1974 Vibrolux

[robrtnickerson]

So, I picked up a 74 vibrolux super cheap several months ago. It was basically doa, I got about 3 minutes of horrible (but kinda awesome) sound out of it and it went kaput. I took it to a trusted amp tech to look it over and give me a quote on the restoration/repair. It needed just about all of the things done to it that one would expect a neglected tube amp would need. New tubes, caps and all that plus the two ten inch speakers were blown. He quoted me $500 parts and labor. I don't think that his price was necessarily unfair, as he is a pro and stands by his work. I just am having trouble coming up with the extra cash to pay for something that isn't food or shelter. I have zero experience working on amps. For me, electronics are analogues to black magic voodoo type shit or chiropractory. However, i really, really wanna play this amp. A lot. So I am willing to delve into black arts in order to sate my rock desires. My question is, how likely is it that I will inadvertently kill myself in the process? Or worse yet, completely ruin the amp foreverever?

[Sloan]

Most of that price will probably be parts cost.

[robrtnickerson]

Yeah, iirc he only had 2 or 3 hrs for labor at $30/hr. He has markup in the tubes and such as well as insisting that I use expensive replacement speakers. My thinking was that I could buy parts as I went. Breaking up the investment into smaller chunks which would make it easier to justify. Plus, you know, broadening my horizons a bit by learning some stuff. Basically what it all boils down to, is that I bought an amp that I can't afford to fix right now unless I do it myself in increments.

[StevePirates]

My question is, how likely is it that I will inadvertently kill myself in the process? Or worse yet, completely ruin the amp foreverever?

Fry's Electronics has little "build your own" electronic kits. If you have no experience, but want to learn, those might be a better introduction. It'll take you longer to finish your amp, but you won't kill you or the amp.