EVERYTHING is Something I Didn’t See Coming
Thirty+ years ago, I set out to build something different. As a designer, a problem-solver, and perhaps a bit of a mad scientist, I founded a bass guitar company – driven by a sound in my head. The goal was fidelity at pitches lower than standard basses could reach.
. . . and then I needed strings.
For two decades, I made available the strings that made my unusual guitars sound, behave and feel ‘normal’. It has been an extraordinary journey, full of experimentation, discovery, challenges, and, above all, the opportunity to help other musicians bring their ideas to life.
Today, I find myself at a turning point – my body has betrayed my ambitions. I recognize that my ability to run the day-to-day operations of this business has come to an end. It’s not necessarily goodbye forever, but it is a time when I need to step back and acknowledge that I am mortal, and I can no longer give the business the daily attention it deserves.
Before I go . . .
There is something I have to say out loud; THANK YOU. Truly, and from the bottom of my heart.
Through the unpredictable and sometimes tumultuous years, you have shown patience through late shipments, understanding when mistakes happened, and grace through the illnesses and life changes that inevitably found their way into the business. You continued to believe in my work, and in the science and craftsmanship behind everything I have been able to design and build, even when the road wasn’t always smooth.
Your faith has meant more to me than I know how to express.
You didn’t simply buy guitars or strings. You became part of my journey. You trusted an idea, embraced something unconventional, and used my strings and instruments to create music, explore new possibilities, and push the limits of my and your auditory journey. Knowing that something I designed and built has become part of your musical expression is one of the greatest rewards I could have ever hoped for.
I am forever grateful for your patience, your open-mindedness, and your willingness to come along on this unusual adventure. You made it possible for me to pursue an idea that might otherwise have remained only that – an idea.
As I step away from the daily demands of running this business, I do so with deep appreciation for every customer, every conversation, every experiment, and every note played on a set of my strings, one of my guitars, or both.
Thank you for being part of these many years. Thank you for believing in the work, for giving my ideas a chance, and for creating so much more with them than I ever could have imagined.
It has been a privilege to serve your purpose and journey, and I will always be grateful that you were part of mine.
With sincere gratitude and respect;
The man behind the Kalium curtain
