Re: [Harp-L] Mick's crappy, collectible harp amps: Mick Zaklan

["Splash" <celtiac@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.ampshopmusic.com/


If there's a place in hell for bad amp techs, then there also must be a seat
at the right hand of the Amp GoDs.

Worth the drive.

Obviously, Ron & Bari care more about expert fixing and maintenance of
gigging musician's gear than keeping a fabulous website running.  They
usually have a few cool vintage amps in the shop for sale too.

Splash


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "geoff atkins" <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 4:55 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Mick's crappy, collectible harp amps: Mick Zaklan


>
> Mick Zaklan wrote:
> But Ray, my friend, I've come to regard these old amps as merely long
> term cds or savings bonds.  Inflation fighting investments.  A last line
of
> defense against bankruptcy and homelessness.  I'll hold on to them a while
> longer.
>    Besides that, I've sort of enjoyed delving into the shadowy world of
amp
> techs............[edit]...... Restored to factory specifications.  Then,
if
> I was unhappy with the sound, he'd be glad to try it my way.  I tell you,
I
> had smoke coming out of my ears at that point.
>    I know this is Easter, but there must be a special place in Hell
reserved
> for guys like that.
> Mick Zaklan
>
>
> Hello Mick, sorry to inform you that the special place in Hell has already
> been reserved for a South African amp repairman. I'd fixed a broken guitar
> neck for a friend, and he gave me a broken 1993 vintage British solid
state
> 50W amp 1 x 12", with double preamps. I could see that under the dust and
> spiders' webs was a fine solid piece of craftsmanship. I scrubbed it down,
> re-fixed the vinyl, resprayed the grille, and it looked like fresh out of
> the store, externally almost perfect.
> I took it to the officially- appointed tech 14th December, and he said
that
> I could have it before the Xmas holiday.
> On April 10th, after a few tense phone calls I went to pick it up, nothing
> had been done. Except wiring was hanging out of the front and back, it was
> filthy, and all sockets were loose. I asked for a realistic completion
date
> so he rang head office, and then told me that maybe the parts could be
> obtained in another three months or so, ...perhaps.
> I took the amp, and as I was loading it into the trunk, the preamps/ amp
> module fell out of the casing onto the road, he'd lost the fixing screws
as
> well.
> There's probably a queue of amp techs waiting outside the gates of Hell.
> Geoff Atkins
>
>
>
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