Himmelstrutz
ABOUT HIMMELSTRUTZ
Modest Beginning: Shift of Focus
Joakim Hedeby/C.J. Himmelstrutz, Founder & CEO (2021)
Modest Beginning: Shift of Focus
My interest in the guitar has always been overwhelming, but quite early it dawned on me that I was not to become a virtuoso player. Rather than being discouraged, the energy was transferred to a field where I felt I could make a difference: improving sound through the equipment itself! It was this shift that had lit the fire of passion for electronics in me. While I may not be the most accomplished player, perhaps I could make tools that expanded other sonic imaginations…
The First Amplifier
In 1982, I set out to build an amplifier that had to be different—something new, without relying on valves/tubes. Copying existing designs wasn’t an option. I wanted to make something that delivered fresh sounds and sparked creativity. The goal was to craft an amp with unique tones that worked with any playing style and, as mentioned above, without valves/tubes.
This was far from simple or splendid at first, but it sparked a drive to keep refining and pushing the boundaries…
Handmade Simplicity for Innovation
Since then the task has been to most of it make it by myself, by hand, with a particular focus on keeping things simple yet innovative. My (Himmelstrutz Elektro Art) pedals and amps these days are made to be conducive to exploration, pushing the player toward innovative ideas without complexity and costs. Through personal frustration with gear that hindered sonic expression, the goal has always been intuitive, reliable, and empowering equipment in which players may focus on what matters most: making music.
Staying true to the Craft
Years later, in Sweden I am still handcrafting each single piece of gear myself. What out of personal need once was a necessity, grew into a lifelong commitment building premium equipment for guitar players. But despite all those years, with all the books about guitar amplifiers and effects that have come out, all those other products that have flowed from my shop, and all that touring done with so many fine bands, my fundamental aim has remained the same: to make playing the guitar a more fun, expressive, and personal experience. I might never have become that lead guitarist I once tried to be, but I hope my pedals and amps now are making it possible for others to achieve such mastery. For me (Himmelstrutz Elektro Art) it is not about radical technology but more about simplicity and dependability, allowing guitarists to get to musical greatness.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
Himmelstrutz Elektro Art started in 2004 as a one-man company and still is today (2024), with each piece still handcrafted the same way it was when I (Now Himmelstrutz) first began. Computer software has been used for tasks like designing original schematics and printed circuit boards since the beginning—it has made the process more accurate and efficient from then until now! Even though this is important, the focus on quality remains important. This ensures that the gear stays true to its original purpose: helping musicians/guitarists express themselves without breaking backs or wallets.
/Joakim Hedeby/C.J. Himmelstrutz, 2024
An Ordinary Day At Work