Meet Aaron McCloskey of McClostone Amplifiers in Berthoud

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron McCloskey.

Aaron, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I bought a few really old amplifiers on a whim and they needed a little work. I took them to a friend of mine to fix them up and he inspired me to build a 5F1 Fender Tweed Champ amplifier kit. I built it and had a blast doing so, so I bought and built another kit. After that, I talked a few friends into buying the parts for amps and I built them, from there, I was off. I started buying parts directly instead of kits and starting finding other customers via teaching and playing. I’m currently working on amplifier #75.

I do all of the work myself. All the wiring, woodworking, assembly, and testing happen at my home/shop in Berthoud. Since the first few kits, I’ve made a lot of classic circuits including vintage Fender, Gibson, and Marshall designs. I’ve done a number of custom amps as well and recently I have really been enjoying the design aspects.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a more or less smooth road for this business.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the McClostone Amplifiers story. Tell us more about the business.
What sets me apart from other amplifier companies is the customer care, attention to detail, and the desire to give each customer the exact amplifier they want.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve had some pretty good luck along the way but have also been willing to jump at opportunities when they come my way. Amplifier building started off as a hobby but it turns out there is a lot of demand for it. I’ve been in the music business as a guitar and banjo player for about 15 years and have made a lot of connections. Being in the scene has definitely helped me meet new customers.

Pricing:

• My amps start at $750 for a simple 5-watt tube circuit.
• The go up in price from there and for powerful and custom designs can get up to about $2000.

Contact Info:

• Address: 337 Welch Ave, Berthoud, CO
• Website: www.mcclostone.com
• Phone: 970-596-3850
• Email: aaronmccloskey@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcclostone/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcclostone
• Twitter: n/a
• Yelp: n/a
• Other: n/a

Image Credit:
Emily Sierra Photography

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.