Tim Schroeder

During nearly three decades in the music business, Tim Schroeder has worked as a noted master builder of fine archtops, though for the last 15 years he has focused on being president, primary designer, and builder at Schroeder Amplification, Inc., whose clients include Jeff Tweedy, Nels Cline, and Jake Cinninger.

Amp DIY

To Wreck or to Rock?

How to know when a vintage amp is worth rescuing.

Gear

8 Guitar-Amp Mods for Newbies

Removing or replacing a single component in your amp can have significant impacts on both its tonal character and the amount of gain or headroom on tap. Here we guide you through several easy projects you can do in relatively little time with a few basic tools.

Sol Philcox-Littlefield Rig Rundown Guitar Gear Tour

Site Navigation

Tim Schroeder

To Wreck or to Rock?

How to know when a vintage amp is worth rescuing.

How to Buy a Used Amp

Tim Schroeder—amp builder for Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline—offers seven tips for avoiding the post-purchase blues.

8 Guitar-Amp Mods for Newbies

Removing or replacing a single component in your amp can have significant impacts on both its tonal character and the amount of gain or headroom on tap. Here we guide you through several easy projects you can do in relatively little time with a few basic tools.

Why and How to Replace Your Amplifier’s Output Transformer

The output transformer plays a very large role, but is not everything in shaping an amp’s tone. Upgrading it takes what the amp already is, and then enhances it.

Sprucing Up Your Amp For Touring

Jeff Tweedy''s Fender Princeton is on the bench for a summer tuneup.

Tube Amp Buying Basics

Tube amps sound their best when pushed to some degree—and while playing a 100-watt Marshall half stack at home might look cool—the amp won’t get to shine if you are limited to keeping the volume level at one.

Adventures in Amplification: Lineage of a Dumble Overdrive Special

Peek under the hood of a Dumble Overdrive Special with a unique configuration, and listen to sound clips!

Adventures in Amplification: Don’t Overlook the Cables

Cables, whether used for power, for linking pedals, connecting amplifier to speaker, or in the internal connections of an amplifier, offer different tonal qualities that will enhance, decrease, or be transparent to your tone

Latest Stories

Start your day right!

Tim Schroeder

How to know when a vintage amp is worth rescuing.

Tim Schroeder—amp builder for Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline—offers seven tips for avoiding the post-purchase blues.

Removing or replacing a single component in your amp can have significant impacts on both its tonal character and the amount of gain or headroom on tap. Here we guide you through several easy projects you can do in relatively little time with a few basic tools.

The output transformer plays a very large role, but is not everything in shaping an amp’s tone. Upgrading it takes what the amp already is, and then enhances it.

Jeff Tweedy''s Fender Princeton is on the bench for a summer tuneup.

Tube amps sound their best when pushed to some degree—and while playing a 100-watt Marshall half stack at home might look cool—the amp won’t get to shine if you are limited to keeping the volume level at one.

Peek under the hood of a Dumble Overdrive Special with a unique configuration, and listen to sound clips!

Cables, whether used for power, for linking pedals, connecting amplifier to speaker, or in the internal connections of an amplifier, offer different tonal qualities that will enhance, decrease, or be transparent to your tone