Service Manuals, User Manuals, Schematics, Vintage electronics - StereoManuals.com by Stout & Associates

Service Manuals, Schematics, User Owner Operating Instruction Manuals, DIY Electronics Repair Info, Brochures, Vintage Audio, Classic Audio & Newer. Consumer Electronics, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments & More!

 
 
   
About Us Section - FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
About Us Home Page
Contact Us
Current Announcements
FAQ
Major Goals
Cool Pictures
Customer Comments
Site Visitor Comments
Late Replies
Email Ain't Perfect!!
How StereoManuals Got Started
(Includes Pioneer "THE RACK" Info)
About Rick Stout

We are currently completing a major rewrite of our entire site. For the first time ever, we are posting lists of everything we have in our Manuals Catalog. Many thousands of the listed items do have completed descriptions, individually assigned Quality Ratings and Price Codes. However, many thousands of items do not have anything other the item listing. For those, just send us an email. We will examine our original, then add the item description and pricing to the catalog and send it to you via email reply. Depending on how many and which particular items you are interested in, we may offer multiple item discounts.

We are a family-based business, not a multi-national corporation. We can not hire cadres of full-time "manuals describers" or web-coders to build our site. Progress happens as we are able to make it happen. We intend to make this the most comprehensive manuals oriented site in the whole world.

This FAQ page has information based on how things WERE in 2003-2006. Much has changed now. We will update this FAQ to match our site and our current situation as soon as we complete the rebuilding of the web site (it will make much more sense that way).
Frequently Asked Questions (click questions for the answers)
Not really a question #1 = 1 - I can't find what I want on your web site.  2 - I can't find anything on your web site.  3 - I hate the colors on your web site.  4 - Your web site sucks.  5 - Your web site is a disgrace to the internet.  6 - I hate your website.  7 - I don't know you, but I hate you... etc.

Not really a question #2 = I am offended by that "Daily Manna", Bible verse thing at the bottom of every page on your site and that Truth Seekers thing. How dare you mix religion and business. That is stupid and you are an idiot.

Not really a question #3 = I love your web site. I love what you are trying to do for the vintage audio community. I love you.

NOTE: These three "Not really questions" are obviously not questions. They are indicative of various comments that we have received and are liberally edited versions of same, after being filtered though our warped sense of humor. Thankfully, it's mostly the third one and only a few of the first two. Anyway, we thought it might be appropriate to comment back.
Do you have such and such a manual?
Where can I find such and such a manual if you don't have it?
I'm interested in such and such a manual(s) listed on your site. What is the price?
Why can't I find the number of pages so I can find the cost on your Prices page?
How can I buy such and such a manual listed on your site?
Why don't you have prices on your website?
The item I want does have a price code. How can I buy it?
Do you jack up the price with "Handling Charges" or "profit-making" shipping cost?
Can I pay with a money order (domestic/international), check (business/personal), wire transfer, cash, etc.
I want some of your stuff but have no money or I'd rather not spend real money. Can you help me?
Why don't you have a button I can click to buy a manual?
Why don't you have a Shopping Cart system?
I'm a Paypal user. Can I use Paypal?
What is your phone number so I can call you?
I want to use my credit card. What is your phone number?
I refuse to use Paypal, but insist on using my credit card or I will go elsewhere.
Are your manuals copies of other copies?
Do you guys really make good manuals?
Are you serious that most customers find their manuals better than expected?
Can I read the small print in the schematics?
Do you provide any guarantees?
Will you ship a manual to such and such a country?
Will you email the manual to me in PDF (or other electronic format)?
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET AN ANSWER?
I wrote to you (once, twice, more) in the past and never received a reply. Will I this time?
I have a such and such manual(s) that is not listed on your site. Are you interested in it (them)?
Are you interested in trading your such and such manual(s) for my such and such manual(s)?
Do you know how much my such and such equipment is worth?
How can I find out how much my such and such equipment is worth?
What is an audio forum?
What is my local free advertiser?
I want to buy some of your Pioneer gear on the Other Stuff page. How much is it?
You sound like a funny guy at times and at other times seem rather plain-spoken and matter-of-fact... are you a nice guy?
The Questions AND Answers
  • 1 - I can't find what I want on your web site.  2 - I can't find anything on your web site.  3 - I hate the colors on your web site.  4 - Your web site sucks.  5 - Your web site is a disgrace to the internet.  6 - I hate your website.  7 - I don't know you, but I hate you... etc.
    ANSWER = 1 - Sorry.  2 - Sorry.  3 - Sorry.  4 - OK.  5 - OK.  6 - OK.  7 - OK, but those sticks and stones really hurt. Now I've developed a self-esteem damaging psychological problem, and wish I had never been born.

    I'm sorry to use such a worn out cliché, but you 'really' need to get a life. But since you are so passionate about us, perhaps you would like to send us several thousands of dollars and will we hire some real professional site designers and coders. And with so much passion, you will probably want to read everything in the About Us section including the 'Chronicles' of our past Current Announcements. When you are done, write us again and let us know if you still feel the same way.

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  • I am offended by that "Daily Manna", Bible verse thing at the bottom of every page on your site and that Truth Seekers thing. How dare you mix religion and business. That is stupid and you are an idiot.
    ANSWER = I'm really sorry that you are so easily offended. Since you cunningly discovered it's there, an intelligent person like you should be able to figure out a simple solution. I have one... do not go to the bottom of any page on our site... it might be dangerous to your well-being. On the other hand, perhaps you ought to read the remarks on the Truth Seekers page and try to be intellectually honest this time. One of the truly great things about being in business for one's self is not having to bow and worship at the feet of political correctness as dictated by some employer or Human Resources department.
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  • I love your web site. I love what you are trying to do for the vintage audio community. I love you.
    ANSWER = Thank you very much. We get a lot of comments from site visitors like this and really do appreciate them. In fact, such comments have frequently been a huge encouragement to continue when we have sometimes been discouraged and felt like quitting. We are fully aware that our site is not a slick, professionally designed, marketing guru driven site. It just reflects who/what we are. And truthfully, in our opinion that is better than anything any professional site designers could ever do. We aren't trying to be like everyone else. We do not and will not conform to fit in anybody's pre-designed box. And, we are making zero effort to be like any of our competitors.

    Just to let you know, we really are open-minded, we welcome constructive, thoughtful criticism and suggestions. As long as you aren't the type of person that #1 and #2 above is addressed to, please feel free to tell us whatever you wish about our site. We promise that if we haven't already, we will consider your suggestions. You can read a bit more about our business and 'site ideas' on the Basic Premise/Start Here page.

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  • Do you have such and such a manual?
    ANSWER = As indicated in the yellow section near the top of this page and our Current Announcements pages, this has been an ongoing problem. We are very close now to FINALLY posting complete, accurate and up-to-date lists of manuals in the Manuals Catalog section. When completed, we will guarantee that we do not have anything not listed. Until then, we can't really answer that unless you send us in inquiry. See Simple Purchasing Info.
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  • Where can I find such and such a manual if you don't have it?
    ANSWER = I don't know. Try internet searches and follow any promising leads, post messages on audio forums, watch online auctions, put an ad in your local free advertiser.
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  • Why can't I find the number of pages so I can find the cost on your Prices page?
    ANSWER = You can't really "look up a price" based on the number of pages. WE ASSIGN a particular Price Code to every individual item and are doing it as quickly as we possibly can. There is that general info in the yellow section near the top of this page, but more explicitly, see the "APPROXIMATE PAGE COUNT IS PROVIDED AS A REFERENCE ONLY NOTE:" section on our Price Codes page.
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  • How can I buy such and such a manual listed on your site?
    ANSWER = We've been "so behind for so long" (sounds like a Randy Travis song), I'm tempted to say you can't buy from us... ha! But seriously, the Terms/Purchasing has been completely updated. Just go there and pick any menu selection that strikes your fancy.
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  • Why don't you have prices on your website?
    ANSWER = You may be tired of hearing it, but there is that yellow section near the top of this page. BUT, beyond that, we ARE getting some prices on the site now. AND if you are a Paypal user and for those items that do have price codes, you can Buy it Now with Paypal For those without price codes, see Current Announcements and/or the notes at the top of the Price Codes pages.
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  • The item I want does have a price code. How can I buy it?
    ANSWER = If you found it in one of the Manuals Catalog lists, there should have been some yellow background rows every so often that indicates Paypal users can Buy it Now with Paypal. And for others who are not Paypal users or want to pay by some other method, links to Simple Purchasing Info.
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  • Do you jack up the total price by adding on "Handling Charges" or jacking up shipping cost?
    ANSWER = Absolutely not! Domestic and international shipping costs are shown on the Price Codes page for each price code. We are not interested in profiting on shipping cost, but we don't want to lose either. We may make a few cents on your particular shipment or (more likely) we may lose some. The shipping costs in our charts are the price you pay. They are our best estimates rounded up or down to even dollars. The exact amount shown on your package will usually be within a dollar of what you paid. If you are purchasing multiple items, shipping cost will generally be along the lines of those shown on the Shipping Rates pages.
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  • I want some of your stuff but have no money or I'd rather not spend real money. Can you help me?.
    ANSWER = Yes. Perhaps... Maybe... We set up The Trading Page just for you.
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  • Why don't you have a button I can click to buy a manual?
    ANSWER = For general answers, you can see the yellow section near the top of this page or Terms/Purchasing and Buy It Now with Paypal. For a bit more specific answer, I'll say this. Doing that for 50,000+ items would present some serious hurdles we are not prepared to cross at this time and possibly never will. We may in the future add a clickable Buy It Now button to a few hundred or a few thousand of the most requested items. We simply have not made a firm decision about that yet. In the mean time, it is very easy to Buy It Now with Paypal.
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  • Why don't you have a Shopping Cart system?
    ANSWER = Like the answer about clickable buttons to buy individual items, crossing that hurdle at this time is simply more than we are prepared to do at this time. It is something we will be investigating and giving serious consideration to at a later time. In the meantime, see Terms/Purchasing and read whatever suits you to see how to do business with us.
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  • What is your phone number so I can call you?
    ANSWER = Please don't. We are currently set up to do business via the internet and email. Even if we published our number, you would not necessarily be able to contact us as we are not always near a phone plus keep some really weird hours. We could play phone tag for a long time and never connect. However, when we have more organizational things done and complete a planned move to a new location, we may publish a phone number and be available to answer it. It would be a helpful thing if you would include YOUR PHONE NUMBER (and best time to call) with your inquiries to us. There are times when it would be much easier for us to give you a phone call.
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  • I want to use my credit card. What is your phone number?
    ANSWER = We are not set up to directly process credit cards. You are most welcome to use your credit cards through online payment services like www.paypal.com (our preference). See Payment Options for more information.
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  • I refuse to use Paypal, but insist on using my credit card or I will go elsewhere.
    ANSWER = We certainly don't mean to sound nasty, but... see ya! Hope you come back some time. We also hope you like the competition's product.
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  • Do you guys really make good manuals?
    ANSWER = Yes. Absolutely! Best-efforts Quality is our A-#1 top priority. The vast majority are Quality Rated as 'Very Good to Excellent'. In virtually all cases, they will be printed as the originals including 11" x 17" folded pullout pages and will be neatly constructed as either center-folded, center-stapled, OR side-stapled (as most originals are) with fiber reinforced tape applied to the spine. Often they will be better (cleaner... no dirt, stains, writing, rips, etc.) than many originals you might find. For exact details about how our manuals are made, see About Our Manuals.. We receive rave reviews from customers virtually every week (sometimes several). Some of them are posted on our Customer Comments page.
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  • Are you serious that most customers find their manuals better than expected?
    ANSWER = Yes, we really are serious. In most cases where the item has a Quality Rating of "Very Good", "Very Good to Excellent" or "Excellent", you will likely be pleasantly surprised. Ask yourself this question:  Have you ever seen any other manuals site (other than a small, boutique type specialty site) talk so much about how stuff is made, about quality, and guarantees, etc.? We didn't think so. For further info, see Customer Comments, Manuals Philosophy, About Our Manuals, and Quality Scale
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  • Are your manuals copies of other copies?
    ANSWER = The vast majority (99%+) are made directly from our original factory manuals. We virtually always do extensive detailing and cleanup work if necessary, in order to produce the cleanest reproductions possible. In a few cases, we reproduce from high quality 1st generation copies. Just a few rare cases, we reproduce from a copy that is not particularly good, or possibly even poor (but we "always" tell you first). We also "always" provide an *honest* Overall Quality rating before you buy according to this Quality Scale which you should read so you will know what it means.
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  • Can I read the small print in the schematics?
    ANSWER = In almost all cases, YES. But sometimes you can't read it in the originals, so you also can't read it in ours either. A magnifying glass is quite helpful with some service manuals. In some cases, we "may" produce enlarged versions of really difficult areas and/or "might" make enlargements and then spend a lot of time hand tracing over very faint electrical values. Another thing we do it pay very close attention to whether our printing equipment is performing properly or not. If we notice any degradation, we make adjustments and it that doesn't work, we get service techs on it very quickly.

    Much wonderful equipment was produced by many audio companies. But many of those same companies must have had idiots who designed service literature. Sometimes even if there is space where they could have used 20 point type size in a schematic, they used 4 point type size (and sometimes with a pale pastel color). What the hell were they thinking?

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  • Do you provide any guarantees?
    ANSWER = Yes! Absolutely! If we take your money for an order, you have our word that we will treat you right. Our word is our bond and we guarantee satisfaction according to the description we offer before your purchase. These are not trick words and neither is our individual item descriptions or our individually assigned quality rating. We WILL do what is necessary to insure your satisfaction. But if you happen to be one of those (thankfully rare) extreme a-holes who simply can not be pleased with any amount of effort... we might ask you to PLEASE RETURN your items for a full refund. Or we might even refund all your money and tell you to keep it and enjoy ripping us off.
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  • Will you ship a manual to such and such a country?
    ANSWER = Yes... unless it is on a "restrictions apply" status with the US Postal Service such that no mail is allowed.
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  • Will you email the manual to me in PDF (or other electronic format)?
    ANSWER = We do happen to have perhaps a few thousand (don't know exactly) various manuals in various electronic formats. In spite of that... right now... the answer as of 2/2004... is almost never. We specialize in producing genuinely high quality printed reproduction manuals and brochures. We have given a great deal of thought to this subject and for now, the major thrust of our business will be to continue our pursuit of the top quality printed manuals route.

    There are tons of folks distributing scanned manuals. We have some very strong opinions about electronic literature distribution. There is much fakery, trickery and subterfuge involved with much of the electronic manuals being distributed by a lot of places on the net. This topic is quite similar to the "digital ready" speakers advertising of a few years ago. The words: digital, scanned, high resolution, etc do not necessarily make anything better and should not be automatically construed to mean they will be excellent or even good.

    HOWEVER... because we do desire to accommodate, we may be listing what we have in our Manuals catalog. If we do, there will be links to other pages explaining that we may not be ready to distribute them yet... or whatever the case may be. At the very least it will provide our real opinions about electronic manuals and their distribution. AND if we do decide to allow them to be purchased on a regular basis, we plan to do it differently than any other manuals seller we have ever seen on the net. Stay tuned...

    Oh, almost forgot... (laughing about reason #9 subsiding)... Annnnnd... THE #1 REASON THAT MOST FOLKS SHOULD WANT A PRINTED MANUAL... It's tough to take a PDF to the "reading room" for study while engaged in other important tasks. ( ...roars of approval and hysterical laughing...)

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  • How long does it take to get an answer?
    ANSWER = THIS IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION! Since upfront honestly is the best policy, here's the complete, "no-BS" answer. Until our website is 'fully-functional', so that most of the popular manuals are described and priced so that people can buy without having to write to us first, we must do it via email. Answering emails has been our single biggest problem since starting this site. I (Rick, owner) hate the situation and have lost much sleep trying to correct it. So, the real simple and truthful answer is...

    Just like with you, it depends on what we are doing and how busy we are. Sometimes you will get an answer in 5 minutes. Often within a few hours. Normally within 24-48 hours. When we are super busy, it might take longer. If we happen to be overwhelmed and backlogged, it might take much longer and it might even get "lost in the shuffle" and become part of the email archives monster we have here. I hate to admit it, but even some past customers and some we consider friends have had inquires lost in those backlog archives.

    One thing we want you to know is that if we take your money, you will receive your order in a timely fashion unless something extremely unusual is going on.

    2003 was the first year of our unexpected acquisition of 6 tons of manuals. We did deliver for lots of customers, but the entire year was one hectic, drastically over-worked disaster. All in all perhaps the worst year of my life. Over the entire year of 2004, we were able to complete many super helpful projects and made much headway with our StereoManuals plans. But at the same time, our manuals business plans were severely hindered over the course of the year by numerous things for weeks at a time and in one case, nearly three months.

     Example, in 12/2003, my elderly mother required a serious abdominal surgery. Recovery was slow. In mid-2004 a follow-up surgery was performed. Immediately afterward in the intensive care unit, she suffered a stroke. I spent a lot of time over 3 months in particular tending to that situation. I have no idea how that will play out or for how long. But, family is more important than selling manuals. 2004 was probably the saddest year of my life. As of today (Feb/2005), that situation has evolved but is not solved.

    So... we hope you understand if you happen to be one of the approximately 20% of folks whom we just don't seem to be able to get an answer to. We believe that we may be near to being able to respond to all in a timely fashion and perhaps begin to attack the backlog. But we have said that before and had unexpected things happen to hinder us. We are after all, just regular people like you. Since we do not have access to unlimited capital, this family business progresses just as fast as we are able to make it happen. Time will tell if this time we can "finally" be optimistic again about getting and staying current which is the way we always "used to" operate before acquiring such a huge library. See the next question and answer. We do hope you understand.

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  • I wrote to you (once, twice, more) in the past and never received a reply. Will I this time?
    ANSWER = Who knows? We sure hope so. There is information all over our site about the growing pains problems we have had and our many efforts, attempts, and very hard work trying to overcome the startup phase problems of a manuals business. Regarding your previous message(s), it is still our intention to reply to every single one at some point in time if only to apologize. (More information about this here.)

    This is the "Bottom Line"...
    We acquired too many manuals that we didn't own long enough to have completely organized, described and priced. It took much longer than anticipated to modify, adapt or develop new and necessary business processes and procedures. We were "too easily found" via high ranking Google searches and that resulted in an overwhelming (to us) number of inquires that we were not prepared to handle. We were too under-capitalized to do anything about it any quicker than we have. And finally, a number of "family things" and other responsibilities periodically hindered faster progress.

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  • I have a such and such manual(s) that is (are) not listed on your site. Are you interested in it (them)?
    ANSWER = Yes, probably... maybe... write to us and ask.
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  • Are you interested in trading your such and such manual(s) for my such and such manual(s)?
    ANSWER = Yes, probably... maybe... write to us and ask.
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  • How can I find out how much my such and such equipment is worth?
    ANSWER = Try internet searches and follow any promising leads, post messages on audio forums, watch online auctions, put it up for sale in your local free advertiser.
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  • What is an audio forum?
    ANSWER = A place on the internet where like-minded people post messages about a particular subject like... vintage audio equipment. There are some links to audio forums on our Links Page. We are host to a very nice audio forum discussion group (mailing list). It is called 70sAudioMindset but is not limited to only 70s stuff. All audio topics are on the table, even including digital and black plague stuff. Click the link here for more information about 70sAudioMindset.
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  • What is my local free advertiser?
    ANSWER = Get real... (I can't believe I put this here). It's a free or small-cost publication probably available in your local grocery stores, convenience stores, etc. that list things people in your community are trying to sell.
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  • I want to buy some of your Pioneer gear on the Other Stuff page. How much is it?
    ANSWER = Go read at the top of that page again. But if you feel like making us an offer we can't refuse....
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  • You sound like a funny guy at times and at other times seem rather plain-spoken and matter-of-fact... are you a nice guy?
    ANSWER = Yes Sir! I am one of the friendliest guys you ever met... just very, very extremely busy... working 12 - 20 hours per day most of the time. I'm looking forward to getting more of the "startup phase" behind us. Perhaps I can become a human being again and get a life back. See Current Announcements page for more information than you care to read.
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