STORY AND PHOTO BY TOMMY CALDERON

The handcrafted amplifiers of Ben Verellen

In the basement of a house adjacent to Interstate 5 in Seattle, a booming sound shakes the walls. The year is 2007 and Ben Verellen, 28, is creating his first guitar amplifier. The basement has a half dirt, half concrete floor and is filled with a few laundry machines, scattered music equipment and a couple of fold out particle board tables Verellen uses as a makeshift workbench. It’s dark and musty, but Verellen works late into many nights.

Today, Verellen, 34, owns Verellen Amplifiers and has a workshop in the Fremont district of Seattle. Verellen has remained the sole proprietor for the past seven years. He constructs all the amplifiers, sends all the emails, makes and answers all the phone calls and personally sends any order he gets.

It’s personal for him to be the one creating and it’s important for him to do so, he says. Verellen has the capabilities to grow into a big production line of musical gear, but he chooses to keep things the way they are, he says.

“I can talk to every person who wants to buy an amp,” he says. “I think that’s worth a lot that’s worth more to me than trying to shoot for the moon and get some million dollar operation going.”

He has caught the eyes, and ears, of musicians from around the world. He’s crafted amplifiers for musicians including Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters, Scott Shriner of Weezer and Cory Murchy of Minus the Bear. Verellen stays busy.

Every day brings something different, Verellen says.

Ninety percent of the amplifiers created by Verellen are custom made. This keeps him engaged in what he does and it consistently demands him to add new skills into his arsenal, he says.

While most amplifiers he creates are customized, he also constructs standard amplifiers such as the Meatsmoke or Skyhammer.

The amplifiers are encased in sturdy aluminum cases that are mounted in handmade wooden boxes.

For Verellen, being a musician also affects the way he makes amplifiers, he says. He is the guitarist for Seattle band Helms Alee and drummer of Constant Lovers and believes that it’s about the music first, then the gear, he says.

“A mistake people make is that the secret tool is right around the corner,” he says.

He brings this idea into his creations and builds amplifiers with the intention that each amp will be the last amp anyone needs, he says.

Kelton Sears, bassist of the Seattle band Kithkin, says part of the reason why he and so many other musicians cherish Verellen Amplifiers is their build quality. Sears appreciates the closeness he has had to Verellen ever since he had his amp custom made.

“If my house caught on fire, my cat and my Verellen Amplifier are what I would grab,” Sears, says.

Rain pounds on the roof of Verellen’s quiet workshop. He is finishing up the workday by repairing a friend’s amp and constructing another. He takes a sip of coffee and continues to work.

“It’s great being able to do something that involves something I’ve always loved,” Verellen says.

When Verellen looks at the future, he hopes he is still creating in his current shop and that his business continues to let him live comfortably.