[sdiy] Small Business Idea -- synth techs needed

[Ken Stone]

I guess the difference is in the market. For repair you are dealing with
existing instruments and a much broarder customer base.
For producing DIY designs available as kits/pcbs etc, the market is MUCH
smaller. The step from making diy kits to fully functional synthesizers is
just a bit big for most small operators to take.

Ken

>My situation exactly.
>
>I worked for the University of California for 29 years -- during that time, 
>amassed a collection of synths, parts, schematics & knowledge.  After they 
>put me out to pasture last year (thanks, Schwartzenegger), I went  into 
>"business" as a vintage synth repair tech -- I was thinking I could work on 
>one or two machines a month & supplement my retirement pittance.  At this 
>moment, I have two Chromas, four Prophet 5s (rev 2 & 3), an Aelita and 
>numerous smaller synths (Cat, Solus, Prophet 600, etc) stacked in my house 
>for repair (and more on the way). If I was serious about making a "killing" 
>(which I'm assuredly not), I could have even more business coming in than I 
>already have.  Even working at my own slow pace, not soliciting business, 
>I'm making more now than I was working for UC.
>
>There is a space for more techs out there.
>
>It amazes me that in a place like the bay area, with half a million 
>musicians, there is so LITTLE effective tech support for analog keyboards.
>Anyone who has some skill, some knowledge & the will to deal with musicians 
>(which is the hardest part of my job) can do quite well for themselves -- 
>the up side is the chance to play with all kinds of interesting & unusual 
>synths;  the down side is "oh joy, another Odyssey with crappy sliders".
>
>About half my business is local;  the rest is shipped from around the 
>country (& a few from outside the US).  Lists like Analog Heaven & Synth 
>DIY are all the advertising you need;  once you've done good work for a few 
>people, word of mouth spreads insanely.
>
>I say go for it -- why not?
>
>~GMM
>http://www.analogsynthservice.com
>
>At 06:13 PM 11/4/2005, you wrote:
>>I'm retired, so no sweat...And I'm not looking to conquer the financial 
>>world either! Just think a decent income can be made repairing things, and 
>>I can emulate idols of mine like Dr. Moog, or Grant Richter
>>[]
>>
>>
>>                                                                      Doug
>
>
>
_______________________________________________________________________
Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au or sasami at cgs.synth.net
Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>