Is My Amp Worth Repairing?

This is one of the most common questions I get, and it’s a fair one.
When an amp develops a fault, or needs a proper overhaul, the cost can sometimes feel hard to justify at first glance.

There isn’t a single right answer for every amp or every player — but there are a few key things that are often overlooked when people are deciding whether a repair or refurb is "worth it".

Here are some points worth thinking about.................

But It's Only Worth £XXX ........

A very common comparison is:
“Why repair this amp when I can buy the same model second-hand on eBay for similar money?”

On the surface that makes sense, but it often misses what you’re actually comparing.

For example, you might be looking at a £300–£400 repair on an older valve amp, while seeing similar amps online for £350. What isn’t obvious is that the eBay amp is likely the same age, with the same original components — ageing capacitors, tired valves, scratchy pots — and will probably need similar work sooner rather than later. In real terms, you may just be buying the same problem twice

A more useful comparison is usually:
"What would I replace this amp with if I bought new?"

If repairing your existing amp costs £400, what does £400 actually buy brand new today? Would that new amp be built to the same standard? Would it use the same quality transformers, chassis, and components? Would you reasonably expect it to still be going strong in 15 or 20 or years (or considerably longer)?

In many cases, the refurbished older amp ends up being closer in quality, and longevity, to a much more expensive modern replacement. Looked at that way, a proper repair isn’t just fixing an old amp, it’s avoiding a downgrade

Comparing a refurbishment cost to a second-hand price isn’t meaningful - it’s more useful to compare it to what a ( genuinely equivalent ) new replacement would cost.

Quality, longevity, and reliability

Many people don’t realise just how much cost-cutting goes into modern manufacturing.

That doesn’t mean new amps are “bad” — but it does mean manufacturers have to make careful choices about components, labour time, and build methods to hit a price point. The design department is constantly hammered by the accounts department, who always win!

When I refurbish or repair an amp properly, I’m not trying to shave pennies off a production run. I choose very high-quality components for reliability and longevity, not just cost. Parts that are known weak points get upgraded. Work is done with the assumption that the amp should be dependable for years, not just outlast a warranty period.

In practical terms, a well-serviced older amp often ends up more reliable than it was when it left the factory

A customer's 1934 Rickenbacher - talk about Longevity!!!

Older gear really is built differently

There’s no getting around it: a lot of older equipment is simply better.

More robust transformers.
A thicker chassis.
Simpler, more serviceable circuits.
And yes — usually better aesthetics too.

That doesn’t make every old amp valuable or worth unlimited investment, but it does mean many of them were designed with longevity in mind, in a way that’s increasingly rare today.

Sometimes repairing an amp isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about recognising solid engineering when you see it.

Can it sound better after a repair?

Often, yes.

Fresh, high-quality components, especially in the power supply and signal path, can restore clarity, punch, and stability that has slowly faded over decades. Even if the core “character” of the amp stays the same, it often feels more energetic, more responsive, and more consistent.

This isn’t about chasing magic parts or internet myths — it’s about bringing an amp back to how it was designed to operate.

So… is it worth repairing?

Sometimes the answer is genuinely no.
If an amp is very badly damaged, was poorly designed to begin with, or not something you ever actually enjoyed using, then replacing it can make more sense.

But in many cases, repairing or refurbishing an amp isn’t just about “fixing a fault” — it’s an investment in something you already know, already like, and already trust.

If you’re unsure, I’m always happy to talk it through. A good decision is an informed one — whichever way it goes.