For one former local rockstar from Boston circa the 1980s/’90s, in a band called Rooster, his pathway led him to fixing computers and selling guitars all the way across the country in a town called Bisbee. Bryan Birtwell, owner of Bisbee Computers & Music, located at 1326 W Highway 92 (Suite 4), merged his talents with his passion when he opened the business on March 3, 2003.
Birtwell started his career as an assembly guy for a manufacturer of durable medical devices – a business he eventually acquired (and inherited a patent with it.) He moved to Hereford, Arizona right after Thanksgiving of 2002 for a change of scenery, and he planned to continue to his work here; however, he decided to do something else on his own after hitting financial adversity out of his control.
That’s when he had the idea to open a computer repair business to utilize his 18 years of experience as a Macintosh computer developer for the medical devices. “I figured with all my knowledge about Mac, it would be a good base,” said Birtwell. “And I can fix things.”
The first computer he worked on was one he received from his company when it closed (also his first work computer). It was from 1991 – a time in history when a cheap computer was valued at over $3,000 new.
“The caveat was the computer wouldn’t start back up again if it was turned off – unless a new hard drive and software was put in,” said Birtwell. “The problem was, I only knew how to use one program on it.”
And since he had only worked with two computers before – his work ones, which never had viruses – he needed to get more firsthand experience before he opened his business. So, he went around to yard sales and bought computers with viruses to ensure he had the proper training to successfully launch his next career choice.
Taking on engineering-minded challenges is nothing new to him. School was boring to him – he was smarter than the average bear and teachers didn’t know what to do with him. “I was bored out of my mind,” said Birtwell. “All I did was look out the window but aced all the tests.”
In 1st grade, he took his math book home and finished it all in one night. In 4th grade, his teacher asked to see his work on how he got to the answer, which he didn’t have (it was all in his head). “I was busy drawing hot rods,” said Birtwell. “And I told her I couldn’t help it I was smarter than her.”
Birtwell stayed in school long enough to graduate from high school – which he did for his dad. He never gave college a thought, as he didn’t think he’d be alive long enough to finish a degree. “I’ve had diabetes since I was two years old, and I was told I wouldn’t make it to 20,” said Birtwell. “So, I figured why go to college.”
He did end up following in his dad’s footsteps by running a business that focuses on fixing communication devices that rely on typing. His dad repaired typewriters when Birtwell was growing up and eventually had the opportunity to start fixing computers in 1984; however, he said he couldn’t fix something he didn’t know how to fix.
When Birtwell opened his computer shop in 2003, it was named Palominas Computers – based in Palominas. In 2007, he moved the business to the Warren Plaza. In 2010, he bought the building where he’s currently located in San Jose; he changed the name to Bisbee Computers & Music in 2012.
The computer repair side of the business focuses on keeping Microsoft computers functioning for as long as it makes the most financial sense. Birtwell is certified to refurbish Microsoft computers and can work magic on Windows 7 or newer, including reverting to previous versions for customers personal preference.
“I get Windows 11 running on dinosaurs,” said Birtwell. “And I will find the quickest, most efficient way to do things.” For an added peace of mind, every computer that leaves his store has a brand new hard drive installed.
He also sells new and used guitars, as a hobby more than anything – taking pride in offering a product you can’t find online for the quality, care and price of the ones he has on-hand. He smooths out the fretboards (fingerboards) and levels them, which makes them play better without having to do the work when getting them from a box in the mail.
What once was a business with three full-time employees is now down to a one-man operation. Birtwell is still an asset in the community – helping people bring dead computers back to life and giving them a place to buy a quality guitar at a fair price. “The business floats itself,” said Birtwell. “I would be volunteering somewhere else if I wasn’t doing this.”
Bisbee Computers & Music is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.