bring/send it back! New tubes guaranteed for 6 months. Output tubes guaranteed to be idle current matched by 5% and all preamp tubes guaranteed to be non-microphonic.

My amp restoration philosophy is simple: do it right, use the highest quality parts available, bench test the amp, listen to the amp and then listen again. The ears don't lie! I take a great deal of pride in restoring Fender amps back to their original condition, right down to using yellow and green cloth covered wire, exact fit tube sockets and the best new production transformers available. I completely extract old solder filled eyelets, scrape the eyelet or joint clean, trim new component leads and apply good 60/40 solder. So if you're searching for some class restoration work for your priceless amp, drop me an e-mail.

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