About Fat Sound Guitars
Fat Sound Guitars essentially invented the Boutique Guitar Shop genre...
When we opened our doors in 1993 there were exactly four companies building hand-wired amplifiers and no one thought we could make it with such a heavy focus on high-end guitar gear. Naysayers were, in retrospect, probably right given the current circumstances of the industry, but with the introduction of e-commerce a few years after we opened and an explosion of boutique amp, guitar and effects builders it turned out that our timing was perfect!
We've also gained a reputation as consultants to manufacturers having had a hand in the actual development of some of the most in-demand amplifiers from companies like Dr Z, Swart, Top Hat as well as the PRS Sweet 16 Model.
Unlike today's typical and increasingly prolific self-serve superstores we offer an extremely knowledgeable staff with decades of experience (Stu Carter, Mike Ayers—the one with the southern accent, Mike Gallo-—the one with the mild Brooklyn accent and Mark Kane in repairs) and a friendly, non-egotistical vibe. We're not Rock Stars and we'll never act as if we are! We're here to serve you!
We are dedicated to carrying the absolute best guitars, amps and effects available. A quick look at our list of exclusive lines as well as the number of now iconic lines that we brought to market or had a serious hand in bringing to market such as Dr Z, Swart, Fulltone, Top Hat, MotorAve, Xits, Collings, Fano etc.... demonstrates just how serious we are about guitar tone. Just like you, we suffer from G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) on a constant basis, are extremely passionate about guitar gear and remain diligently on the lookout for great new products to help bring to the marketplace.
Fat Sound Guitars also offers the very best in entry-level guitar gear from the PRS SE line, Fender, the Canadian built Godin acoustic lines Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie, Seagull and Norman, Roland, Vox and BOSS for those just starting out or looking for excellent quality on a budget.
We were founded in 1993 on the belief that guitar shops should be staffed by caring, knowledgeable, guitar junkies who are expert at qualifying the needs of the client and making informed recommendations that cut to the chase and are more effective than endless, internet "research". We are dedicated to making shopping for guitar equipment on the internet or at our walk-in location in Cary, NC fun, easy, and satisfying.
Our website was launched in 1996 as one of the very first guitar store websites on the net and is well established as one of the best-known, premier guitar websites in the world with class leading photography and audio clips to match the stellar quality of the gear we carry.
Yes, it seems we love everything we sell, but that's because we refuse to carry products we are not truly excited about and inspired by just to make a buck and we absolutely believe in the quality of tone and build of every line we offer. We turn down about 30 product lines for every 1 we decide to sell.
Here is just a fraction of what we offer you...
- The best in hand chosen, carefully selected guitar equipment
- Competitive pricing
- Tone Consulting.....something we pride ourselves on and that we strive to do better than anyone else in the industry
- Knowledgeable and friendly staff that cares as much about your tone as you do
- Quick & safe shipping
- 3 day, money back trial period*
- In store full-service guitar repair and setup by master luthier Mark Kane
- In store lessons from our highly trained teaching staff
- And much more!!!
Nobody lives, eats and sleeps guitar equipment more than we do (emails are frequently answered from 6am until 2am by Fat Sound's owner) and we would like a chance to prove it to you. We take your tone just as seriously as you do. Stop by, call or e-mail us. We look forward to meeting you.
*Trial period applies to in-stock items or items already on order. If you are unsure about whether your purchase qualifies just ask and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Our Philosophy Regarding Audio Clips:
We know that the marketplace demands clips these days (and we enjoy recording them!) and if you don't have a shop near you where you can check out all of the cool gear then clips may be something you rely on to help determine which products might work best for you.
However, all guitarists have their own, unique tone in their hands. Some play lightly, some aggressively, some play very dynamically while others are like human compressors. Some players have a brighter attack while others have a warmer attack. Because of this, we have seen over and over again that what sounds great in the hands of one player just doesn't work as well for another player.
We are also really big into the *feel* of an amplifier and that's something you'll never be able to experience via a sound clip. The taste of a great steak is one thing, but imagine if you couldn't smell it on the grill or on your plate. Same thing with amps; without the feel only one of the two vital senses is being utilized and a big part of the equation is missing. While you may never be able to experience the feel of an amplifier via the internet the entire Fat Sound staff is well versed in the lexicon of explaining this feel via the telephone or email.
So, check out the clips, enjoy them and hopefully they will be of some assistance, but be aware that in many instances we can help you far better by speaking with you in person and helping you qualify what you are looking for. You can do endless "research" on the internet, but speaking to one of the professionals at Fat Sound who knows these products inside and out is still, we are convinced, your smartest move. We were qualifying people's needs over the phone for years before guitar forums and broadband connections existed and have a well deserved reputation for being able to listen to the needs of our clients and making the right recommendation the first time.
