Good question, where to have an old stereo receiver, amplifier, tuner, etc. repaired? At one time every city, town, area, had a few TV/Radio repair shops or electronic service centers. They don’t seem to exist anymore. I am in one of the boroughs of NYC and I can’t name one. The last old timer who I had faith in electronic repair moved out over ten years ago. He was over 70 years old and couldn’t even sell his repair business, no one wanted it for any price. Doing a search on Google one can find various audio/HiFi/Stereo repair guys(shops.) Fancy, elaborate websites that make them look bigger then life. My guess most are working out of their homes or garages. I don’t know if it’s possible to survive having a store front strictly as a repair shop anymore. I guess if they own the property or building it would be possible. But who would want to?
The TV/Radio repair business has been dead for well over twenty years, no more like twenty five – thirty. Not just Stereo equipment. Auto repair, appliance repair, etc. is about to take its last breath. Like it, don’t like it, sometimes like it…people lease cars today for $100.00-$200.00 a month. Appliances last so many years then you get a new toaster oven, washing machine/dryer, dish washer, frig. Most of my educated friends lease their kids Hyundai’s or Kia’s to go back and forth to college. Of course you need a satisfactory credit score and can’t be in jail. There is no need for that wonderful mechanic you used to deal with when you owned a five to ten year old car, lol. Remember him, waiting for that terrific phone call with the repair estimate? There used to be auto repair garages all over the place, now there are just a few oil change/car wash establishments. The gas station/service center nearest to my home is now a gas station/drunken donuts now. It’s a throw away society now. Half of the people even dump their wives or husbands in time. (It probably would be more then 50% of the people, but they can’t afford it.)
I’m off on a tangent as usual, so where do I fix my old stereo? You don’t or I should say you can but…
- You have to find someone who knows and understands vintage equipment repair.
- Parts and component sources are drying up. Many of the replacement parts look great but are of inferior quality or NOS.
- Capacitors, resistors, and other components used to be inexpensive. I recently needed some twist-loc can capacitors to rebuild my sons Fender guitar amp. Each can capacitor was over $40.00. That’s just the start. (update: two sections have changed value already and need to be replaced for a second time.)
- Even if the technician is honest he will have to charge you a ridiculous fee. To stay in business and put food on his table he has to charge telephone #’s to the few schmucks that have an emotional attachment to a electromechanical material thing. Sorry, that’s the raw truth. They see you coming from a mile away. I know it’s worth it, yeah well not for most. Even when it’s restored it won’t be like new or “better.” That’s a crock, “as good as new” is a saying people use to justify their actions. I have a friend who had a frame off restoration on a car. It was done by one of the “best.” You know the every nut and bolt will replaced type of thing. Long story short, the owner has said on many occasions he should of just had the motor rebuilt as advised and used the car the way it was. There is more wrong with the vehicle after the frame off restoration then before. And as stated in this article regarding repair he paid much more then the vehicle was worth for the restoration. Get my drift? Some things look better then they actually are. Leave that type of behavior for the TV reality shows. Something is only new Once. And 99 9/10 times out of 100 a restored anything is not worth nearly as much as the original. Even if the so called restored/revised item is actually better, it’s always worth less. That’s the way it works in the collector world regardless of what Richard R. or AKA the Count says on TV. That’s all scripted nonsense for the IQ challenged. Why do you think diamonds and gold are worth essentially the same amount regardless of age? Because gold doesn’t oxidize like other metals and diamonds are two – three times as hard as anything else on the planet. They don’t change so old and new have no relation to appearance, worth or desirability
- I tinker and replace obvious parts and components. I wouldn’t call myself a troubleshooter or technician. This is my hobby so I am having fun with it. Sending out your Dynaco or Fisher and receiving a repair bill or estimate for the same amount or more of it’s worth is not what I call fun. Not only is it bad economics but you feel like a sucker who has been taken for a ride. I don’t and never will fix for others. I am happily married and don’t want to marry you for your 50 year old amplifier, thanks.
- I see some repair guys on ebay now. As I write this I am looking at an auction advertising to fix/restore a particular famous, common, power amplifier. With no exaggeration he is charging at least 1 1/2 times the worth of the whole unit for restoration. What’s wrong with this picture? Must be me.
- Just adding this even though it belongs up higher in this post. You can buy whole parts units to repair your equipment on ebay. Here is the problem with that. It’s been my experience that the same brand and models of equipment suffer the same problems or issues. The unit you purchase for electronic parts most likely has the same failed components as your unit. The only time that works is for some cosmetic issues. You can buy a parts unit for it’s face plate, knobs, cabinet and other hard parts. But then again some equipment oxidizes or goes bad exactly the same on every unit in the exact same places. Ok, to clarify you can buy parts units for issues caused by owner misuse. Such as paint specs on a cabinet or cigarette burns or worn off face plate lettering. Buyer beware…
- You have to find a person who does not do this for a living. Someone who has a love for old equipment and doesn’t need to charge you an arm and a leg so he can feed his family. Someone like yourself who would like to bring an old unit back to life. Someone who has a heart. Where do you find this person? I have only met a couple in my 50 + years that meet these requirements. I wish you good luck and hope you find that repair guy.
Ok, so where do you get your old stuff fixed. Either you read up/learn and attempt it yourself or get a local ham radio operator or computer person who has some basic knowledge to try and get it going. Forget the restoration, you will never make your vintage stereo into a daily driver. If you can find a handy Andy to just get it up and going for occasional use you have done well. Yes, if you do a search on the interweb you can find some repair services for your old equipment. From my own, and others experiences many of these niche restoration and repair companies are Extremely Costly. Plus, you don’t know if they are competent. Anyone can make an eye catching website or have it built by a company. When you do an internet search it’s Not always the best or most knowledgeable technician that comes up first.
Sorry to say it’s a new world where most repair / restoration people are hangin with the dinosaurs. Fix at your own risk.
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