We're not going to say that the Solutions audio repair store in Silver Lake drove Elliot Smith to suicide, because 1) we don't know that he actually ever took anything in the shop, 2) readers of this site don't seem to cotton to death-associated levity, and 3) wasn't there some speculation that he was actually murdered? But if somebody else happened to say that it did, we would have to say we understand completely.
If you have taken an item into this place for repair and have a positive story to tell we'd really like to hear it. So far we've only heard people complain about waiting endlessly "for a part to come in" (and by endlessly we mean for up to two years) while enduring rambling monologues from the owner about his successful lawsuit against the state of California (something about reverse polarization) and his theories as to why he and his Chinese brethren can't drive, and some ersatz Zen master musing about ice cream cones, and...
Oh, if you actually do get your "repaired" equipment back in less than a year, dollars to donuts it's not really been repaired and when you take it in again the owner will determine that it is somehow your fault the equipment doesn't work because it was working great when it was checked out of there. If you take it out of there because you're sick of waiting and you want to take it to another repairman, make sure he gives you all the parts.
So, pay your respects to Mr. Smith by visiting the wall he made famous; just don't take anything inside. We'd say you should add to the graffiti by writing "SOLUTIONS SUCKS," but that might just encourage the owner to paint over all of the messages, and not doing that is the only decent thing he's done for us so far.
Photo by cloudasmoke via Flickr
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Sure, they fixed my amp after I moved here. They also gave me some really weird spiel and a burned CD that supposedly will "clean out" my speakers or something. Or maybe it was about "aligning the polarity of the magnets". Amp has worked fine ever since.
Solutions is NOT the answer. A friend of mine took his battery (DC) powered guitar amp in for repair. 6 months and many phone calls later this so called "repairman" claimed the power supply was bad and he was having trouble getting a new one. Seems like a good excuse until you think for a minute. What is the power supply for a battery powered thing? Exactly. A battery. After wrestling the item in question away from Mister Can't-Fix-It and escaping with most of the original parts (fuse and fuse cover missing) he took it elsewhere. 5 days and some solder on a loose transistor later he's once again a guitar player in a marching band.
I have only gotten fair, quick repairs from Stefan at Solutions. However, I have spent nearly two hours listening to him talk about how reversing the polarity on Julie Andrews' home stereo drove her mad, that short guys and tall guys can't enjoy the same music at the same time (sometimes this is about Chinese guys and white guys, sometimes Simon and Garfunkel), and that listening to a poorly set-up stereo is like having an ice cream cone pulled away from you when you are just about to grab it.
Hmm. Interesting. Two votes for Solutions. Josh, what have you taken in for repair there, if you feel like sharing that? I'm wondering if Stephon just has some animosity towards people he deems "not serious about music" or something, or if there is some other part of this puzzle. I still stand by my assertion that he is the subject in way too many a tale of woe.
Okay first of all Elizabeth, you should be fired for blaming the DEATH of Elliott Smith on someone who's sole commitment was to let every fan write all over his/her wall. Rumor has it that even they didnt APPROVE of it...people just started writing all over it instead of letting it be. Secondly, im sure you took in an cheap speaker or unit that you purchased from Best Buy or Craiglist that wasn't even worth their time. Ever think about that? I've been in there numerous times and its a thing called busy. It's a thing called "DIFFERENT". Don't complain about a guy or his business just because you didnt get the service you wanted while listening to him speak. Maybe using your words and saying "im in a hurry i cant listen to u today" might work? I mean you ARE a writer and all right??? I admit I have animosity towards people that arent serious about music and I can see if that would be his case but everytime i go in there and speak with him, nothings wrong. Rethink your job title and dont tell musicians how to do their work, im sick of u writers acting like u know everything. All stephon's done is GOOD. Hes not hurting anyone. I cant even believe this article went up for so long without being taken down. U must wonder why there arent any comments on it huh? Ill make sure I speak with whoevers in charge over there. This is a serious matter, and accusing or making any sort of slight hint at murder/the cause of elliotts death towards this company is blasphemy.
Two thumbs up for Solutions from me too!! Took my beat up bose system to some crappy place in hollywood for repairs, they said they couldnt fix it, then took it in to SOLUTIONS LA on monday, had it fixed within a few days. Perfect, sounds better than before. Thanks!!