Because in many cases the equipment will have been compromised, damaged or even destroyed, I’ve seen it all too often.

In a nutshell, this picture is why I often refuse equipment that has been worked on by the worst offenders:

Do you like cleaning up other people’s mess? I don’t. The best hi-fi equipment is usually unmolested, in original condition, and ready for someone who understands how to care for it. I am happy to work on pieces two or three skilled technicians in Western Australia have worked for example, but that’s about the limit of it. Sadly, highly skilled professionals are few and far between.

Many DIY and commercial attempts at maintenance introduce faults such as damaged printed circuit boards and pads, compromised wiring and low-quality, incorrect or mismatched parts. This work not only does not resolve the original issues but usually introduces new problems. Owners are then left with a mix of old and new faults and the need to find a skilled repairer who will take on such a case. Many won’t.

Every good mechanic for example knows the pain of starting work on a vehicle, only to find loose, broken, stripped or missing fasteners everywhere. The same scenarios occur with electronics and it is torture to work on anything bodged, be it a car, motorcycle or amplifier.

Undoing this stuff can be time-consuming, tedious and expensive. It’s not something I enjoy, so in most cases, I reject such work. When you’ve seen and tried to undo this sort of thing as I have, you will understand why it’s usually not worth trying.