Amp Repair, Chicago Style.
April 16 , 2024 – The amp shop is busy this spring! We’re catching up on a heavy backlog so please wait until Monday April 22 or after to drop off your amp.
Specializing in tube and vintage guitar and bass amps, expert technician Balthazar de Ley brings a toolbox filled with years of experience building, repairing, maintaining, and customizing amplifiers. Whether yours is new or vintage, solid state or tube, 1 watt or 100 watts, chances are he’s fixed it before and will make it sound better than ever. Balthazar’s discriminating ears won’t send it home until it sounds as great as possible.
You’ll find that he continues the Fret Works tradition of professionalism, honesty, and dedication to getting it right.
April 16 , 2024 – The amp shop is busy this spring! We’re catching up on a heavy backlog so please wait until Monday April 22 or after to drop off your amp.
No need for an appointment
You can drop your amp off any time during our business hours.
General pricing policies
Unlike most guitar repairs, amps require testing and close inspection to get an accurate diagnosis and cost estimate. That said, some ballpark costs for common repairs are listed below as a general guide.
Every amp repair begins with an Amp Check/ Diagnostic
A $80 deposit/bench fee is collected when you drop off your amp as a pre-payment on the first 45 minutes of work and is credited toward further repairs. (For example, if the diagnosis calls for an $110 repair, your remaining balance would be $30)
Amp Check / Diagnostic
- A comprehensive inspection, scope, and diagnosis of specific problems as well as a thorough check of your amp for other hidden issues
- Detailed estimate of recommended services, including turnaround time and cost. We only do the repairs you authorize and will let you know in advance what to expect
- Basic cleaning and tightening of controls
- Sometimes this is all an amp needs. If that’s the case, that’s it!
Common Amp Repairs
Tune-up / Check-up: $110-220 depending on model
Recommended as annual maintenance. Your amp’s exposure to dust, vibrations from handling, and normal usage can all lead to intermittent noises and malfunctions (usually at the worst possible time!) Keep your rig in tip top shape with this basic service.
Includes:
- Cleaning & tightening of pots, jacks, switches, & controls
- Cleaning & re-tensioning of tube sockets
- Testing tubes for malfunction, noise, & microphonics
- Re-soldering loose/questionable connections
- Checking/adjusting bias (idle current)
- Visual & tap inspection of all components
- Measuring output signal on oscilloscope
- Audio sweep test of speakers
- Testing with guitar or bass
- Recommendation and estimate for other needed repairs and maintenance
Re-tube / bias adjustment
Labor estimate only – prices do not reflect cost of tubes or parts.
Some common examples:
- Fender Princeton Reverb: $80+
- Fender Twin Reverb: $100+
- Marshall JCM 800: $100+
- Ampeg SVT Classic: $150+
- Fender Hot Rod Deville: $80+
- Vox AC30: $100+
- Ampeg Gemini / V4 / Reverb Rocket $100+
Replace filter / electrolytic caps
Labor estimate only – prices do not reflect cost of parts.
Some common examples:
- Fender Princeton Reverb: $100+
- Fender Twin Reverb: $125+
- Marshall JCM 800: $175+
- Fender Hot Rod Deville: $125+
- Vox AC30: $150+
- Ampeg Gemini / V4 / Reverb Rocket $150+
Replacement parts
- We stock high quality replacement parts like J/J Tubes, Sprague or F&T Caps, Switchcraft jacks, and CTS Pots.
- If you prefer something else, just ask! Groove Tubes, Mullard, Tung-Sol, Electro-Harmonix, Sovtek … you name it.
