Probably like you, by my teenage years, I was wholly uninterested in anything my parents were listening to. So I got my first record. Then another, and another. Soon enough, my ears were swimming in Rush, King Crimson, and Zappa. Zappa! So, I learned to play guitar. Nothing taught me more about the sounds I heard than trying to play them myself. I was nowhere close.

Columbia College in Chicago had an audio engineering program attached to their school of music. I learned acoustics, recording techniques, and most importantly, it gave me access to a recording studio to make music and put my obsession to practical use. I learned a ton!

My first professional gig was at the Apprentice Shop south of Nashville. I learned luthery working on Gibsons and other guitars.

Shortly thereafter, I moved to San Francisco to continue training under Gary Brawer. While at the Brawer shop, I interacted with the fine guitars of The Grateful Dead, Joe Satriani, Carlos Santana, Steven Stills, and Henry Kaiser, among many others.

Late night access to a private studio gave Tim countless hours as a listener, player, and technician among some of the Great Amps: Dumbles, Tweed Fenders, Plexi Marshalls, Trainwrecks.

Returning to Chicago, I opened Schroeder Guitar Repair. Here, I built approximately 40 (now highly sought after) archtop guitars. I also developed a line of guitar electronics.

I began developing amps, laying the groundwork for today’s Dozer, Formula 50, and SA9. But sensing the need for change after a highly focused spell, I closed my shop, deaccessioning large equipment and moving into a small space in Chicago’s prestigious Fine Arts Building, a hotbed for creative artists of all disciplines.

I expanded my repertoire to include professional sound engineer and builder of home audio systems and isolation racks. He continued development and repair work for a few years, even venturing into high-end kitchen cabinetry.

It was a chance phone call from Fleetwood Mac’s people who brought music back to the fore: “We need you to refret Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar and overnight ship it for tomorrow’s gig in Boston.” Lindsey was thrilled; job well done, a good check-in, so no more custom kitchens for Tim, rather, back to music full-time (with clients like Rusted Root, Lucinda Williams, and Drive-By Truckers) in the building next to Chicago’s legendary Make’n Music for almost a decade before his current location of Highland Park, Illinois.

Many of the musicians who play Schroeder amplifiers soon find them an indispensable part of their sound live, in the studio, and at home. Jeff Beck, Wilco, Nels Cline, Umphrey’s McGee, Telegraph Canyon, Chauncey & Darrell Marrier, Killick Hinds, Andrew Bird, and many more have been seen and heard ‘round the globe with their Schroeders. Tim prides himself on roadworthy build quality, and a 100% commitment to customer service, with clients becoming friends bound by sound. Schroeder amps make rock, jazz, country, blues, avant-garde– any styles– sparkle. Secrets revealed: while the amps are made for clean warmth and are glorious at low volume, crank ‘em up for superlative thrash metal bite. Protect your ears and hold on tight!

I've learned a lot about what makes great sound. Countless hours of practice, and humbly learning from the greats gave me the confidence to do it my way. Building instruments with the finest ingredients and transforming them just so has been immensely satisfying, and the quality of my craft has been validated by some of the greats.

All the same principles apply to playback equipment. So, I'm particularly choosy with whom I partner and stake my reputation. I don't build instruments from scratch anymore, but I get the same stir of excitement when I hear them played on an awesome stereo.

If you get the same joy from music that I do, we should listen together. I'll help you build the stereo of your dreams.