PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

StratmanUK · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Bedford UK

Hi...I'm a UK Strat player (not jazz atm btw... Rolling Eyes

)
Joined here really as a techy idea as I am now pretty well retired with over 50 years electronics experience as well as similar playing all styles of music...
I have the great experience of working with valves (tubes) from the early days of late 50's/early 60's, the introduction of early transistors and all the later surface mount stuff that I worked wiv before redundancy as a Senior Electronics Engineer working for an American Company doing all the techy stuff for shows & touring stuff based here in the UK...
So I look forward to hearing other peeps issues and I am most happy to help out as and when I can...?
I now work from home repairing/rebuilding all those good old amps & effx from way back...currently rebuilding a Polytone 104 that I first "met" in the 1970's after rebuilding BOTH power stages following vandalism...( a keyboard player had used it...)
I live withing 15 miles of where Marshall (UK) make all their amps btw... Wink

Good to be here btw... Laughing

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Strat player since 1962

jazzerchick · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 954 Location: SanAntonio , Tx

Sounds like you've had quite a career. Welcome.

StratmanUK · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Bedford UK

Hi JC...yes I suppose I have in one way or another...
Life to me started off within a musical family anyway..my father and all his brothers were a well known (locally) brass band family hence I started off playing brass instruments/rudiments of music as 2nd nature etc...

I initially played drums (Sea Cadets / miltary and classical style) and guitar as a teenager in the late 50's and went with the flow during the 60's rock & roll invasion and played alongside most famous UK stars of that era...as I matured so did my taste and style I have played most styles over the years inc modern jazz but my personal pref really is the Blues these days tbh... etc

Being a formally trained electrical & electronics type, as a profession from leaving school as an apprentice, I also took to very early day electronics especially within group equipment etc, that grew over the years of course...
I'd initially worked from home from the 60's-70's until I became involved at a more commercial level - mainly within TV engineering back then too.

I benefit from a thorough and VERY long experience dating back to valve days (Tubes) and experienced all the breakthroughs with Germanium transistors then the silicon age...NOW I work with miniature surface mount multi sided PCBs as well of course...

I ultimately became a Senior Electronics Engineer working for a large worldwide company, repairing & problem solving all sorts of stage and major venue equipment mainly within Europe but also within the USA...

I stopped playing bigtime some years back but STILL do odd gigs as and when it suits me although I am approaching retirement now...I have returned to working casually from home just fixing stuff again... Wink

I almost took a job with Marshall amps some time ago as their main factory is very near to my home in the UK...
Anyway in a nut shell there you have it...
I look forward to hearing others issues and learning myself with luck...
Good to be here and thanx for your welcome.. Laughing

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Strat player since 1962

M · Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 331 Location: Northern VA (USA)

Welcome, Stratman!

StratmanUK · Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Bedford UK

Cheers M and kind regards from the UK
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Strat player since 1962