Mercury Magnetics announced today that they will offer free transformer service for guitar amp owners affected by tropical storm Sandy. The company has provided the same service in the past for victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Nashville flooding. Here are the details from their press release:
If your amp was submerged or has sustained any water damage whatsoever
due to Tropical Storm Sandy —DO NOT TURN IT ON! Wet transformers can be
dangerous to the amp and owner!
Mercury is volunteering its expertise and offering a FREE Guitar and H-Fi Amp
transformer service for all storm victim amps.
Here’s how it works: Mercury has the technology specifically designed to help
salvage and restore water-damaged transformers. The process includes a
battery of testing, a custom process of evacuating the moisture, re-varnishing
and re-baking of any transformer AT NO CHARGE for the service. They’re only
asking that you pay the shipping each way.
Patrick, Mercury’s Service & Support Network Manager, reports, “This is a
vitally important FREE service we’re offering. And we hope that everyone takes
advantage of it. Especially for the vintage and rare amps that otherwise are
NEVER going to sound the same if this process isn’t done correctly. There’s
a potential tragedy of some historically important tone being lost forever if the
transformers are not properly brought back to life. We’re happy to say that we
had a better than 90% success rate with those from the Nashville Flood and
Katrina disaster. All of us at Mercury are happy to help everyone through this
tough time.”
Please note that Mercury has specialized equipment for this purpose. Because
this process cannot be duplicated at home, please do not attempt, and do not
attempt to power up any amp without having the transformers serviced. To do so
will almost certainly harm them. If a transformer is found to be damaged beyond
repair, Mercury will offer the choice of a rewind, replacement or upgrade—at
substantial good guy discounts.
Contact Mercury for any questions or concerns you may have and for special
shipping instructions. Transformers must be removed from the amp by a qualified
tech and complete amplifiers are not to be sent.