Hot Glass FAQ

Welcome to the FAQ (frequently asked questions) section of the Hot Glass Audio site. These are some of the most frequently asked questions - More questions and answers will be appearing. If you have a pertinent question, please feel free to drop us an email. It might just also appear in the FAQ section:

I just purchased a Scott/Eico/Fisher/Etc tube
component off Ebay; is it safe to plug in and turn on?

In short, No, most often this is asking for trouble. This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions of Hot Glass Audio. Most vintage pieces have been sitting unused for a prolonged period of time. During this time, some components, notably electrolytic capacitors, will have degraded. Applying full line voltage to a vintage piece that has remained untouched for years can cause costly damage, and in some instances, an explosion could result from a defective electrolytic capacitor. It is best to power up such equipment using a VARIAC (variable AC transformer) to prevent costly damage. By slowly increasing the applied line voltage, you will have a opportunity to observe the current draw, and look for signs of damage that would otherwise not be possible by applying full power. Hot Glass Audio actually encourages customers not to power their equipment up until it is rebuilt or repaired, this to be on the safe side. Yes, people have been lucky and happened upon the Ebay untouched find but this is a gamble and we don't recommend this practice of Power up without testing.





What is the turnaround time for Hot Glass Audio?

This depends upon the volume of work we receive in a given week. An average figure is two weeks. This gives us time to order any needed components not in house, to rebuild your equipment, and to fully test it to insure 100% operating condition. Sometimes the turn around time is more depending on parts and the service required. We treat each customer's repair or restoration with high priority.





What is the best brand of vintage audio equipment?

There is no real answer to this question, as it's based solely upon subjective opinion. A Google search of the model may yield results with differing opinions. We like all makes and models, although some yield better price to performance ratio. There are some EXCELLENT products from the lessor known companies such as Pilot, EICO,





What makes Hot Glass Audio better than
the competition?

Experience and Knowledge! Hot Glass Audio's staff has the know how to repair and rebuild your equipment, and to do it the best way possible. We have the largest parts selection, the best trained and educated staff, the best in industry warranty, and the lowest prices. We offer an excellent combination of objective testing with the best test gear combined with listening tests to hone in on subjective parameters. We honor custom requests for parts selection and modifications. Our number one goal is complete customer satisfaction; here at Hot Glass Audio, our customers are #1





What shipping company do you most frequently use?
Which service?

UPS Ground. This is usually the most economical way to ship heavy vintage equipment. Of course, the key to a positive shipping experience is GREAT PACKING. Well packed equipment is seldom damaged in transit. We encourage double boxing of every item sent to us for repair, with lots of packing material. It is crucial that the item sit securely in the box, with as little play and movement as possible.





Do you perform repairs and modifications on
new designs?

A: Yes. We can repair any new makes and models of tube audio equipment, and can honor most modification requests within reason. There are actually many ways that low cost modern tube amplifiers and preamps can be improved without breaking the bank, sometimes in dramatic fashion since many of the manufacturers sometimes skimp on certain parts quality. Jolida is an example of an amplifier that can see improvements with some simple mods. Many others fall into this category.





Can I drop off my equipment directly to you, rather
than ship it?

Yes. Local residents in the Washington/Pittsburgh area are encouraged to drop off their equipment, rather than ship it. This will reduce the risk of equipment being damaged in transit as well as provide face to face communication and interaction. We would love to talk over your gear and welcome customers!


For questions/comments, please call or e-mail us
at info@hotglassaudio.com