My fascination with electronics began in the mid 1960s when I was a young kid. My Dad helped me build a crystal radio and we hooked up a long wire around the eves of the house. The radio picked up a few AM radio stations and I was hooked! After that, I took apart and destroyed several of my Grandfathers radios to try to understand how they worked.
A few years later, after playing sax in the school band, I picked up an electric guitar and started trying to follow in the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix. I understood that part of what I liked about his music was the renegade way in which he approached the guitar and amp. I too wanted to know how to get new and radical sounds from the instrument. While focused on becoming a "rock star," I was encouraged to plan on a backup career "just in case." That was an easy decision. It seemed a logical fit to learn electronics since that knowledge might help me to get cool sounds from my gear and allow me to maintain the equipment.
I took electronics classes in my last year of High School and in my
local community College and graduated with honors in 1979. Beginning
circa 1977 while studying electronics in high school, I began doing
basic repairs on my guitar amps and those of my friends and band
mates. While still primarily focused on the guitar, I worked in a TV
shop repairing tube-type and solid-state TVs and stereos as well as
solid-state audio gear and reel to reel tape machines. From there, I
worked to stay on the leading edge of audio technology. I was one of
the first techs to be trained to work on CD players, Laser Disc and
DVD as each product emerged, but I never stopped repairing and
improving guitar amps.
In the Late 80s I was hired by Pioneer Electronics to take
responsibility for the service of Laser Disc, DVD, projection TV and
Plasma displays for ten southern states. In that position, I was a
technical trainer, warranty administrator, technical support
representative, and problem solver. I learned much about the
electronics industry. In 2002 I started Andrews Amp Lab to get back
to the music and what I loved most about electronics. Now I can
enjoy keeping amps working and sounding great while helping other
guitarists achieve their musical goals.
JA