In need of electronic gear repairs? Read this first.

Posted on 14th October 2011 by Gavin Wright

Is your amp broken?  Has your speaker stopped “speaking” to you, or is your keyboard out of commission?  Well you’ve come to the right place, but before you bring in your broken stuff there’s a few things we should cover.

  • So what is actually broken here anyway? 

Divide and conquer.  My amp powers up but makes no sound.  Did you try a different source?  Did you try different connection cables?  What about a different speaker or cabinet? 

Follow simple troubleshooting techniques to ensure you bring in the right piece of equipment.

  • Did your gear emit smoke/sparks or any other obviously catastrophic symptom? 

If you fall into this group you’d better bring your gear in right away – something is obviously wrong.

  • Does your gear turn on? 

If it doesn’t check the outlet (plug something else into it).  If the outlet is okay check and see if there is a user replaceable fuse. If there is swap it with a known good fuse of the same value. 

If the fuse blows again or doesn’t remedy your problem I would bring your gear to me to fix.  I don’t recommend trying to access anything that requires disassembly.  Many electronics contain lethal voltages even when unplugged.

  • Does your gear power up but behave oddly? 

Try “reinitializing”.  Many electronics have a “factory reset” option.  Instructions should be outlined in your user manual and many times consist of holding down a couple of specific buttons when turning the unit on.  Beware as this will generally erase any user created presets and settings.  If this doesn’t help it’s time to visit our shop.

To learn more about Gavin and West Music's renowned repair division, click here!