I was given an old family piece: a record player console from the late 1950s. It wasn't working, so…read moreI started calling local places. Alpha Tech works on turntables, not consoles. They wouldn't let me bring the (small) console in. They had me detach the turntable from it. That took a few minutes, as I had to tear some wires away from the plastic pieces that were glued to the console, and I also had to figure out where the wires were plugged in--no easy fear for this av-clueless one. But I got it done. When I took the turntable in, I was told it would be a $50 deposit for diagnostics and that could go towards repair if it is indeed reparable. That's fair. I got a call a day or two later and was told it was reparable and I was given an estimate. The amount wasn't for the faint of heart, but if I were faint of heart I'd not have accepted the item from the relative. My main concern was that there could be something wrong with the console and I'd have sunk a few hundred dollars to repair a turntable and for naught. They used to send such business over to someone in Belleville, but he's retiring. Ed told me that they would help me if that happened. So I felt fine moving forward. A few days later, I got the call and the total due. I came and picked it up. Has a conversation with Kevin, who was able to explain how to use the turntable, like how to switch the needle over for the different speeds and that I could stack multiple records at a time. I had no idea! What a revolutionary thing for when I listen to my 78s!! Then I got home and had a problem: I couldn't find where to connect one of the two wires I'd had to unhook. And I looked hard. Took pics and sent to my familial tech support person. No go. It was the wire for the speakers. I could tell because the turntable worked but the sound was so very quiet. So I called Alpha Tech and for Ed. He seemed surprised/amused that I couldn't find where the wire went. Sounded regretful that I hadn't taken a picture. Tried to troubleshoot by suggesting I look near the tubes. Laughed at one point. That irritated me a little: you are the expert, you have me take the thing apart, you say you're going to be there if I need you, I give you nearly $300, and I've got an admittedly stupid-sounding problem... Throw me a bone here and don't laugh. Well, I was thrown a bone. I was told I could bring the thing in and he would look. I was glad of that. For the record, the place was not near the tubes. I had to flip the thing upside down, scratching the top, and then I saw that in the front of one metal box-thing, where I could not see when it was right side up, was the port for that wire. I'm relieved the console is fine. As I write this, I'm realizing it how upset I'd be now if it had not been fine. Waste money or more money owed. Yikes. I took a risk. Anyway, it works. Sounds good! I got what I came for. I would absolutely go to Alpha Tech again. My tip for improvement for Alpha Tech is allow people to bring in their consoles. If their consoles are end table-sized rather than buffet-sized, it won't take up much space. If the consoles are bigger, create a wait list.

If you want your reel to reel even looked at, it has to be one of the name brand models. I've…read morecalled twice and they won't even touch my AKAI because it's "low end". I thought everyone's money is green. I guess not.