The Latest at Fat Sound Guitars

3 Monkeys' Orangutan 112 Combo with Pre-Installed Brake-Lite

"If you live in Los Angeles beware - I now have the best tone in the Southland! I've been searching for the amp that would give me "my sound" for years and I finally found it.  The 3 Monkeys Orangutan 1X12 Combo has the sweetest, sparkliest, fattest sound I've heard out of any other combo out there.  Add that to my Esquire and it's a deadly combination.  Played it out last night and it was loud....and I mean LOUD.  

Thanks to Stu for the Dr Z Brake-Lite install as that saved me in the small club.  
Also, big props to Stu and Fat Sound for amazing customer service and for helping out the working musician.
You guys rock and so does this amp!"

Mark Grundhoefer - guitarist, The Uneven
Los Angeles, CA

Collings City Limits Custom Deluxe | Solid Mahogany | TV Yellow

"Thank you so much for all of the personal attention! You WILL be my source for equipment going forward. Nothing impresses me more than quality products combined with top notch service. Lately I've been searching for the best of breed when making purchases and that includes guitars and amps. I have a feeling we will be doing business on a regular basis going forward... as soon as my finances have recovered that is :-)"

Ray Croteau
Maine
 

Campbell American Transitone Dual Humbucker

"Stu,
The Transitone arrived today in excellent condition and I haven't put it down since, including during a lengthy band practice this evening. The tv yellow finish is definitely an eye catcher and has already received many compliments. The tone, feel, and action are all A+. I have personally never played a guitar this amazing. I am definitely looking forward to spreading the word about Campbell American.

Thanks,"

David C.
Scaly Mountain, NC
 

Campbell American Transitone Dual Humbucker

Hey Stu,

I've given the guitar about a month now, and I have to be honest: every day it sounds better and better! That's saying a lot considering that, when I first heard/played it, I decided to buy it on the spot! In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't let the guitar slip away, as it's one of the most playable, inspiring humbucker-based guitars I've ever laid hands on. As you know, I've always had issues with humbucker-equipped guitars, as they always sound a bit muddy to me in my hands (though they sound great when other people play them). With this guitar, I'm able to get all of the authority and grind that I love about classic humbucker tones, but with the clarity and articulation I love about single coils! It's really quite amazing. Even my wife has commented on how good it sounds when I'm just noodling around the house! For the icing on the cake, this thing sustains perfectly, begging me to keep playing long after I would on a less inspiring guitar.

Long story short, you've knocked it out of the park again by picking up this line of guitars!

Thanks to you (and Mike Ayers) again for all of your help with the purchase!

Keep it up!

Brian S.
Raleigh, NC

Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian

Hey Stu,

Got to try out the pedal tonight and I love it!

Took me about 2 minutes to dial in the same sweet spot that I use on
the vintage Muff. [Original, mid-90's Sovtek 'Tall Font Russian']

Its obvious that the Wren and Cuff guys went the extra mile to capture the vibe of the original pedal.

As usual, thanks for the guidance and great service.

Scott B.
Canada

LsL T-Bone Swamp Ash "Norma"

Hi Stu,

I just arrived at home in Germany with "Norma". Everything worked out fine, the guitar was delivered as promised on Wednesday around noon, so I could play some chords and licks acoustically...not her favorite ambience but still very promising for plugging in the amp.
Now plugged in my axe-fx it's not promising anymore but quite impressive...I love it. Much more of a woody, lively and vibrant tone than I know from my other guitars. And I'm not even missing the middle positions of my strats.
This Tele has at least the potential to be favorite guitar for a while :-)
My girlfriend just said - sounds like pancakes with butter-pecan-syrup. I don't exactly know what that means but I like it.

Thank you very much and best regards

Jan M.
Germany
 

Fat Sound Original™ Fender® Custom Shop 60's NOS Stratocaster®

Stu, When I ordered this guitar, I told you that I had never been attached to any guitar I had ever owned. If someone was gassing about it, I would sell it and buy something else. I have had every incarnation of this guitar...... This is "the guitar" I have always wanted. The color, nitro finish, frets, rosewood finger board, neck shape and the pickups are perfect! I would highly recommend this Fat Sound tweaked Strat to anyone wanting to move up to a custom shop guitar. There is a huge difference in feel, playability and tone that you will instantly notice and dig. As always, thanks for your time and assistance with this fine musical acquisition.

All the Best,

Robert B.

Thorn R/S #36

Stu,

I must say it was a very pleasant experience purchasing from you. I'm pretty new in the boutique game myself, this guitar will be my second boutique guitar - ever since I started playing I've been gassing for a Thorn, so to own one - pretty exhilarating for me.

Today, I played it loud and proud - oh my goodness! With Timmy set pretty high gainish pushing my Teixeira EF86 amp (Vox AC15 style) - Instant les paul tones on the bridge pickup! The fourth position is a little bit teleish - comparing it to my Bruton - yep, pretty accurate. The neck pickup is to die for and the second position, so quackish and so awesome! I'm selling my Bruton, the Thorn is staying with me!

Only niggle that I have is that the bridge pickup, while sounds really awesome dirty, clean it sounds quite compressed and midrangey. Not used to it perhaps? 

Thanks Stu for a great transaction, and yes, I believe in Thorn guitars!

Jessica L.
Flemington Victoria, Australia
 

Thorn R/S-043 | Left-Handed

Hi Stu,

Mark this guitar as sold on your website, as the only way it's going back to you is if you make me an offer for far more than I paid :)

It's now just after 2:30am, I've been playing since about 8:30pm. The guitar is wonderful. It looks great. It plays great. It sounds amazing. Just wow.

Thank you so much!

Eric L.
Mt. View, CA

Swart Atomic Space Tone Pro in Custom Sonic Blue and Gold

Stu,
Just wanted to say thanks for the incredible service that you and your team provided.  I've attached a picture of my AST Pro/Tele rig.  

This thing is incredible!!

It's the perfect volume for small club use on it's own, and mic'd up it sounds killer. 
Swirly, lush cleans all the way to chewy tweed tones are all right there.  It's so touch responsive that I've been setting the volume on 10 and adjusting the guitar's volume and how hard I play.  It cleans up so well just by adjusting pick attack.

My jaw still drops every time I fire it up.  It's just THAT good.

Thanks again!

Best,
Matthew H.

Collings 290 Left-Handed Model

"I recently ordered a left handed Collings 290 from Fat Sound Guitars and I must say that it has exceeded all of my expectations. The fit and finish are top notch. The playability is amazing and the tone from those Lollar P-90's is incredible. The legendary reports of Bill Collings' attention to the smallest of details are entirely accurate. Also, Collings does not demand a left handed upcharge, which is almost unheard of. I also received great customer service from Mike Gallo throughout the entire ordering process. Mike did a fantastic job of describing the feel, the pickups and tone that these fine mahogany instruments create. It's also wonderful to hear that Fat Sound is stepping up to the plate for left handed guitarists by increasing their lefty inventory and by ordering numerous high-end left handed instruments. I recommend Fat Sound Guitars and their extremely knowledgeable staff to anyone in the market for a high quality musical instrument. Thank you!!!"

Alex N.
Fairfax, VA

Grosh Guitars Electrajet Dual Humbucker and Bogner Goldfinger 45

"Hey Stu,

One of the bands I'm in played at this thing called Fete De La Musique in D.C. at the French Embassy this past weekend. I rocked my dual HB EJ in Sunburst Orange Pearl and the Goldfinger,...U can see them all in this pic,...other than my ugly mug not a bad shot.  All I would have needed to truly complete the look was a Fat Sound T-shirt."

Bill H.
Reston, VA
 

Campbell-American Transitone

"Hey Stu,

I've given the guitar about a month now, and I have to be honest: every day it sounds better and better!  That's saying a lot considering that, when I first heard/played it, I decided to buy it on the spot!  In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't let the guitar slip away, as it's one of the most playable, inspiring humbucker-based guitars I've ever laid hands on. As you know, I've always had issues with humbucker-equipped guitars, as they always sound a bit muddy to me in my hands (though they sound great when other people play them).  With this guitar, I'm able to get all of the authority and grind that I love about classic humbucker tones, but with the clarity and articulation I love about single coils!  It's really quite amazing. Even my wife has commented on how good it sounds when I'm just noodling around the house!  

Even better are the tones I get when playing with the band at full volume -- again, this guitar screams like any good humbucker-based guitar should, but it cleans up so well with a quick roll-down of the volume knob that I find myself not needing to use the clean channel on my amps.  I'm not sure how much of this is due to the Dimarzio 36th Anniversary pickups, but either way the tones I get are killer!  As for the feel, I've never felt (let alone owned) such a resonant, lively guitar.  The body contours, while making for an interesting shape (which I happen to love), also make this guitar one of the most comfortable to play, sitting *or* standing.  For the icing on the cake, this thing sustains perfectly, begging me to keep playing long after I would on a less inspiring guitar.

Long story short, you've knocked it out of the park again by picking up this line of guitars!  

Thanks to you (and Mike Ayers) again for all of your help with the purchase!

Keep it up!"

Brian S.
Raleigh, NC

Sommatone OD-35 1x12" Combo

"First impressions are EXTREMELY favorable! The amp has a complexity of tone that I am not hearing with my other amps. The low string definition is astounding, and I absolutely love the tone. It doesn't quite have the jangle of my /13, but it could be I haven't spun the dials enough yet. The diversity of sounds is vast, and I'm really enjoying getting the variety of tones out of Jimmy's creation. I can't describe it, but the sound seems "grown up" compared to the other amps I am currently playing. What I mean is that the OD-35 doesn't hit you over the head with the "sound de jour", but lets you tweek and develop a sound bit by bit... really nailing exactly what I am going for. The 2 volumes coupled with the tone stack really let me dial in the sounds I am trying to get.

The Master Volume, of course, is outstanding. I'm playing at very reasonable levels in the house, and I can't wait to crank it up outside of the confines of a small room. The Boost circuit really works, and adds more beef to the dialed in sound... quite a surprise.

I was expecting great overdriven sounds, but I am very pleasantly surprised by how good the cleans are. Even sounds I wouldn't normally use (i.e. Blackface settings) are great and inspire me to try different things. Basically, whatever I have dialed in is my favorite setting!

I want to thank Mike G who suggested I go this route vs. a tweed offering I originally called for, and of course, you for helping make decisions throughout the process. A shout out to Mike A for being so supportive as well when I called in. Communication with Jimmy was also very good. He had some great suggestions, and he always showed patience and professionalism. In summary, just a great amp, and a very good experience in my first "not having heard it first" purchase. When are you opening the Orlando location??? ;-)

Warmest regards,"

Les N.
Orlando, FL
 

Collings 290 DC S with Collings Wraparound Bridge and Lollar Dogear P-90

"Stu,

The DCS arrived safe and sound today! It was warm out today so I was able to immediately treat myself to this gem! She’s everything that I have come to expect from Collings; pristine workmanship, finish, design and playability. And hey, she sounds spankin good! This guitar epitomizes rock and roll guitar, fat P90 tone that with a roll of the volume can turn into a jangle fest. These guy’s do it right and seem to do it in a very consistent way.

You were correct when you compared the tone to my son’s [MotorAve] Lemans; very , very close. We have 2 completely different amps, so it is hard to make a direct comparison.

As usual Stu, great doing business with you............your customer service is second to none!"

Joe K.
Williamson, NY
 

Xits X10 Combo in Pepper/Orange with Celestion Greenback

"¡¡ AMAZING !!

Stu, the Xits arrived today...I've been playing it for the past 1.5 hours and it's perfect! I love the Smoke/Orange/Greenback combo, it looks amazing and sounds even better.

I feel incredibly lucky to have this amp. Michael is an amazing artist.

Thanks for everything you've done along the way. You've really been great and I appreciate you keeping me posted as to what was going on and answering my occasional question or three. I look forward to sending you more of my money in the future :)

Wow...just wow.

Back to it."

B. Rains
Arlington, VA
 

2011 Top Hat Super 33 1x12" with Fat Sound Exclusive cosmetics

"First of all, I love the aesthetics. I appreciate having been able to spec my own choices for coverings and grill cloth. I'm thrilled with the way it turned out - very distinctive and high-end in appearance. The size and weight of this amp are better for portability than the amp it replaced (Quidley).

Although it has a normal/boost switch to control the amount of preamp gain, mine lives in the boost mode all of the time. I have it set up for the maximum amount of gain I'd ever need, and from there I can control the overall gain structure just with pick attack and the volume knob of the guitar. This starts at something akin to a great pushed clean (Blackface with some "hair") with the volume of my Grosh Retro Classic rolled back to about 3 1/2 - with a light pick attack it's shimmery, more attack and it just starts to get dirty. Turning the guitar's volume to 5-6 yields a great early Marshall or Bassman type
sound. 7-8 on the guitar's volume produces a cranked early Marshall/Vox, while maxing the volume on the guitar turns it into a fully saturated monster with great singing sustain and fluidity. No need for a boost pedal to stand out during soloing - just set the guitar's volume knob for the desired grind for rhythm work and turn it up a few clicks for soloing. It's just crazy how reactive this amp is!

Similar results are obtained with my guitars with P-90's and humbuckers. This amp seems to play well with all of my instruments, expressing them all with a wonderfully chimey, organic, bell-like bloom. The cool thing, though, is that different guitars do not come out sounding homogenized: a Strat sounds like a Strat, a Tele like a Tele, LP like LP, etc. Also, it's difficult to express how BIG this amp sounds. Not just loud (although it will certainly do loud if desired), but big. The low-end is astounding, but the bass frequencies remain articulate without becoming muddy. Speaking of loudness, the Master Volume is pretty effective; and while I don't think it really does what I consider "bedroom" volumes (i.e. someone asleep in the next room), it certainly preserves the amp's character at volumes low enough so as not to threaten marriages or affect peace treaties between next-door neighbors.

I truly can't think of a way I'd improve on this amp. I find it the perfect blend of Vox and Marshall, with a little Fender seasoning in there when needed. I suspect some would prefer that the boost function were selectable via a footswitch, but as I mentioned earlier, I can get essentially the same sounds as the "Boost Off" by just backing down on the guitar's volume knob and varying my pick attack. It's the perfect complement to my Tone King Metropolitan (which DOES do a pristine Blackface clean), forming the ultimate one-two punch of classic British and American tones. If this amp doesn't merit a Fat Sound Award for Sonic and Design Excellence, then nothing does!

Thanks for recommending it."

Jeff B.
Aiken, SC
 

Carr Mini Mercury with upgraded Cream/Burgundy tolex

"Hey Stu,

Amp arrived this afternoon safe and sound.  My wife was impressed with the size and color...matches our home decor perfectly!  Only amp she has ever approved of based on looks.

My Les Paul was at the shop having a set of Holmes pickups installed. I went and got the guitar, plugged in, and I am floored.  Beautiful cleans in position 1, nice break up in position 2, and endless sustain and sweetness in position 3.  Only played for a few minutes, but I am pretty stoked.

I have bought lots of expensive amps over the years....the Mini Mercury makes me smile...perfect for a guy with a family who needs great tone in a small package.

Thanks for everything!"

Jim H.
Gurnee, IL

Bogner 20th Anniversary Shiva Dual Reverb in custom 2-tone tolex with matching Bogner closed back 2x12 cab

"Hey Mike (Gallo),

I want to thank you for hooking me up with the Bogner 20th Anniversary Shiva. It's a killer amp! Before you recommended the Shiva, you asked a lot of questions about my guitars, how I was going to use the amp, and the tone that I was seeking. Well, you must have really been listening, because the Shiva is exactly what I was after.
I have had it - what, about three months now - certainly long enough for the honeymoon to be over, but I like it even more now than the day it arrived.
That's always a good sign that I've got a keeper. Moreover, my missus loves the way that two-tone burgandy and cream mix looks in our living room. Next
time I need a guitar, amp, or whatever, I'll call you first."

Thanks"

Kirk S.
Bartlesville, OK

K-Line S Style

"So, I actually got this piece on Monday, but something about the playability was off. I was actually considering sending it back, but after getting a slight neck adjustment (climate), I called Mike Gallo back and told him he'd have to pry this thing from my cold, dead hands. It is an EXTRAORDINARY 'S' type guitar. Rings like a bell and resonates like no other guitar I've had. The relicing looks very realistic, much moreso than any Fender Custom Shop I've seen. I wasn't a huge relic fan before, but I am really starting to see the appeal. The many little nuances are a testament to what a master builder Chris Kroenlein is. The fingerboard edges are rolled perfectly, and the neck feels amazing. Best playing Strat I've touched, after the adjustment. The tones emanating from this guitar are very tasty. I'll have to do a little video demo sometime soon. Anyways, BIG thanks to Mike Gallo and Stu Carter at Fat Sound Guitars. Their customer service is fantastic, and they really care about getting you the best gear possible. Their website is very well organized and easy to get around on as well. Talk about GAS inducing! Also, BIG thanks to Chris Kroenlein for his great customer service, and for making an incredible instrument that I am going to rock out on for a long, long time."

PaulC Audio Timmy Pedal

"Stu:

Just wanted to let you know how blown away I am with the Timmy pedal. It by far is already my favorite overdrive pedal...and I have everything from [Ed: names of other pedals brands removed out of fairness to several brands that we don't carry] plus many others. It was definitely worth the wait! I'm now wishing I had bought two of them!

Appreciate your incredible customer service..you guys rock."

Michael M.
Las Vegas, NV

PWE Event Horizon 50 watt Head

"Killer tones in this amp. My Strat with traditional single coils loves channel one. Using a vintage-style 2x12 semi-open back with Celestion Vintage 30's and it sounds nice and rich. With Humbuckers, the sky's the limit. Channel one is on par or above gain found with most non-master 50 watters in the Marshallesque camp. Channel two lets you decide how bold you really want to be. If you desire the tones of your favorite guitar heroes from your youth, it's there. If you want to go for a more fusion oriented gain, it's there. All without pedals or compromise. The master level controls, both front and rear, on this amp function really, really well, adding to the possibilities it's capable of producing.

The amp keeps calling to me to play. Can't hardly wait to get a few hours to dial up more of the possible tones and levels of gain this amp has. It's very sensitive and keeps on giving when asked. It does sound balanced and nothing's lacking or missing. The amps controls matched with these V30's gives a very flexible range of tones.

Ted's amp is flawless in every detail. The tolex is very high grade and the amp sports some big iron. Very hefty foot switch box and connector cable. This is a monster for sure. Sorry to gush, but it's true. The wait for the amp was very well worth it. Stu's service is second to none, too. You guys waiting or pondering to order are headed in the right direction, it's one of the best I've ever played. Easy to dial up great tones. Found myself smiling all the while.

Thanks for a great purchase and your wonderful service, Stu. I'll always look to you for the best the market has to offer!"

Mike M.

MotorAve MotoVox Limited Edition #1/5

"The MotorAve, MotoVox #1 is stunning!

As any recording simply cannot capture the emotion and energy of an inspired live music performance, or a “beautiful” photograph’s woeful inability to capture the majesty of Hawaii, the limitations of language and the usual guitar descriptors simply do not allow adequate, or meaningful, description of this amazing guitar. Mark Fuqua’s (MotorAve Guitars) skill, vision, artistry, craftsmanship and mercurial ability to channel “mojo” into his pieces are conspicuously evident in this extraordinary piece. This guitar is a truly inspired and inspiring rock and roll machine, the embodiment of finesse and fury.

Or...

"How much more cool can a guitar be?" and the answer is "none, none
more cool"

Jeff H.
Martinsville, VA

PWE Event Horizon 100 Watt Head

"In a word?

UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!!

Ted [ED: Ted Stevenson, designer builder PWE], you have golden ears, my friend. Currently running it through a custom made 2x12 built to old Orange specs and loaded with Scholz Sugarcones...which are sort of like a fatter sounding Fane. If it sounds this good through that cab, I can't wait to try it with a cab that's loaded with V30's.

Until the Event Horizon, my favorite channel switcher of all time was the Wizard Modern Classic. Your amp hits all of that amp's sweet spots and more. I can only imagine how much time and effort you've put into this design, but it's obvious to me that you brought years of experience into this design...years of listening too. I've played and owned Wizard, Bogner, Harry Joyce, Savage, Budda, Guytron, /13, 65 Amps...your amp is tops in my book!

Thanks so much for building this amp, Ted. You have a customer for life!

Cheers,"

Rob W.
Baltimore, MD

Collings City Limits Deluxe special ordered in solid mahogany with TV Yellow finish

"Stu,

I received the guitar today!

It is super cool! It is everything that I had hoped my R9 would be and more. The neck is wonderful and oh..........the tone is alive, just killer in every way.

Also as a bonus, I love the look of the TV yellow, and the carve and workmanship are top notch. The case is actually a cool bonus too....way better than the TKL standard......no cat fur in this one.....

Thanks for getting it right out to me and for ordering these special guitars for your shop inventory!"

Joe K.

Original Swart Atomic Space Tone 1x12 with reverb and tremolo

"Stu,

I'm loving the Swart AST! It sounded great out of the box and, on my regular Thursday night blues gig it killed on the jazz tunes we open with. Stunning jazz amp.

At the end of the night the drummer complained that I sounded a little muddy on my solos on the blues stuff which knocked me back
a bit till I realized I'd never changed the tone and volume settings from the jazz tone. I had the tone on 2 and the volume on 4.

The next night we played a dance at an old wooden auditorium and I turned the volume up to 7, tone on 10 and the thing just rocked. I was using an old SIB Echodrive delay and a Klon Centaur and the results were flat out amazing. I could either step on the Klon for a solo with my guitar volume left alone (7 or 8) or leave the Klon alone and crank the guitar volume for a slightly different tone. Sang like a bird. 

Sunday we played a concert in a park where I was absolutely positively sure the Swart just wouldn't be enough. I was playing with a Hammond organ, amplified harmonica/sax, bass and drums. I spotted the sound guy at the local rock and roll club in the audience about half way back and, after we finished, I asked him if he could hear me. "Hear you?? You were the loudest [expletive deleted] up there! That little amp is amazing!" This is after being dwarfed by tenor sax played through a JBL powered PA for the last 3 years.

Today I tried my Bob Gjika humbucker guitar with just the SIB delay and, if possible, the damn thing sounded even better! Incredibly lush chords and enormous authority on the solos."

Andy B.
Cape Cod, MA

Sommatone Overdrive 35 Head

"My lunch hour just ended with me playing my new Sommatone OD-35 head into my Jenkins 2x12 cab. I have just discovered a new level of tone, that I've never had in ANY of my amps.

OK, I know what you're thinking. I must be gushing over my brand new toy and that its too soon to come to a conclusion about an amp in just an hour. We'll I am gushing and with good reason. That amp is an inspiration to play. I started with the settings that came on the Manual and Sample Settings page with the amp. Blackface clean, then Tweed clean, tweed dirty, US Overdrive, British clean, dirty, blues, etc. Those tones were all there and every one sounded like my favorite tones. I couldn't find even a mediocre tone.

I have some great amps already and have had several others in the past that all have what I consider to be stellar tone. The difference with the Sommatone is that I can get that tone at any volume. The master volume just works so good. No, make that great. I experimented with the normal volume and bright volumes cranked, with the
master volume way down and my Collings I35 deluxe was singing in the most pleasing overdrive imaginable. At no point was I using any pedals! No mater
how fast I played, each note came out distinct. Lunch hour came to an end way too fast. I know that I have just barely scratched the surface with this amp. I haven't played it with any of my other guitars yet and I haven't tried the many more tone combinations that are waiting to be explored. This is my first impression and it's love at
first sight.

Thank you for recommending this amp to me. You were right on with your assessment of this amp. I'm really going to enjoy it."

Jeff S.
McKees Rock, PA

PWE Event Horizon 50 watt Head

"This amp has some serious mojo from the opening bell. The clean channel can be sparkly clean to a nice crunch. The gain channel is tight and can have a LOT of gain if desired. The coolest feature is the relationship between the tachyon/hyperon/gain controls on each channel. There are so many ways this amp can run it's hard to explain without experiencing it. You can throttle back the tachyon to lower the gain on the first stage then goose the gain on the OD channel and get more articulation or pump up the tachyon and lower the gain to get a thicker tone.

Another super cool feature is the decelerator...it knocks the volume down but unlike attenuators doesn't cut the highs or dynamics or gain. You lose a little bit of thickness but that's about it. It's not whisper quiet on the 15W setting but isn't very loud and sounded pretty daggone good to me. Each tone knob seems to have a lot of tone shaping power....minor adjustments make a big difference, unlike some amps where they don't seem to do much.

There's also the presence and depth on the back which obviously can make a big difference in the tone. The build quality on this thing is second to none, very very clean. We pulled the chassis to take a peek. Totatlly immaculate and rock solid.

The gain channel with higher tachyon settings is definitely in the Marshall vein only it's a seriously hot rodded Marshall tone and is pretty open.

The Hyperon 4 way bright knob on both channels is also a unique feature.

Ted really has a hit with this as well. It can go from a tad dark on the first setting to super bright. I liked it higher on the clean and only on the second setting on the gain channel but if you want it brighter it can do it.

I  feel this amp has more tones in it than ANY amp I've ever owned......

I can't say enough good things about this amp and feel this has ended a very long amp search for me.

So far it's incredible!!!!!"

Charles F.
Christiansburg, VA
 

MotorAve LeMans in Seyffert Green Metallic nitro

"Stu

As expected, my much anticipated Seyffert Green LeMans arrived today. You have been effusive in your praise of Motor Ave guitars, and my expectations - as a result - were quite high. The musical instrument world is already replete with a myriad of tired cliches describing the various attributes and qualities of guitars - production and custom, alike. I will do my best to avoid such generalizations in describing my reactions to this amazingly alive piece of art and craftsmanship.

I'll begin with the case (not a commonly reviewed item, I'll acquiesce), since Mark has recently upgraded those supplied with his guitars. It is made by Cedar Creek Case Co. Everything about the case suggests strength - from its general heft, to the stoutness of its hardware, to the girth of its well-padded handle. The custom-fit foam interior is covered in gold crushed velvet, and nicely sets off the color of the guitar. There is no movement afforded the guitar within the closed case. There is a generously sized accessory pocket. Kudos to Mark for not relegating the case to an afterthought.

The build quality (woodworking, metalworking, finish, etc.) is as good as (and likely better than) any guitar I've ever encountered in nearly 30 years of playing. Planes are flat, curves are elegantly arced, contour lines are uninterrupted, and transitions are seamless. Gaps between adjacent components are - for all practical purposes - nonexistent. As an amateur woodworker, I can really appreciate the joinery in this guitar. I know all human endeavors fall short of perfection, but this joinery comes as close to that lofty description as I could possibly imagine. Even the most detailed photographs fail to capture the exactness with which Mark creates these sculptures. If all of this execution were carried out utilizing CNC machining, it would be impressive enough. That Mark does it all with only a combination of powered and non-powered hand tools makes this level of achievement nothing short of extraordinary.

In the hand it's gossamer-light, but feels surprisingly solid. I requested a special neck carve (I described it to Mark simply as a fairly chunky soft "V" profile; I did not furnish any measurements), and Mark absolutely nailed it. I think the interface between a player's fretting hand and the neck is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not a guitar works well for an individual. For me, this neck is PERFECT! Not only is it the right shape, it's also perfectly rolled with no discernible transitions from one contour to the next. The frets are beautifully finished. Basically - but for the fact that the lacquer feels new - it could be a neck I've played for 20 years. The action is ideally set along the entire length of the fingerboard.

When I play a new electric guitar for the first time, I always do so "unplugged". Pickups and electronics can certainly alter an instrument's sound, but a guitar either has great intrinsic resonance or it doesn't. This one has it in spades. I could feel the resonance in my joints as I played chords and single note runs. Also, the resonance was uniform between all strings along the entire length of the fingerboard. 

There are lots of boutique (and production) builders out there who build great sounding and playing guitars, but the cosmetics or the fit/finish are just a little off - for me, that's OK. There are plenty others that build beautifully crafted instruments that happen to sound and play like amplified 2x4's - that's NOT! Mark managed to cover all the bases with this one. The build quality is second to none, and the sound and playability are astounding. This is a rock machine, not a jazz box. For its intended mission, if there is a weakness in this guitar I can't find it. Simply put, Mark has set a new benchmark for hand-built set-neck guitars. I'm indebted to you for turning me onto Mark's guitars. This is my first, but it certainly won't be my last!"

Jeff B.

Greer Cam 18 Head

"Hi Stu,

I received the Greer CAM 18 yesterday and messed around it with it at home to get acquainted. I also gigged it for two sets last night at a medium-sized club in downtown Colorado Springs.

Here are my impressions:

I have to say I was nervous about the amp because I bought it pretty much based on your appraisal, and one never knows how much is music-store owner hype and how much is truth. It was also $1,000 less than I usually pay for a head, so I was beginning to think this amp might not measure up to my Komet 19 head, which I paid $2,300 for. Moreover, I was nervous about gigging a brand new amp, but I also had my Komet head with me in case the Greer wasn't up to speed.

My initial impression is that what you say in your write-up is dead on. The amp sounds full and throaty and breaks up beautifully with single coils and humbuckers. It also cut through the mix well.

For the gig I set all controls at 7 and used a pedal for extra push on some rhythms and leads.

At home I put it through my Alex Attenuator, and that worked well, but I was happy to find that the amp isn't stupid loud (my Komet 19 watt is as loud as 40 watters, which is kind of a bummer because I bought it online thinking it might be as loud as a Deluxe Reverb. Hardly.)

I plan to use it next Saturday for an outdoor gig in which we will be going through a highly professional PA with my amp mic'd.

Again, this is a cautious appreciation. I need to gig it more and mess around it with it at home over the weekend, but at this point I am impressed with the amp and your very accurate appraisal."

Mark B.
Manitou Springs, CO

PWE Event Horizon 50 watt head

Posted on The Gear Page 7-1-2010:

"I got the Event Horizon Monday and got a say it's a fantastic amp. All I can do here is echo what's already been said but it's a killer amp.

I started off with my Les Paul and ran the gamut of all my favorite 60s, 70's ,80s, rock and heavy rock tones. No problem here. Moved on to some blues both heavy and lighter stuff, still no problem. The lower gain stuff was still nice and full and rich.

This thing has some of the best crunch, and rhythm tones I've heard. You want 70s ABB, or 80s big hair band it's in there. I took off on some Bonamasa and was floored at the accuracy. I went to the clean channel for some Humbucker cleans and that's when I realized I've got 2 good channels here. So I set it up for some cleaner rhythm style songs and would kick in channel 2 for leads. Worked great.

OK time to grab the Strat. I plugged into the clean channel and I took off on Sultans of Swing and that's when I'm left stunned. How is that sound coming out of an EL34 tubed amp? With no reverb!

This thing's got the bottom end of a 6L6. The feel (playability) of this amp is awesome as well, very easy to play. The amp is very full sounding top to bottom, I was doing some bass lead runs I don't normally do because it sounded so good. High end is sweet as well and can be tailored by the Tachyon. I like this turned all the way clockwise on the clean, it adds some nice sparkle to the high end. I found the blow control on the second channel very useful. You can boost you leads a little and then click back to normal. Teds got a great amp on his hands and I'd like to thank Stu for recommending it."

Steve R.
Candler, NC

K-Line 60's S Style in 3-Tone Sunburst with Lollar Dirty Blond pickups

"Stu,

I think I mentioned that I have never had a Strat? But in 20 or years of guitar I've played quite a few. Probably 30 or so, including my brother's '62 which I've played a lot. I've never touched one that I would trade for this K-Line though. I don't know what more I can say. It just nails the classic sound we all know; sweet, bell-like highs in the neck, more quack than a pond full of ducks, great twang when you need it. The bridge pup deserves special mention because I rarely go there on other Strats but in the K-Line it's balanced and tough sounding without harshing me out. Dude, I sound like Jimmie Vaughan!

The finish is so perfect and understated I would never call it relic'd. It's just broken in and ready to play. Beautiful grain in wood, not a micron more nitro than it needs; it just glows. I can't stop looking at it, except when I'm playing it. Everything feels right. If you were hoping to get this one back, forget it.

As always with Fat Sound, the transaction was fun and easy. I appreciate you taking the time to discuss various EL-84 based amps as well as offering some insights about Grosh and K-line. I can't say I've experienced the patience and level of attention you guys offer anywhere else.

You are the Tone Consultants.

I have to go play my guitar now.

Kind Regards,"

Anthony B.
Minneapolis, MN

LsL Instruments T-Bone SP "Chrissy"

"Stu,

As you may well know, I generally favor T style/SC style guitars to perform with. I prefer them to be constructed of swamp ash and maple, with vintage specs, but with some modernized appointments, like 6105 frets and a 9.5” radius. To stray from that combination of wood and various appointments is a bit out of character for me. I’ve known about sugar pine and its superb reputation for being similar to swamp ash, but being a creature of habit, buying a sugar pine guitar in a T style guitar is way out of my comfort zone. Thanks to your unbiased guidance, knowledge of the tonal properties of woods, and 99.9% accuracy in fulfilling my tonal needs, I definitely feel that I’ve made a significant decision choosing the SP T-bone. It’s definitely added a bit more color to my tonal palette while debunking the myth about pine being an inferior wood.

Having had the guitar in my possession for a while, I must say that I’m still mightily impressed and very excited to play this guitar every chance I get. The sugar pine is similar to ash but different at the same time. The sugar pine is light, resonant, and percussive. It rings like a bell and offers clean and aggressive tones with a little more clarity in note separation. The midrange is sweet, bouncy, soft, and mahogany like, while still delivering the bite and twang of a T style guitar. Pine is not a complete departure from ash but the tones are different enough to inspire my playing and creativity. I still love ash T style guitars but I’m very thrilled to have a sugar pine as a desired option.

The neck, which is one of the most important components of any guitar, is comfortable and just the right size. If feels like somebody played the guitar for a couple decades and handed it off for me to reap the rewards. The C neckshape has a medium/large feel and seems to have a subtle V from the 1st to 3rd position. The V is almost indiscernible but I believe it is perfect for grabbing and bending those notes close to the nut. Now the 71/4’ radius with 6105s? Forgettaboudit!  With the 71/4” radius, and Lance’s impeccable fretwork, there’s no problem with going sharp or getting hung up on single line runs. In all, the neckshape, the fretwork, the 7 1/4” radius, high angle of break over the saddles, the cut of the nut, culminate into one of the best damn guitars I’ve ever played! Playing and bending notes are a breeze and effortless. It definitely allows you to get lost in the moment rather than getting lost in the way that you’re playing.

Oh, and the pickups? They are terrific! I wouldn’t swap them for anything! They are perfect for this guitar! He certainly has his guitar building down to a feel which translates perfectly from a build to the finished product. It's almost hard to believe that Lance does this by hand rather than CNC! I’ll gladly lay down another $2 large for a true handmade guitar of this caliber.

I'm already anticipating my 2nd LsL. Thanks Stu and Lance (if he reads this), "Chrissy" was a Grand Slam.

Best regards,"
Thomas H.
Houston/Austin, Texas

Top Hat Super "Fat" Deluxe 1x12 loaded with 6V6 power tubes (a no cost, plug and play option)

"This amp is INCREDIBLE! I have never sat in the mix so well and had such an even tone from guitar to guitar, song to song. It took all my pedals better than my previous amp as well. I have been using an Fx Engineering MOAB and a SHO. The SHO alway seemed a bit too bright with my other amp. Really did some nice things with the Top Hat. Of course the Tim may replace both of them once that comes in later this summer. I guess my only complaint and it is more of a suggestion is that I wish the Bright and Fat channels were foot-switchable.

Love it love it.......

Thanks a million Stu. I feel excited about playing again!'

Best,"

Lenny T.
Apex. NC

MotorAve BelAire Nassau Blue with hand-made Trapeze tailpiece

"Guys,

I received the Belaire today! I feel like I've been walking on a beach and found a huge pearl! This guitar SMOKES! A sound that you can only get from an all mahogany guitar, wonder full mids and sweet highs. The build quality is a 10, and the look is totally popping! I can get anything from near Tele tones (that I used on Mellencamp's Lonely Ol Night), to balls out rock (that I use on Bad Co's Good Lovin Gone Bad). The guitar also plays like a dream with nicer access to the 22nd than I thought that it would have.

Thanks for building and supplying this gem!"

Joe K.
Williamson, NY

LsL T-Bone SA "Justine"

"Man.....The LSL guitars are amazing Stu. The T-Bone, "Justine", sounds great, big but not too twangy (a great thing IMHO), comparable to a great Les Paul but a little more clarity obviously. Sounded great the other night through the Crema Wheat....

....The LSL also sounded amazing with my 3 Monkeys Orangutan and a 4x10 Matchless cab loaded with a quad of Dr. Z 10 inch speakers. Sounds great with the Germinos as well, especially the Lead 55LV."

Dewey M. a.k.a. Dewman on TGP (also owns LsL Saticoy "Lesia")
Chapel-Hill, NC

LsL Instruments Saticoy 50

"The LsL Saticoy I got from Fat Sound has blown my mind like no other guitar I've ever owned. I make up reasons to pick it up.

Thanks Stu, Mike and Mike!

You guys rock!"

Steve H. (One of the best, most respected guitarists in the Triangle area)
Raleigh, NC

PWE Event Horizon 50 watt, dual channel amp

From The Gear Page [Edited for length]

"Can I have a drum roll please....This thing is a BEAST!!!

First of all, there are many tones in it, highly tweakable and all of them sound great!

Since this is a "Marshall" type amp I decided to try for the coveted La Grange tone, which seems to be my first instinct in dialing in a Marshall amp with a humbucker. I used a Gustavsson with Throbak pickups. Plenty of gain and for the La Grange lead tone the gain was on half. The tone controls are very usable, lots of range. The master is GREAT! This can easily be a bedroom amp.

.......There again, the tone controls and Hyperon and Tachyon controls really can get some different tones.

It can be thick, airy, beefy, subtle, pretty much anything you're looking for. If you want intense hard rock tones, this is your amp. Gov't Mule tones with humbuckers or Lukather gainy strat tones are easy.

The cool thing is, you can get the strat into highly saturated lead tones and just turn down the guitar's volume knob and clean the amp right up. I will setup the clean channel for pristine cleans with a long delay and just use the lead channel for everything else. Its a great amp for guys who use their volume knobs.

So, in a nut shell, I am knocked out by the Event Horizon.......although I think you could easily play some metal with it. EVH tones are easy to get, although I tend to go for the Audley Freed/Billy G tones. You can get those thick Bonamassa tones easily too.........In some ways it reminds me of a Mad Professor in that you can dial in a broad range of tones, lots of usable gain, intense lead sounds, cleans up well, and has a vintage vibe at all times.

Many higher gain amps sound too "modern" for me, the EH sounds very rich with lots of harmonics even at higher gain levels.....

The Tachyon control is great for adjusting the high end content of the channels. It can adjust the high end, but even all the way counterclockwise the amp has a nice open tone to it. It never sounds congested or nasally.

Overall, this is an incredible amp for rock, blues/rock, fusion, hard rock.

Stu was totally correct in his assessment. This amp is freakin' beast."

Gilbert T. a.k.a. "GAT" on TGP
Reno, NV

Grosh Guitars Electrajet Dual P-90 Custom in Copper Metallic

"Mike-Stu,
Rec'd my Grosh EJ yesterday in perfect shape. The finish and workmanship is superb and the sound, tone and touch dynamics are incredible, irregardless what amp I play it thru: Dr. Z, Marshall or Fender. The neck profile and setup is perfect. Don Grosh builds incredible guitars and this model is his best ever. Blues, jazz, fingerstyle, country...this guitar handles it all!!!!

Thanks for the great personalized service and will give you guys a call for all my future guitar/amp needs!!!"

Rod R.

Swart Atom 1x10" 5 watt with reverb

"Stu,

The Swart Atom rocks! Great tone and great reverb in a nice little package. I love the tweed covering, too. I'm very happy with the atom, its great for playing in my apartment, and I think it'd be real handy to bring to a jam. Just a great amp to have!

Thanks!"

Matt O.

Liquid Metal Guitars LMG-T Model

"Hey Stu,

I just thought I'd drop you a line and let you know how pleased I am with the LMGT! Everyone who has seen it so far has had to play it, and every last one of them has said it's one of the best guitars they've ever played! There's definitely something magic about these aluminum bodies that makes the guitar sound fantastic -- there's no question about it! Honestly, though, the neck is the thing that I'm most happy about. Sure, the technology behind the body deserves accolades, but in my mind I guess I expected the rest of the guitar to be an afterthought. Not so! This guitar has one of the best necks I've ever played, and the construction of the guitar is such that it takes advantage of all of the cool "new-school" parts (like the graphite nuts, bridges, etc. that we've all been afraid to put on our vintage-style guitars) to great effect! All-in-all, this guitar is everything I've been looking for in a T-style, and leaves nothing to be desired. At practice it was really inspiring to play, and when I broke it out today to play through the Orangutan, I was *completely* happy with both what I was hearing and how the guitar felt to play! Just awesome!

Thanks again, Stu, and give my thanks to Mike Ayers for all of the help he has been. You guys are the best, so keep up the good work!

Regards,"

Brian S.
Raleigh, NC

Grosh Electrajet, Swart STR-Tweed, Night-Light

"Stu,

First, thanks for your patience with me and time you took going through various amps and their sonic capabilities and suggestions. Complete tone satisfaction was achieved! I received the Grosh ElectraJet Custom dual P-90s. First, the blind fold test. I played it for about a half hour before I grabbed a pick. I couldn't put it down. This plays and sounds fantastic. I'll never sell my Strat but I am now a believer in the EletraJet.
The fit and finish is beautiful. The Black Orange Metallic color shifts are amazing, a very deep rich look. Your pics are very good but, to see it in person!

The next day my Swart STR-Tweed showed up. Man, there are a lot of tones in those two knobs and the dark tweed is definitely worth the up charge. Sounds fantastic with a Strat and Les Paul but I was really surprised how the Electrajet sounded. I'm in love with that guitar! Those P-90s rule. Back to the amp. I'm not a fan of the Fender type drippy reverb, but the STR-Tweed˙s reverb is extremely pleasing. Best I˙ve heard so far.
The amp has great cleans to grind and everything in between.

Stu, your recommendations were right on, as usual. This is one great, open sounding little amp with a beautiful range of tones. Either one alone would be great, but both are like Viagra for my guitar playing.

Mike M.
Chicago (GO BLACKHAWKS!), IL

P.S. I bought the Swart Night Light from you a week later. Just right for those small spaces and definitely for late at night. A very cool tool. Fat Sound is THE place to shop! Terrific line of products, knowledgeable staff and top notch customer service.

LsL Instruments T-Bone SA and Xits X10

"Hey Stu-
I wanted to say that I love the X10 and the LSL! 
The LSL has actually replaced my Fano JM6 as my new fav guitar and the X10 is a really great compliment to my AST. 

Best"

Dave H.
Medford Lakes, NJ

MotorAve McQueen #52

"First. It's gorgeous.
Second. It's so easy to play it's stupid.
Third and most important. The tones that I'm getting out of her are just sick. I am Page, Gibbons, and Clapton... And more. This guitar sings, breathes. These are the tones I've been searching out for 15 years. This guitar feels like an extension of myself. It's just ridiculous... Oh yeah she has a name and it's Elinor.
Mark and Stu thank you so much"

Anthony L.
Dallas, TX

Top Hat Club Royale 1x12" with pre-installed Dr Z Brake-Lite attenuator

"Hey Stu,

Just got the amp yesterday. After playing with it for a day all I can say is wow. This amp surpassed my expectations. The sound is amazing exactly like you said.
The amp looks great too. I can see Top Hat only uses high quality materials. It seems to be built like a tank which is great. Also the Brake-Lite is just what I needed. It takes the volume and just squashes it down while not affecting the tone. I can finally play
late at night at home without anyone yelling at me to lower my amp, and still keep the Top Hat's amazing tone. You have helped me immensely and I would like to commend you for that. My next amp/guitar/pedal etc. will 100% be from Fat Sound. I already told
a few of my guitar buddies to check out your website and give you a call if they need anything.

Thanks Again,"
Billy M
Brooklyn, NY

LsL Instruments T-Bone SA in Butterscotch with mild ageing

"Stu,

The T-bone is simply fantastic. It has just the right amount of ageing to give it a cool vintage vibe without looking over done. The weight is perfect and I'm really digging the combination of the 7.25" radius neck and 6105 frets. While not quite as effortless and fast as the Electrajet, blazing lead work is not what this guitar is about is it?

Impressions after an hour of playing, the guitar/pick up combo has the perfect balance for me. The bridge pickup has that great tele snap and twang without being harsh and piercing. I really like playing a tele with the pick up selector in the middle position as it still gives that characteristic bridge twang but adds some warmth and airiness to the overall sound. This guitar does that very well. Clean chord work stays nice and smooth and rounded, but if you dig in on single notes the bridge pick up bite comes through.

The pictures look great on the website.

Thanks again for excellent service. See you soon."

Will R.
Raleigh, NC
 

Xits X10 1x12" Pepper/Silver with Greenback

"Hi Stu

Well the X10 is above and beyond all descriptions and expectations. I know you said it has a startling low end with the Greenback but nothing could prepare you for it. But what I love is it has for lack of better words. "Balance". It has highs but not to harsh or treble overkill... has a thump with the bottom and mids... And it sounds good with everything I have.. (I haven't tried my Danelectro Baritone yet but I will)......And it sounds equally good with all pickups of my Tele, Strat, Historic 56 & 58 Les Paul and Historic '63 ES335 Reissue and ES330.

Thanks Stu

You as always are right on the money.
My Tone Guru.......

Regards"

Tim W.
Woodstock, GA

Xits X10 and Shop Visit

"......the X10 is nothing short of inspiring and the experience of spending an afternoon with Stu and Mike at FatSound was just fantastic! I got to try out all the gear I had been curious about - resolving some questions and opening up new ones to explore. More importantly, I can testify that both Mike and Stu were a blur of motion but completely welcoming at the same time - these guys do not sit still - and yet, I observed something REALLY RARE these days in retailing: ALL customers are kings at FatSound. From the tonetweakers, to the little kid who biked in for his lesson. It was truly refreshing to see that in action.

The X10 has so many great sounds in it, I've only scratched the surface. My primary guitar with the band I'm in now, is a Hamer Eclipse 12 string. So clean sounds are what I need first. Per Stu's suggestion, I swapped in a 12au in the first position. It really defies description...sparkling rich detail - but with loads of beautiful LOWS that I've never coaxed out of any el84 amp I've owned. It's now become a cliche, but the size of this little grab and go combo absolutely defies the huge sound that comes out of it. Much more to say on this in the near future, but for those waiting for theirs - all I can say is that it is worth it and more! "

David N.
Arlington, VA

LsL Instruments Saticoy "S" style guitar

"Just can't get over how amazingly Hendrixidian the LSL Saticoy is. The combination of ash and those killer pickups are perfect. Now I know how Eric Johnson feels playing his original late 50s strat. Same tones, its unbelievable how well this guitar nails it with a Germino for Hendrix. It is sick. I used NO overdrive, NO fuzz face, just straight in for amazing tone....... ......Great to see they hit a home run with the Saticoy. This guitar is an amazing strat- I've felt many a 'relic' and this one really got inside my head because it sounds JUST EXACTLY like an old 50s strat and has the same feel and finish.

See ya"

Dewey M.
Chapel Hill, NC
 

Swart Night Light Attenuator

"Hi Stu,

The Night Light arrived yesterday. Thanks again for the fast shipping and
good old fashioned business sense translated to the web.

The Night Light - this little thing is cool! I'm very happy with it. I think
it sounds great, the size is fantastic, the operation is easy, and the
flashing lights are just plain *fun*. Best of the 3 attenuators I have. My
5E3 sounds fantastic through it.

I like the way you wrote an email to me after you received the order. For
what it's worth, I build loads of web software, including web stores, and
I'm very fussy about how people conduct business on the web. I think letting
a customer know what's going on with their order makes all the difference to
the confidence that you instill in a user that's doing remote business with
you. I wanted to let you know that for people like me, your communication
makes all the difference - no guessing about the order!

Thanks, Stu."

Scott J.
Carpinteria, CA

Xits X10 112 Combo with Celestion Alnico Blue

"Hey Stu,

I just wanted to write and let you guys know that you hit it out of the park again!  I've been playing my new XITS X10 since I got home, and to be honest, it sounds even better here than it did in the store!  And the sound!  Everything from pristine, shimmery cleans, to "lord of thunder" distortion the likes of which make me want to pull out a solo Jeff Tweedy style!  We're talking going from complete control to utter chaos with the twist of a volume knob, or even just by digging in a bit harder.  I can't wait to take this thing to practice next week! 

Anyhow, you've never done me wrong in the 9 years I've been working with you to fill my gear needs, and it looks like you're still in top form (no surprise there)!  Thanks again to you, Mike, and Mike for all of your help and patience with me while I was waiting for the amp!

Thanks again,"

Brian S.
Raleigh, NC

Xits X10 112 Combo with Greenback

"Stu,

Thanks so much for spending so much time with Gary and me today and guiding us into the entirely intoxicating world of XITS tone. I haven't been this excited about an amp since the first day I heard the Swart Atomic Space Tone. The X10 really seems like a game changer at that price point...... I loved the ambient kind of clean tone stuff you played today and I would definitely urge you to record several clips of you playing that kind of stuff and then startle the listener with the surprise of your digging in and getting that incredibly thick saturated tone...wow, that was quite an arresting sonic experience.

It was very cool when you were demoing the amp and absolutely everyone in the store turned around and slowly walked toward the amp like tonal zombies transfixed and transformed by the sheer beauty of the tones...I have never seen anything like that...a great moment that almost seemed like a commercial come to life...

The X10 seemed a perfect volume and I was really impressed at how well it did with lower volumes."

Eric C.
Richmond, VA

Squier Mini 3/4 size (professionally setup by Fat Sound Guitars before delivery)

"Hi Stu,

Gave my daughter the axe, she loved it.  Named it "Stuart".  I was really impressed with it, Mark did his usual fantastic job setting it up, plays wonderfully & it was even still in tune when I got it which really shocked me.  Thanks as always!"

Jim M
South Carolina

Most recent purchase...previously owned Gibson Historic R9

"What Is The Value Of Customer Service?

I have enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with Fat Sound Guitars. Their extensive, consistent and impressive expertise with guitars and amplifiers, and their dedication to excellence and customer service is second to none.  They consistently prove to be a valuable and trusted resource.  Notable to me was that from my first interaction with Fat Sound Guitars 10 years ago, it was all about establishing a relationship to explore, understand, and meet my needs rather than superficial pleasantries and simply selling me a guitar. Importantly, all of the guys at Fat Sound Guitars are not only real guitar players, but are knowledgeable and equally dedicated to the needs of the complete novice to the working professional guitarist, in a wide range of musical styles............"

Jeffrey H., MD
Martinsville, VA

PRS Modern Eagle II

"Stu & Mike,
Wanted to drop you a line to let you know how happy I am with the Modern Eagle II. It exceeded my expectations. You mentioned that Paul himself played the guitar at the PRS Road Show at Fat Sound last summer that featured David Grissom. You also mentioned that Paul said it was a "special" instrument. I must agree with Paul after gigging with it a few times now. This thing is a vibe machine! Many thanks to Mike Ayers who handled the deal for me over the phone. He was extremely helpful, answering all of my million questions and even got the guitar to me the next day. A few days later he sent me a picture disc of some shots that werent included on your site. That was a very nice touch. Service after the sale is a dinasour in todays world but you guys deliver in spades.

Must get up to your shop in the near future. Thanks again.

Regards,"

Barry S.
Columbia, SC

MotorAve Lemans Custom

"Absolutely love it! Plays great, the tone is SO cool, not just another P90/Junior type of tone. It reminds me of a killer Esquire with the guitar volume slightly backed off, then it morphs into a beefier Esquire on steroids tone. I like that it doesn't approach a humbucker in it's tone. I've had several P90 guitars that with some gain almost sounded like a humbucker, but this one still sounds like a P90. It still has a unique "growl" in the midrange that my korina one has, it must be the body style. I love both of them in that they are not a clone of something, they have their own vibe!
 
What Lollar is in it? [Standard Lollar P-90 - Stu] I love the tone switches, I use all the setting. I can't wait for rehearsals. Anyway, thanks AGAIN for another stellar guitar. BTW, it looks KILLER!!!!!"

Gilbert T.
Reno NV

Grosh Electrajet Custom with Dual P-90 Fralins

".....how can I describe, without excessive expletives, how this guitar looks, plays and sounds? I'll try, but no promises. First, visually, it's everything I hoped it would be and then some. Don always provides impeccable craftsmanship and construction and this one is exceptional. He really does fabulous work! I love the color and the wood is awesome! It's a very classic look and is just what I wanted.

Playability? The guitar plays like freakin' butter! If anything it makes playing too easy!. And that trem... It really works for me on the body and still lets me "quiver" when I need to and dive when I have a mental spasm. And it stays in tune! It's actually quite sensitive and responsive as well.

Sound? I plugged in and played for about an hour just to knock some of the new off and it's killing me so far. The Fralin's are as expected. Brilliant! The guitar is light, lively and acoustically just rings like a bloody bell! Throaty and woody on the neck, mid-position has great mids and sparkle and the bridge feels bright without being painful. Lindy rules!

Anyway, it's a killer! Thank you for all your help."

Bryan N.
Peculiar, MO