Amplifier Technician
Owner/
Head Technician
amplifier technician and tube expert. Together James and John have repaired
thousands of pieces of musical equipment and have a combined 20 years of
repair experience. Since partnering they have been building hand-wired tube
amplifiers, effects pedals, oscillators and synth devices, and one of a kind
modified musical instruments and talking toys.
"We enjoy what we do and it shows in our work"
Age: 25
Favorite Color: Black
Sign: Cancer
Stats: 5'10" 145 lbs. (wet)
Animal Lover
James attended Lively Technical Center in Tallahassee and completed the
Electronic Technology program in 1999. While attending Lively, James worked
for the Music Xchange in the repair department and completed an externship at
Eminent Technology, also in Tallahassee.
After completing Lively, James moved to New Orleans and ran the repair
department at New Orleans Music Exchange from 2000 to 2004. There he did
all types of audio equipment and musical instrument repairs. While at N.O.M.E.,
James also did solid state and tube amplifier repair for Sonic Surgery.
Through N.O.M.E., James met producer/engineer Roger Branch. James began
assisting him at "Oak Street" recording studio, which Roger owned, and at
SeaSaint recording studio, where Roger was the head engineer. James
repaired and maintained the studio equipment and performed all types of audio
transfers for "Big Easy Recording".
While working with Roger, James was the associate engineer on several
projects, including:
-BooZoo HooDoo (SeaSaint)
-Tab Benoit "SeaSaint Sessions"
James was also the co-producer on several projects, including:
-Amy Trail and Straightline (Oak Street)
-The Soular System (Oak Street)
James returned to Tallahassee in 2004 and started Class A Electronics, LLC.
He started the business out of is house, doing equipment repairs for a few
local retailers. In Spring 2005, he relocated his business to Railroad Square
after acquiring the Soular Sound company and moved into the existing location.
Since relocating, Class A has expanded to servicing electronics for all of
Tallahassee's independent music retailers and is now accepting regional
amplifier and keyboard repairs from the public and tube amplifier repairs
nationwide.
Age: 35
Favorite Color: Undecided
Sign: Cancer
Stats: 6'0" 190 lbs.
Single, High School graduate, non-smoking, vegetarian
Hobbies: Black Sabbath, '70s science fiction novels, Italian Giallo films, bicycling,
Excessive volume levels.
Until recently John had been working locally at Music Xchange for 8 years and
had been running the repair department there for the last 2 years. Customers
there included: George Clinton's P-Funk All-Stars, Damad, Cher, The Eric
Cutherberson Band, Longineu Parsons, SocialBurn, Presence and No Address,
among others.
For the past 6 years, he has been the authorized repair technician for Matamp
Distribution USA. In this position he's had the chance to work on gear for: Blue
Man Group, Deftones, Mitch Easter, Bongzilla, Earthride and
Small Stone Records.
John specializes in all types of tube amp repair and custom work, but he prefers
vintage Ampeg, Orange, Marshall and Sound City. He has a definite soft spot for
obscure 60s gear with accordion inputs.
John is also engineer/technician for
Electric Amp Innovations he completes hard-wiring of and final testing for all of
their amplifiers, which can be pair with their custom, super-sized
(4x15, 6x12, 8x12) cabinets.
He has built custom fuzz boxes for his friends including the Matter Disorganizer,
the Cap'n Crunch, and the Sa-tone.
His band Tron is the loudest band in the area. Their first CD "Tron Bloody Tron"
was recently released on 12th Records.
Sound Engineer / Delivery Guy
