About 1337 Sound

In case you are wondering, 1337 Sound (pronounced Leet Sound) gets its name from the language called “Leet speak” made popular by the hacker community. 1337 (Leet) is short for Elite – a term that the hacking community uses to describe those that have mastered their craft. 1337 Sound started when an InfoSec guy who happened to play guitar got fed up with the quality of most commercially produced guitar amplifiers and the quality of guitar builds, repair and setup. He started building his own tube amplifiers and working on guitars for himself and his friends. With a long history of mastering do-it-yourself projects and a knack for technical learning, he polished up his skills and dove into to building amps and guitars.

The result was an awesome 5E3 beauty that sounds amazing. He was hooked so he kept on building. He has been playing guitar for over 46 years and running sound for bands and venues off and on for almost 30 years. He is an above average player and has a critical ear for good tone. There is nothing worse than listening to a poorly configured guitar or a crappy amplifier. Players with a taste for tone understand what we are talking about. A good quality tube amp combined with the right guitar for your playing style works wonders in improving your playing by helping you hear all the subtleties and nuances in your technique as well as making the your playing time more enjoyable so you flat out play more. He is building 1337 Sound to serve as a resource to the music community.

The tag line “for the discerning musician” has a deep meaning. Most players are obsessed with tone. 1337 Sound strives to understand the unique needs and nuances of each player with the goal to help find that signature tone we all seek. We believe simpler is better. Technique and tools (guitar and amplifier) are the first step in becoming the best player you can be. Adding effects and other layers won’t make you a better player.

Whether you are an experienced player or just getting started, you owe it to yourself to spend time digging into the “little things” that can make a world of difference in your tone and playing ability. Maybe its a new guitar. Maybe just a few mods to an existing guitar. Maybe it’s a tube amp that you never considered before. If you are searching, let me help point you in the right direction. 1337 Sound provides discerning musicians with concierge service in their musical quest for their signature sound.

1337 Sound does not mass produce amplifiers or guitars. Every amp and every instrument is built only after careful player consultation to the specifications agreed on with the player. The goal is to produce the best fitting amp or guitar tailored to the musician’s needs. Browse through our service offerings. If something sounds interesting to you, let us know. We love to talk about ways in which we can help you find your signature sound!