THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409130143
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Listen carefully and you can hear a new, sweeter sound of success coming from Isle of Wight Music Co. Inc., in Smithfield.
Since 1977, the company has made, sold and serviced guitars and other stringed instruments for musicians across the country, said owner Bill Colgan. Some of his customers include singers Amy Grant and Huey Lewis.
For years, he has serviced musicians' guitars but had to refer their other equipment, such as amplifiers and speakers, to other businesses for repairs.
And now, Colgan has expanded by opening a new division, Isle of Wight Electronics.
Besides amps and speakers, the business will service church organs, public address systems, stereo systems, cassette players, compact disk players and video cassette recorders. The shop is adjacent to Isle of Wight Music, at 913-E S. Church Street.
``We offer one of the most advanced guitar repair shops on the East Coast,'' Colgan said. ``Our full-service shop coordinates the talents of two local technicians.''
The technicians, Sonny Meeker and Jerry DePasquale, have more than 50 years of combined experience. Meeker specializes in repairing old organs and amplifiers while DePasquale focuses on repairing stereos.
Because few people have Meeker's expertise in repairing old organs' electrical systems, Colgan anticipates service calls from across the nation.
``As long as there are churches, there will be organs,'' Meeker said. ``There's nobody doing this.
``I would like to see some young people learn the trade,'' he said. ``It is a wide open field for a young person interested in electronics.''
Meeker said he would like to train an apprentice in the business. MEMO: For more information about the business or obtaining an apprenticeship,
call Isle of Wight Electronics at 357-4662.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Sonny Meeker works on the electrical system of an organ at Isle of
Wight Electronics in Smithfield.
by CNB