Music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I was surrounded by records, soaking in the sounds of countless artists. I started playing piano as a little kid, but it didn’t really click with me. I loved music, but I struggled with the lack of control I felt over the sound. Something was missing.

That all changed the day I discovered the guitar. Suddenly, it was like my eyes—and ears—opened. Every tiny detail mattered: how you pluck or pick with the right hand, how you press, bend, or slide with the left. It felt like I finally had full control over the sound coming out of the instrument. I wanted to do it all. Around that time, I discovered blues music. The rhythms, the solos, the sheer emotion—it captivated me completely.

Once I felt confident in my playing, I dove into the next big adventure: chasing “the tone.” I started collecting gear and obsessing over how to craft the perfect sound. This eventually led me to study sound engineering and work in a recording studio, where I began tinkering with the inner workings of analog audio equipment. I wanted to take the sounds I loved and shape them into something even closer to what I heard in my head.

In 2004, I modded my first guitar pedal. By 2005, I built my first pedal—a kit for a popular low-mid-focused overdrive. From there, I became fascinated with the circuits behind the sounds. I started studying existing designs to figure out how I could modify or reimagine them. That’s when I began hoarding “mojo” components—those rare, obsolete parts that pedal enthusiasts love. At first, I thought these components were the secret to great tone.

But as I went deeper into design, I had a realization: the circuit itself is far more important than the components you use. Components are part of the puzzle, but they’re not the whole picture. Circuits are designed around components, and while swapping parts can change the sound in subtle ways, mastering the design itself is the most efficient and powerful way to achieve the tone you’re after.

I kept on building pedals, living a happy life, and sharing my creations with friends, family, and musicians at the studio where I worked. It remained a fulfilling passion, one that brought joy and connection to my life. At the same time, I decided to move on to a career in engineering and construction. While sound engineering and pedal design became hobbies, my work in engineering gave me a new sense of purpose and growth.

Gut shot of one of my early “Mojo” pedals

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