Frequently asked questions
One of my motivations for creating this website was so that I had somewhere to direct people when they asked common questions, rather than repeating myself all the time. If your question isn't answered below, get in touch and I might add it to the list!
What do you do with all the items you repair?
Until now, they've been piling up in the garage. But with this website, I'm aiming to change that. I've sold a few items to people who have emailed me requesting specific models, but now you'll find a list of what I have available on the Shop page.
Can you repair my broken item?
Maybe - the best thing is to send me an email with details of the item and I'll consider whether it would work as a video. Please don't be offended if I decline - if it's something I've fixed before or not in my usual realm, I may say no simply because I don't have time. I also have quite a backlog of items to repair, so I may choose not to accept simply because I don't have much space to store things.
If you agree to repair my item, what will you charge me?
Nothing, as long as you're willing for it to be featured in a video. I would appreciate you picking up the cost of shipping though.
Why do you mainly repair CD players?
That was an accident. I found a couple of them in quick succession and therefore had two consecutive videos featuring CD players. They got more views than anything I'd done previously, and I also found that I enjoyed working on them - so I kept on going. I do have lots of cassette decks to repair and a couple of amplifiers, so occasionally I'll throw in something different.
What grease/oil/tools do you use?
I've made a pretty comprehensive list of my tools and equipment on the Tools page. You shouldn't assume that I use the 'correct' stuff - it's just what works for me. I'm always open to recommendations and have taken many of them. I'm also happy to learn if I'm doing something wrong.
What happened to Tape Tuesday?
It's still a thing, in theory, but it's not often that I get enough time to make two videos in a week. To be fair, I did say it would be an occasional series - I just hoped it would be more frequent than it has been.
How long does it take to make a video?
When I started featuring CD players I was comfortably making two videos per week - but that was when the repairs were usually simple (generally a belt change and a good clean). Lately I've been testing myself and seeking out more difficult repairs, and the time it takes to make a video has grown. Lately it's not uncommon to spend a whole week on the same project, and often even longer. The editing then takes at least a day, maybe two, then I'll watch it back at least three times to make sure it's okay to upload. So producing a minimum of one video every week has become a challenge in itself. That's why Tape Tuesday has proved so difficult to do.
Wouldn't it be quicker if you did less editing?
Yes, but that's something I'm not willing to compromise on. My aim has always been to remove everything that isn't relevant, which turns out to be 90 per cent of what I shoot. I seem to spend a lot of time staring at the PCB trying to figure things out, and I'm assuming that nobody wants to watch that.
What's the best/most repairable brand of audio equipment in your opinion?
There's no 'best' when it comes to manufacturers - some are better than others, but mostly it's subjective. Nor can I say that one brand is easier to repair than another because it isn't consistent. One Pioneer player might be simple to fix, but other model might be a nightmare. Cheaper players tend to be easier to repair in my view because there isn't so much going on inside. Good access makes a huge difference, and that comes down to design - the Revox B225 CD player I featured has a modular design which made maintenance and repair very easy, but sometimes even changing a loading tray belt can be a complicated process.
When are you going to get a manicure?
I apologise if the state of my fingers offends you, but I have no plans to get them looked at professionally. I am trying to moisturize though.
Why can't you pronounce the word 'adhesive'?
So many people have mentioned this that I'm really paranoid about it now. I know how it's spelled and I know there are no Ts in there. Maybe it's a British thing, but we don't tend to accentuate the H. At least that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.
