About Lowell Hunt and SWELL Amplification
My obsession with guitar amps began when I was a teenager, the instant I plugged into my grandfather's original wide panel Fender Deluxe.
That's him playing the Dual 8 Steel and TV-front Tweed Pro for the Dick Barrett band, with my grandmother singing. He purchased both instruments directly from Leo Fender in 1948.
A Piece of History: Dave Hunter spotlighted this very Tweed Pro in an article for Vintage Guitar Magazine: Doc Buffington’s ’48 Fender Pro Amp
My other grandfather, a gifted engineer, fueled my passion for mechanical and electronic design. His gifts were always educational - usually old clocks, motors, or radios - things a young kid could dissect without getting into trouble!
He introduced me to drafting and the process of custom design. We spent countless hours in his workshop designing and fabricating. Lee Hunt is the spirit behind SWELL Amplification.
Tribute in Design: This photo of Lee serving as a Radio Intercept Operator in Liangshan, China in 1945 is featured on the Dulcet 30's back panel and PCB.
Somewhere along the way, my main interests converged, and guitar electronics became my singular focus. I dropped out of school to pursue it, eventually opening my Phoenix repair shop in 2008.
Over the years, I've repaired tens of thousands of tube amps: century-old RCA units, holy grail classics from the 50's and 60's, mass-produced modern stuff, and everything in between.
I love what I do.
In 2023, I started designing a new guitar amplifier, the goal being unparalleled sustain and dynamic response, with over-the-top harmonics. Quality and craftsmanship were paramount.
In 2024, we officially launched SWELL Amplification, a family business. Together with my wife and our four children, we are proud to introduce our first amplifier, the Dulcet 30. Each unit is meticulously handcrafted right here in Phoenix, Arizona.
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