Low amplitude skip write detector

A method and apparatus for detecting and respond to low-amplitude-write/skip-write events in a disc drive. The invention involves characterizing the gain factor of a variable gain amplifier embedded in the read path of a disc drive during at least two instances in which the read head passes over a servo sector, prior to a write event. Next the write event is executed. After the write event, the gain factor employed by the variable gain amplifier is acquired as the read head passes over the following servo sector. Finally, the acquired gain factor is compared to the characterization in order to detect a low-amplitude-write/skip-write event.