Marshall Amp Schematics

THREE QUESTIONS with Bobble Tiki: Union Jack Amps - Columns ...

Warning: this week Bobble TIki is not writing about a musical "show," per se. In fact, he's not even really sure what "per se" means.

Rather, he's writing about an event - a musical event, yes - but not your standard three bands on a bill and a couple (too many) whiskey sours.

Sunday at Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way, Union Jack Amps and Riggio Custom Guitars - both local endeavors - will be holding an event going by the billing "Demo Daze."

You know it's serious because they used "Daze" instead of "Days." Plus, it's only one day, so "days" wouldn't have worked anyway. Plus, Z's just look crazy exciting you know ...

But Bobble TIki digresses. Demo Daze at Stonegate Pizza will be your chance - whether you're a serious player or just a bedroom six-string tinkerer - to see some of the more exciting, hyper-local gear currently offered.

When it comes to Union Jack Amps, you don't have to be paying very close attention to see they're making a mark. The list of bands and musicians now part of what the man behind Union Jack Amps, Derek Springer, calls the "Union Jack Family" is long and impressive. And folks aren't just using the amps to be nice; these throwbacks seriously deliver.

Bobble Tiki caught up with Springer this week to talk about just how he got into the amp business, and what people can expect out of Demo Daze ...

BOBBLE TIKI: First and foremost, talk about what Union Jack Amps is all about and where it came from. You say, "I am Union Jack Amps." What all does this entail? What do you do? Why do you do it? Where do you do it from? DEREK SPRINGER: Union Jack Amplification is a Northwest custom guitar and bass amplifier company.  I hesitate to say company since it's a one-man show, but doesn't everything usually begin that way?  I started out building HiFi tube amps aboutseven7 years ago mainly because the retail costs are in the four to five digit range.  Building them was less expensive and a lot more fun.  After that, the transition to guitar amps was inevitable.  If a HiFi tube amp was a BMW, then a guitar tube amp was a 500 horsepower 1969 Camaro.  I built a few using schematics of classic Marshall amps.  Like most hobbies, it soon became a habit.  A few days after I'd finish a project, I'd start thinking about things I would do different or other amp circuits that looked interesting.  Fenders and Hiwatts to name a few.  So to raise money for the next build, the previous build would have to go.  I sold a few on eBay and Craigslist mainly hoping to break even and get the next amp started.  During the process I would receive dozens of emails with questions and requests.  "Hey man.  Nice work.  Do you have a website?"  Or"I'm looking for someone to build me a Trainwreck style amp, can you do that?"  Seeing an opportunity, Union Jack Amplification was born.  At the time, I was mostly building Marshall style amps.  There's just something about those classic British amplifiers.  Just the right combination of gain and tone.  After some solo brainstorming, the name Union Jack Amps just stuck.  Short and sweet and it looks good backlit on the stage.  I do all the work from the Man Cave and I'm currently focusing on one amp at a time in a direct collaboration with each buyer.  I've narrowed down the model lineup to six classic circuits that I think are the best of the best in guitar amps.