I first started learning how tube amplifiers work when I was a teenager out of necessity (I played loud and very hard so I broke my Strat and Twin on a regular basis!). After getting an $85 repair bill that said 'sprayed tube sockets, replaced preamp tube' I said, I can do that and also find a way to not charge so much! $85 in 1984 was a lotta shake! So I took apart an old Showman amp my cousin gave to me, bought resistors at Radio shack and a schematic and after shocking myself to the ceiling, somehow made it work. In about 1991 I was hired to work at a recording studio Called 'Hound Sound' in Baltimore under the direction of Tim Hatfield, a wizard with studio and guitar electronics. He taught me about Mogami wire, good caps and how to not shock myself anymore. I am forever thankful for his help. After my stint there, I went to work for Jeff Bober at Precision Audio Tailoring fixing amps and I built around a dozen of his Budda amplifiers. Jeff taught me a lot about the business, getting in an amp, fixing it right and getting out and charging a fair price. I'm thankful for his help and guidance as well. In my Maryland days, Steve Melkisethian at Angela Instruments played an important role where I learned all about old Marshalls and old Hi-Fi, hardly anybody took an old Heathkit Amp seriously in those days. I had the opportunity to listen to a lot of old amps there an leaned what a good amp vs an o.k. amp sounds like. I thank the Melkisethians for those days, they were vital! I moved to the great Pacific Northwest in 1995 and landed a job at Denny's Music, which is now Old Town Music. Thanks Pat Rice for letting me stay that long and for all of your support! After 9 years there I've finally opened my own shop, dedicated to providing the best service on your tube amplifier. The knowledge gained from my experience goes into each amp we see here, and goes in to each amp I build and each amp we sell.

I have a deep respect for old instruments and amplifiers and do my best to keep them running and sounding right. You won't get you piece of equipment 'improved' here without your permission. (Improved means modified!) We use parts that sound as close to the originals as possible. If you bring us something that is a basket case or of poor quality, I won't jive you, I'll simply tell you what you are getting in to and if the cost of the repair exceeds the value of your amp, I'll give you honest and accurate information and let you be the judge. I know our hours are limited but we work on over 200 jobs a year and need a day where the phone doesn't ring! We also donate 10% of our profits to charity, we believe in making a positive difference in the world as well as in your band!