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Long distance repair [message #22362] Thu, 05 February 2015 03:25 Go to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States
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Who can I ship my amp to for repair? I've got about a dozen K200s. Some hiss, some hum, some sound great, and they all look amazing. But a few need repair. No one around here seems to know how to work on them. I can do the minor stuff like replacing the power cord but I'd really like someone who knows these amps to look at some of them. Thanks, Keith
Re: Long distance repair [message #22364 is a reply to message #22362] Thu, 05 February 2015 06:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Location: NY
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Where do you live Keith? Bill is in Chicago, and I am in NY.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22368 is a reply to message #22362] Thu, 05 February 2015 15:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States
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Hello stevem, Thanks for the quick response. I live in California, but I am willing to ship them to where ever the job gets done properly. I am sure that either you or Bill would do a great job. It's just a matter of who wants to do it. Keith
Re: Long distance repair [message #22372 is a reply to message #22368] Thu, 05 February 2015 17:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
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I know that California is a big state, so I can't imagine that there is nobody fixing these amps out there.

What part of the Golden state are you in? Maybe somebody close to you can suggest some local shops.

Shipping costs are what will hurt you in sending amps out for repair. Obviously you don't need to send cabinets, but even so just the chassis will cost a lot to ship.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22375 is a reply to message #22372] Thu, 05 February 2015 19:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
Not sure if Gary Hull is still repairing amps, but a collector here in Michigan was sending all their amps to Gary for repair. Santa Cruz 831-989-4699 gary@tranceaudio.com
pleat
Re: Long distance repair [message #22376 is a reply to message #22362] Thu, 05 February 2015 19:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
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I am in Santa Barbara, Ca, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 300 miles south of San Francisco. I can probably find someone who will reluctantly agree to take a look even though there are no tubes in there, but what I really want is someone who knows and loves Kustom amps. Keith.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22378 is a reply to message #22376] Thu, 05 February 2015 21:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
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Guess I should have mentioned that Gary works on Kustom amps, and he's in CA.
pleat
Re: Long distance repair [message #22379 is a reply to message #22362] Thu, 05 February 2015 21:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
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I tried that number but it is a "non working number"
Re: Long distance repair [message #22390 is a reply to message #22362] Fri, 06 February 2015 10:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zedsalt is currently offline  zedsalt
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Registered: March 2008
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You might try (831)688-9699. It looks like they may've moved.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22391 is a reply to message #22362] Fri, 06 February 2015 11:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zedsalt is currently offline  zedsalt
Messages: 64
Registered: March 2008
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It would be wonderful if one of the gents "here"...one of the people who contributes huge amounts of free advice based on years of experience...lived right down the road from you, but there are a number of repair shops in Cali, generally, that mention vintage Kustom amps, specifically, on their websites. I just tripped across one that had a glowing review of repair/restoration done by a guy named "Chris" at AmpTech in Campbell. It's either a fake, planted comment, or someone's REALLY pleased with his work. There's ADK Hi Fi in Vallejo, Amp Crazy in Hollywood, The Tone Garage in Camarillo, Objective Audio in Palmdale, E-Tech Services somewhere in Orange County, GPS Electronics in Norwalk...just looking at the first page of search results, never been any closer to California than Bend, OR, so my geographical knowledge of the state is awfully limited, but if I were in your shoes, I'd be looking for any mention of Kustom amps anywhere within driving distance. Folks tend to complain loud, long, and publically about any kind of bad experience with repair/restoration/maintenance people, so if nothing else, it'd let you know if there's anyone you might want to avoid. Also, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably be at least a little uncomfortable, as I have ridiculously wide feet.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22397 is a reply to message #22362] Fri, 06 February 2015 15:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
Messages: 49
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Location: United States
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If you were in my shoes you'd be in cowboy boots. I'll try Tong Garage in Camrillo. I've got their card and haven't heard anything bad about them, and they're not to far away. Thanks, Keith.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22399 is a reply to message #22397] Fri, 06 February 2015 17:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
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I thought cowboys only played Fender...........somethings wrong with this picture. lol
Re: Long distance repair [message #22401 is a reply to message #22362] Fri, 06 February 2015 18:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States
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This cowboy plays a Rickenbacker bass through a Kustom amp. But I still can't find anyone nearby to work on them. I could probably find someone in LA but if I'm going to ship it 100 miles, I might as well ship it 2000 miles and get it done right. Keith.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22402 is a reply to message #22362] Fri, 06 February 2015 18:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
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ChicagoBill or Stevem are your guys then.......I trust them completely and they know their stuff. They also have the same respect for the equipment that you and I have. Either one of the guys will do right by you I'm sure. Pretty hard to put a price tag on that.

I have the same problem here in Iowa....no one will touch a vintage Kustom. Sure glad Bill is in Chicago so at least he's only a state away and right now I owe Steve so much beer, he'd hold my equipment hostage until I paid up.....lol.

[Updated on: Fri, 06 February 2015 18:46]

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Re: Long distance repair [message #22415 is a reply to message #22402] Sun, 08 February 2015 06:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tboomer is currently offline  tboomer
Messages: 24
Registered: August 2014
Location: North Iowa
Junior Member
Steve told me that West Music in Iowa may work on them. I called the Waterloo store and they send them to Coralville. It is 40.00 to send it and 65.00 an hour plus parts. I messed up the power amp on the Charger that Steve did for me. The cabinet isn't the best and perhaps I should just part it out and get a nice Kustom 200 some day.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22416 is a reply to message #22362] Sun, 08 February 2015 07:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
I would say your best bet is to find a high end Hi Fi repair shop of which there must be one in your area !
You might want to check out Up scale audio , if I recall right they are in Upland CA and I can't say how close of far that is from you but it might pan out!
Your other action would be to see where most music stores send there tuff to fix stuff that is a main location and handles warranty repairs, as those places have at least one or two techs that know there shit!

[Updated on: Sun, 08 February 2015 07:55]

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Re: Long distance repair [message #22421 is a reply to message #22362] Sun, 08 February 2015 22:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
riverboat is currently offline  riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States
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I don,t mind paying for shipping, and I am happy to pay a fair price for repair . What I don't want to do is give it to some repair shop who will acquiesce to try to work on it because they can fix radios and tvs. I would rather spend a little extra and have it gone through correctly by some one who knows and loves these amps. Keith.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22423 is a reply to message #22421] Mon, 09 February 2015 02:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
The best guy in this area, matter of fact the only guy that I take mine to in this area is an old tube TV and radio guy. He says these things are so simple that they are fun to fix. Although they are some times a challenge (challenger) he loves it when I bring one in and it has never cost me more than 25-30 bucks, I always bring the schematic and always know what is wrong with it or at least give nim a very good description and he normally has it done the next day or two for me.
Re: Long distance repair [message #22424 is a reply to message #22362] Mon, 09 February 2015 10:07 Go to previous message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
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well I am clear across the country, but I do not mind doing it for you if BIll who is in Chicago is too tied up ( you might want to pm him) or if you do not want to use the repair guy in the last post who if far closer to you, so I guess it's up to you!
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