I will add to those recent posts #19, and #20, that in my time in the service business, I've seen enough of so-called "highly regarded" techs too, that cannot troubleshoot worth a damn.
Maybe they just work in the field to grab a paycheck..
And if they even went to technical training classes, proper schooling, they must have dozed off.
Some techs just don't "have it in them" regardless of their training.
It's like anything else - there are good and bad everywhere, in every field.
Maybe they just work in the field to grab a paycheck..
And if they even went to technical training classes, proper schooling, they must have dozed off.
Some techs just don't "have it in them" regardless of their training.
It's like anything else - there are good and bad everywhere, in every field.
Point taken, apologies for the insult, I'm sure that there are plenty of good techs out there. I am mainly responding to the posts about replacing aged capacitors as "psychosis" and "BS" which is also highly insulting.
As a DIYer I don't see the economy in taking apart a vintage amplifier, unsoldering and testing 30 year old capacitors...and then putting them back in. Best case scenario replacing old caps has the potential to solve a major problem, similar to the one my friend had with his Cyrus. Next stop for that amp was the landfill. Worst case, it it makes the amp more reliable long term and gives someone new to the hobby plenty of practice with a soldering iron...I fail to see a downside other than the potential of making an error, but as a DIYer that's part of the learning process provided safety precautions are taken.
For those that do take their gear to techs for work it may be worth thinking about replacing old capacitors. If I hired a mechanic to rebuild an engine I would gladly pay for new gaskets, timing chain, water pump, etc as "while it's apart" type of maintenance even if the old stuff is still in serviceable shape.
As a DIYer I don't see the economy in taking apart a vintage amplifier, unsoldering and testing 30 year old capacitors...and then putting them back in. Best case scenario replacing old caps has the potential to solve a major problem, similar to the one my friend had with his Cyrus. Next stop for that amp was the landfill. Worst case, it it makes the amp more reliable long term and gives someone new to the hobby plenty of practice with a soldering iron...I fail to see a downside other than the potential of making an error, but as a DIYer that's part of the learning process provided safety precautions are taken.
For those that do take their gear to techs for work it may be worth thinking about replacing old capacitors. If I hired a mechanic to rebuild an engine I would gladly pay for new gaskets, timing chain, water pump, etc as "while it's apart" type of maintenance even if the old stuff is still in serviceable shape.
When I get my new timing belt I do in fact have them replace the water pump and a few other things
I think personal philosophy of the bench matters. I have nothing against updating old caps, but to ME it is important to find out what is wrong with a circuit. I do that first, and THEN replace update parts. If I do all the parts update first, then I can potentially mask other marginal parts.
I think personal philosophy of the bench matters. I have nothing against updating old caps, but to ME it is important to find out what is wrong with a circuit. I do that first, and THEN replace update parts. If I do all the parts update first, then I can potentially mask other marginal parts.