Ken Fox: Consummate Pro Tech

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 10 Jul 2006 8:56 am

I have two 1970 Standel amps that are very precious to me. Being over 35 years old, things start to dry up (like caps), get dirty (like pots), or just wear out. I was very hesitant to take these amps to anyone and, in fact, several amp techs were hesitant to work on them due to their age and unfamiliarity with Standels.

I sent Ken an EMail asking about his rates and whether he'd be willing to look at them and bring them back to specs. He replied promptly and I took them by his shop in Georgia on a trip to Tennessee last week. By the time I returned, he had completed one of them and had to order parts for the other one.

I picked up the one that was completed, and was amazed at how thoroughly he had gone through it and the obvious knowledge and ability he exhibited.

On top of that, you'd have a hard time finding a NICER GUY. I am delighted to recommend Ken's work with no reservation. His reputation with Fender tube amps is widely known, but he can do it all.

Thanks Ken

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

John LeMaster · Post by **John LeMaster** » 10 Jul 2006 12:09 pm

Larry, I concur. You can tell after just a few minutes of talking with Ken that he is tremendously knowledgeable on electronics, especially vintage amps and the Profex line of products (TranstubeFex, Profex II, Bassfex, etc). Great work, reasonably priced, IMHO.

I think he really loves what he is doing, too. By the way, I have had the opportunity to hear Ken play guitar, and he is an excellent guitarist.

John L.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 11 Jul 2006 7:57 am

Was he playing through that two-cabinet tweed beauty? What a gorgeous amp. Yep. Ken does great work.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 11 Jul 2006 8:42 am

If I have ANY tube amp that needs attention, I would rather pay the shipping to and from to get it to Ken for repair work ...I know when he works on my amps, that they are not just done, they are done RIGHT !!..... You can pay now, or you can pay later ....You might find closer , or cheaper , but you would be hard pressed to find a BETTER tech , and a nice guy is a bonus !!....

Jim Harper · Post by **Jim Harper** » 11 Jul 2006 10:49 am

James,you sure have that right about Ken.He is a great fellow also==Jim Harper

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 11 Jul 2006 11:05 am

DITTO to everyone's comments about Ken!!

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 14 Jul 2006 3:38 pm

Bill,
He's working on the Standel you sold me right now. Wouldn't trust it to many others.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Tony Rankin · Post by **Tony Rankin** » 15 Jul 2006 6:00 am

Ken is a first class guy!!!

Grant Johnson · Post by **Grant Johnson** » 16 Jul 2006 9:34 am

The BEST guitar amp I have ever owned was a Ken Fox Blackface Vibroverb Clone 1x15. I am still kicking myself for selling it ! Ken is wonderful guy to do business with.

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 16 Jul 2006 2:07 pm

Hey Larry...that's good news about Ken working on my old Standel...Since I live in Birmingham, AL now, I can drive up to Ken's one night and steel it!! HA! Great old amps -- and will be incredible once Ken completes...

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 16 Jul 2006 3:20 pm

I confess I have not met Ken yet personally.
But from my emails, and observations I think what makes Ken a great amplifier Pro Tech is that he truly loves what he does, and is not satisfied until he does a thorough job. Unfortunatly this is not true with all in the profession. I look forward to enlisting his expertise in the near future.
Lefty

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 16 Jul 2006 6:07 pm

Thanks for the kind comments! Electronics is a hobby now that I am retired. I just turned 55 this June and retired from IBEW Local 48 out of Portland, Oregon! I spent 23 years as a licensed Oregon Limited Energy Electrician, Washington State Master Limited Energy Electrician and finally a NICET Level 4 Engineering tech in the field of Fire Alarm Systems Technology. I was also licensed in Washington as a 3rd year inside wireman/electrician. I spent the last 10 years inside doing estimating, engineering and project management. I never pursued being an inside wireman, as I enjoyed the techinical side of commerical limitied energy work.

Over the last 6 years or so I dove back into tube amp theory and the restoration of Fender and other tube amps. That is now my hobby and I love it. I do some limited work with solid state stuff, but it is not a major interest. I take those amps on a very limited and case by case basis only!

I really enjoy the work I take on and also try to do a good job. Sometimes something new comes up and it is time to learn more. There is always room for learning with electronics! I must say I have spent quite a few nights pouring over schematics trying to really understand what makes things tick. If you can't understand it, you can't fix it. You can "shot-gun" it, but I will not. That means replacing parts until it works! I prefer not to take on things that are beyond my technical expertice. Many things are best left to the boys at Peavey. Those guys are my heros when it comes to repair of electronics.

I have never been treated so well by a company as Peavey. They have helped me through so much in the way of answering electronic questions, getting parts, etc. I can't possibly tell it all in such a short space!

I can't do it all. I just try to do what I can the best I can. If I tell someone it is best to send it elsewhere, it is because I feel someone lese knows it better and can do a better job in that situation.

Thanks again!! [This message was edited by Ken Fox on 16 July 2006 at 07:11 PM.]

Ken Yates · Post by **Ken Yates** » 16 Jul 2006 8:00 pm

"If you can't understand it, you can't fix it."
No truer words have ever been spoken Ken. I can see by your wording your an a1 tech. My theory has always been,,,,know what it does, when it does it, and how it does it and you can fix it.
Keep it up buddy, and enjoy the retirement..Like me.
Ken

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GFI Ultra,S10 w/pad,,,Nashville 112,,,Nashville 400,,,Hilton,,,RV-3

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 19 Jul 2006 3:44 pm

Ken is a rare Jewel and a very good friend of mine and the best of the best as far as I am concerned.
Hey Kenny, I didn't know you were an IBEW member, so am I IBEW 1574 and due to retire in 1 year, 11 months and 7 days, whoopee!!!
Gene

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!