“Diego has worked directly with me over the last several years at the KENDRICK AMPLIFIERS world headquarters. I am happy to work with someone with such a sharp eye and superior listening ability. His precision and attention to detail speaks for itself. Just look inside any amp he has serviced and prepare to be impressed.
Not only has he restored and repaired many hundreds of amps, but he knows what they are supposed to sound like and can tweak an amp so that it sounds as good or better than the day it left the music store.
With his knowledge and insight as an outstanding guitarist, his razor sharp attention to detail, keen ear and experience as an ampmaker himself, Diego excels at knowing how to squeeze every ounce of tone and performance from an amp.”
- Gerald Weber, President of Kendrick Amplifiers
I’ve always been fascinated with blackface amps from the 60’s, how they were made and the sounds they produced. In the late 90’s I began searching for the same amps that some of my heroes played; artists such as B.B. King, Peter Green, Otis Rush, Michael Bloomfield, Magic Sam, etc. They weren't hard to find, but they always needed work.
Initially I started with the help from various technicians, understanding the process of restoration and voicing. Experience came from repairing, modifying and measuring countless vintage amps. Pairing that with extensive research from studying old tube manuals and electronics books, I began building and repairing amps full-time. West Side Amplification was born.
- Diego Rotondo, Owner/Founder/Designer