Sherlock Amps | Guitar Amplifier Mods, Ringwood, Melbourne Australia

TUBE AMP MODIFICATIONS & CUSTOM WORK
The following is a list of amp Mod's that we do on a regular basis. There are many more, and we may be able to do them. They are not brand or model specific. We just listen to what the customer wants from his amp and modify it to achieve this. TUBE AMP MODS TRANSFORMER UPGRADES & POWER CONVERSIONS MIDI INSTALLATIONS SWITCHING BOXES PEDAL BOARD SETUPS & PEDAL MODS Please Note: We don’t Mod all amps, just the ones we think are worth while. We don’t Mod solid state amps, just tube amps. We have included approx prices only as price will vary depending on the make and model of the amp, its condition, etc. Prices include parts. If you can't see the Mod you're after just give us a call or email and we'll tell you if we can do it.
RE-TUBE AND SERVICE. Remove old tubes and install new ones, re-bias and service. This is the single most effective Mod which when done properly and providing that nothing else is wrong, will restore the your amp back to original tone. please see our repairs page.
GAIN INCREASE FOR AMPS WITHOUT EXTRA TUBE. Small amounts of extra gain can be achieved with component changes in most earlier tube amps. approx. $90
GAIN INCREASE FOR AMPS WITH EXTRA TUBE. Huge amounts of gain can be achieved with one extra 12AX7 Tube. Requires extra tube, tube socket and components. please note, this is Mod is best suited to older amps such as Marshall’s. Modern multi-channels amps have the gain already and may have space limitations. $200-$250
DEPTH CONTROL/BASS BOOST. Installing a Depth control in an amps feedback loop can boost the bottom end. Requires one pot, some components and wiring. $90 The bass from JCM900 amps can be increased with this control and other Mods. $90-$120
DUAL VOLUME MOD. Gives 2 footswitchable master volumes. Set one higher and hit the switch and you'll be louder with the same gain for solos. Includes extra volume control, F/S socket and switching circuit. Footswitch with LED optional,. Switching is noiseless. approx $120
DUAL VOLUME AND DUAL GAIN MOD.. Gives a volume boost as well as a gain boost. Excellent for solos. Requires 2 extra pots, f/s socket and switching circuit. Footswitch with LED optional,. Switching is noiseless. approx. $180-$200 (not inc. F/S)
EXTERNAL SINGLE AND DUAL BIAS POTS. This mod Installs a bias pots on the chassis to adjust the bias on all power tubes collectively. Alternatively, 2 bias pots can be installed. One bias pot for the outer tubes and the other bias pot for the inner tubes. This allows dissimilar tubes to be operated, i.e. EL34's for the outer tubes and 6L6's for the inner's. Also bias test points can be added to measure tube current, individually or collectively. approx $120
EFFECTS LOOP (SEND AND RETURN, TUBE). Buffered tube output to send socket and tube gain stage on return socket. Requires one 12AX7 tube, tube socket and a small amount of components. $250
BRIGHT SWITCH. Boost the tops using a push pull pot. approx. $80 MID BOOST. Foot switchable or push pull pot. (point to point wired amps mainly) $80
HALF POWER SWITCH. For 4 power tube amps (100watts or 30watts) reduces power to half. Requires one single poles switch for class AB amps and wiring $90. for class A, double pole switch is required plus wiring $100.
TRIODE/PENTODE SWITCH. A Pentode tube wired for Triode operation reduces power by approx. 1/3, warms tone, and increases distortion. Switch back to Pentode for full power and brighter tone. $80-$100
POWER TUBE CHANGES. Install 6550 in your amps for cleaner bigger sound. Requires 6550 tubes and bias change or change from 6L6's to EL34's or most other octal base tubes approx. $90 plus tubes.
HT FUSE INSTALLATION. For all tube amps without HT fuses. Minimizes damage in the event of power tube failure. Requires one fuse holder and wiring. approx $90
VINTAGE TUBE RADIO TO GUITAR AMP CONVERSIONS. A customer found this old abandoned Vintage Tube Radio by the side of the road one day and brought it in to see if we could get it going again. After fixing several things on it like the power supply and the audio section it still was unable to receive radio signals. So not being an RF man, I gave up and it sat there on the shelf for about a year. Then one day the idea hit me, convert it to a guitar amp! So I re-worked the audio section of the amp, put in an Input socket, the Tone and Volume controls remained the same, plugged in a guitar and man does this thing scream!!! Its awesome!! No more that 3 watts and a vintage 6 inch speaker this old thing produces the dirtiest most disgusting tone I've ever heard. And yes it does clean up when you back off and sounds quite decent clean. So if you have one of these old tube radios sitting around not doing anything bring it in and I will see if we can turn it into something useful like a Vintage amp for your guitar. Cost Approx. $200-$300 depending on what needs to be done. Also it has to have a decent speaker in it. If not, we could install a speaker out socket. (P.S Don't tell vintage radio buffs we're doing this.) Email for quote
REVERB TANK AMPS. Novelty tube amps made from old unwanted reverb tanks, 10 watts class A push pull output (2 x El84) with volume and tone. or 5 - 10 watt single ended class A fitted with 1x 6550 or EL34 or 6L6 or 6V6 or anything with an octal base ) with Volume and tone. Single ended class A 5watts with 6L6 shown. Well if you want something a little more up market please have a look at our lates product, the Angry Ant.
OUTPUT TRANSFORMER UPGARDE. Improve the sound quality of any amp with an Output Transformer upgrade. We can fit Mercury Magnetics or one of our own Custom transformers to greatly improve tone. If your amp is fitted with a generic, low-budget, tiny, transformers you need an real transformer fitted. Email for quote
POWER TRANSFORMER UPGRADE. Tube amps need big transformers to sound good. Transformers are the first thing budget amp makers skimp on. They usually use undersized transformers that run very hot and at there limit all the time. Some makers don't even use a choke! We can fit Mercury Magnetics transformers or one of our custom transformers to improve tone and reliability. Email for quote
120v to 240v POWER TRANSFORMER CONVERSIONS. Due to the popularity of ebay and other online shopping sites we offer a 120v to 240v power conversions service for our Australian customers importing American amps. See our Repairs page for more info.
MIDI CONTROLLED CHANNEL SWITCHING FOR AMPS. When installed into a 2 or 3 channel amp and used with a multi effects processor and a MIDI foot controller, your tap dancing days will be over. Without MIDI control in your amp, you would need to hit 2 buttons, one for the amp and one on the foot controller for the effects unit to get your sound. With the MIDI Mod installed in to your amp, or setup separately in its own box plugged into the amp, it will change the channels on your amp when you change patches on your effects unit, so you only hit one button on the controller to get all your sounds. And the channel changing can also be programmed like your effects unit can be. If installed into your amp, you will have a midi in socket and a small program button. Your existing channel switching operation will not alter, but now you will use this to program your amp to change channels when you access you sounds from your effects unit. The amps channel changing can still be operated as it was before the Midi Mod was installed. Top pic: Midi Mod kit and the bottom pic: Midi Mod kit installed into a Peavey 5150 head. This Installation controls the channels, effects loop and an added boost volume for the lead channel. For more see our Midi Mod page.
AB SIGNAL SWITCHING BOXES. Most AB Box configuration can easily be made up. We always use high quality parts for our boxes. Most common types are: A or B, Single button with 2 LEDs and battery $100 A or B & A + B, Dual button. with 3 led’s and battery (ABC box) $120 4 in, 1 out, 4 led’s, 4 button. $250-$300 All the above boxes can be adapted to be controlled by our Midi Mod module to make them MIDI controlled signal switching boxes. See our Midi Mod page for more info
FOOT SWITCHES. Most custom footswitch can be made up or a spare sourced for any amp missing one. Price depends on the number of switches required and any additinal Mods required to the amp. $80-$250

PEDAL TRUE BYPASS MODS. Some pedals are designed without a true bypass. When they are disengaged, they may still effect the tone. This problem is compounded when several none true bypass pedals are connected together. We can Mod most pedals for true bypass. See Whammy pedal with true bypass switch and LED.
PEDAL BOARD SETUPS. We can wire up your pedal board with one of our 9v power supply’s or we can use yours. We can custom make a 9v power daisy chain for all of your pedals. We can also custom make you signal cables for minimal pedal board clutter. See our 9 v power supply page. Just some of the many pedal boards we have done over the years. All powered by or 9 volt power supply or one of our custom power supply.

Welcome to the Sherlock Amplifiers Custom Shop.