Career Advice: Muscian turning engineer

bopplayer · 2009-08-07T19:07:30+00:00

Hi, I have some questions i'm hoping those of you who are degreed (or near) can help me out with. I'm 37, need to change careers, been a musician most of my life and also some management. I don't consider myself particularly technically adept but think i'm of average intelligence and have ability to learn new things slowly. If I were to get into a school it would be initially because I would love to have the skill of building and designing tube amplifiers and also guitar effects pedals. (analog better tone) that would be a great thing to know how to do and try and market my products, but I may also have to get a job in the field. 1. What kind of career future is there for engineers? 2. how does it apply to old school analog stuff like vacuum tube amps and analog pedals? Right now I could get a solder gun (which i've never used) and get a kit with transistors and try my hand at building an effects pedal. But I know that I would want to get really good at it and not be some basement hack. What do you think? am I crazy? pipe dream? Looking forward to your replies. Thanks Bopplayer

Career Advice: Muscian turning engineer

bopplayer
@bopplayer-OBvqU4

Updated: Oct 16, 2024

Views: 852

Hi,

I have some questions i'm hoping those of you who are degreed (or near) can help me out with. I'm 37, need to change careers, been a musician most of my life and also some management. I don't consider myself particularly technically adept but think i'm of average intelligence and have ability to learn new things slowly.

If I were to get into a school it would be initially because I would love to have the skill of building and designing tube amplifiers and also guitar effects pedals. (analog better tone) that would be a great thing to know how to do and try and market my products, but I may also have to get a job in the field. 1. What kind of career future is there for engineers? 2. how does it apply to old school analog stuff like vacuum tube amps and analog pedals?

Right now I could get a solder gun (which i've never used) and get a kit with transistors and try my hand at building an effects pedal. But I know that I would want to get really good at it and not be some basement hack.

What do you think? am I crazy? pipe dream?

Looking forward to your replies.

Thanks

Bopplayer

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Sahithi Pallavi

Member • Aug 7, 2009

Re: Musical Instruments

bopplayer
Hi,

I have some questions i'm hoping those of you who are degreed (or near) can help me out with. I'm 37, need to change careers, been a musician most of my life and also some management. I don't consider myself particularly technically adept but think i'm of average intelligence and have ability to learn new things slowly.

If I were to get into a school it would be initially because I would love to have the skill of building and designing tube amplifiers and also guitar effects pedals. (analog better tone) that would be a great thing to know how to do and try and market my products, but I may also have to get a job in the field. 1. What kind of career future is there for engineers? 2. how does it apply to old school analog stuff like vacuum tube amps and analog pedals?

Right now I could get a solder gun (which i've never used) and get a kit with transistors and try my hand at building an effects pedal. But I know that I would want to get really good at it and not be some basement hack.

What do you think? am I crazy? pipe dream?

Looking forward to your replies.

Thanks

Bopplayer

hiii...

First of all...Grand Welcome to our CE....

😁😁😁

Hope an active participation from you..........
Here there are so many good people to help you......

WINNERS DONT DO DIFFERENT THINGS.......THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY........

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bopplayer

Member • Aug 7, 2009

Thank you for the welcome. I hope to see a flood of advice.

Bopplayer

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Aashish Joshi

Member • Aug 8, 2009

Is this what you're looking for??

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gohm

Member • Aug 8, 2009

If you solely want to learn to build and theory of tube electronics & amplification, you might better be served by reading textbooks and building projects.

If you wish to earn a degree, increase knowledge in many disciplines then I would suggest going back to school and majoring in electronics. Not sure how much in-depth work would still be focused on tube technology nowdays. Hopefully someone else can chime in with knowledge on that part.

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bopplayer

Member • Aug 8, 2009

Hi,

Couple further questions, what kind of skill is required in reverse engineering a circuit?
say I wanted to make a "clone" of a classic fuzz circuit from the 60's?

How difficult would it be to make an op amp distortion? some op amp distortions sound really horrible but some others have a tightened response, the distortion signal is trimmed down and tightened up. What kind of knowledge does it take to learn this?

Thank you

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Kaustubh Katdare

Administrator • Aug 8, 2009

In order to reverse engineer a circuit, you'll need to have a clear understanding of the various parts of the circuit; which can be learned through a course in basic electronic circuit design.

If you wish to make your own circuit, you can refer to many circuit diagrams available on the internet. You'll also find step-by-step instructions as well. That won't need much knowledge of electronics. Just fire up your soldering gun, get the components from the electronics shop and you'll be on the way to creating your own effect 😀 .

Do give it a try. Electronics engineers on CE would love to help you with your first distortion. Most of the electronics can be learned by getting your hands dirty at it.

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ukanth19

Member • Aug 8, 2009

try one the best. Nothing is hard

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bopplayer

Member • Aug 8, 2009

Thanks. Let me ask you this, some circuit designs the designer will cover in some kind of colored red goop to protect the identity. (Even though they copied it from someone else trying to appear unique) is there a way to get that off to see what parts they used without destroying it?

Also what is "Military spec wiring?" what does that mean?

Thanks

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Aashish Joshi

Member • Aug 8, 2009

Here is a link for military spec wiring company. i think military spec refers to the quality of wire.

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more dealers here:

<a href="https://www.thomasnet.com/nsearch.html?cov=NA&what=Cables%3A+Military+Specification&heading=9860602&navsec=prodsearch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Military Specification Cables</a>

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Kaustubh Katdare

Administrator • Aug 8, 2009

bopplayer
Thanks. Let me ask you this, some circuit designs the designer will cover in some kind of colored red goop to protect the identity. (Even though they copied it from someone else trying to appear unique) is there a way to get that off to see what parts they used without destroying it?

Also what is "Military spec wiring?" what does that mean?

Thanks
Not sure what you meant. Any example, please?

In the mean time, I found interesting websites. Have a look ->

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<a href="https://freecircuitdiagram.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electronic Circuit Diagram – Free electronic circuit design and schematic diagram</a>

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