how to become a repair tech?

ive been building guitars, amps, pedals and playing for some years now, ive been thinking about pursuing a career or at least a job in doing so. are there technical schools or certificate programs out there? apprentices? what would be a good path to follow?

there should be plenty of trade schools for electronic repair and bench techs. (ITT tech, for one)

If you already know the basics of electronics (schematics, Ohms Law, component values, digital circuitry, etc.) and how to use test equipment, then it really is a matter of finding someone to use your services.

Find a music store and hang up some business cards... or find a manufacturer and get a job.

There are two kinds of techs that I have used:

one's with their own storefront

and ones to whom people have referred me.

Usually, the ones I've been referred to are better, as folks typically won't refer someone who sucks.

I would imagine that boot strapping a music tech repair shop would be a cheap business to get into, if you have a space to work from your home and can start trying to sell your skills to anyone who might possibly be interested.

Most of the techs I know are independent and started their shops on the basis of knowing folks and having at least a bit of a customer base. But if you provide a good service (and don't charge so little that you don't look like you are running a business), then you ought to be able to make at least some part time income off those skills.

If you suck or have poor organizational skills, then good luck to you.

Berani;

it sounds like you are mainly interested in electronics repair???

(you just mentioned guitars as well - so just trying to get a handle of scope)

Don't go to ITT, look at your local community college. You can usually get the same education for about a fourth of the cost through a community college. You want to look for titles like "Electronic Engineering", or things of that nature. Not "Electrical", but "Electronic"...the Electrical courses normally revolve around Power Supplies/Transformers/Wiring of homes and businesses and that type of stuff. (I took some of these courses and it was essentially based on wiring a panel in a house and things like that, and that was when I was told that I needed to look for the term "Electronic" and NOT "Electrical" in the course titles and descriptions.)

Start doing guitar mods for your friends - changing pots, pickups, etc., amp repair, build and market your own pedals.

Make it a cottage industry.

It helps if you're an active musician as well, but not necessary. Go to your nearest guitar store and put up cards and flyers. Also CL and trade papers.

You'd be amazed at how many people want your services if you're any good.

Be that guy that gets business via word of mouth.

I have a basic electronics degree, and was almost finished my degree in electronics technology in 2003, but got sidetracked by band crap (that I should have avoided).

Had I not taken the year that it took to get the basic electronics degree in school, it would take forever to try to piece together the info that you need to understand circuitry, wiring diagrams, Ohm's law, etc. You can do what you need to do with the basic degree, but I would strongly advise that you complete the course, which, for me, was about 2 and a half years, but I think you can shorten to 1 and a half, depending on how heavy you want the course load to be.

But it is essential that you understand the concepts behind the wires that you are soldering. It opens up new doors for creative repair work and thinking outside the box.

After understanding electronics, I would try to find as much info as I could on how to actually build a guitar...and not youtube vids on how to do it, I'm talking about investing in books. Not sure if there is an actual luthier class that you could take, although I would assume that there is, since somebody has to teach the guys who build guitars now.

In other words, get the knowledge first, then get the clients. If you feel comfortable enough, fix a few things for a "starter" price, saying that you're trying to get started, and just get your feet wet that way. Once you're comfortable with doing odd repairs, start advertising.

Yeah, my bad, I mentioned ITT because they are all over the country, but most community colleges offer basic electronics classes, and there are some areas that have tech schools that are publicly funded.