A growing line and increased
production meant expansion, so
Pettyjohn has already added four
employees to keep up with demand—
and has plans to add another by year’s
end. They’ve also moved production to
a new shop space in central Oregon,
where Stephen lives and can more
effectively oversee the manufacturing
process.
“Most days are a rollercoaster really,”
Stephen says, “but I am honored,
humbled and amazed that we get to
play a part in inspiring people to make
music.”
And that, in a word, is the Pettyjohn
goal—inspiration. The big idea is to
create premium tools for musicians all
around the world, but it’s Stephen’s
background as a recording engineer
that drives the development process.
“I draw a lot of inspiration from
high-end analog recording gear I’ve
used for years,” he says. “My little
thought experiment is—if I play a
multi-thousand dollar guitar into a
nice boutique or vintage amp, why
would I force my signal to go through
electronic pedals that don’t match the
performance?”
In a crowded marketplace, Stephen
believes his obsession over the minute
details and voicings of studio-based
circuitry is what sets Pettyjohn apart.
“In my studio, I experience audio magic
with analog studio equipment and, in
the end, I am trying to recreate that
10
TONE TALK //
Return to The Foundry: Round 2 With Pettyjohn Electronics