The Dilemma of Craftsmanship: Keeping Soundgas Manufacturing in the UK
Hi folks, Jo here from Soundgas.
We’ve always been open with our community about the challenges of running a small business dedicated to bringing you the best in vintage gear and boutique equipment. Today, I want to have an honest conversation with you about one of the biggest dilemmas we’re facing right now: should we continue to keep all our manufacturing in the UK, or should we look abroad to cut costs?
At Soundgas, we’ve built our reputation on a few key pillars—authenticity, expertise, and craftsmanship. When you purchase from us, you know you’re getting something special: a piece of equipment that’s been meticulously restored or custom-built by our small but passionate team here in Derbyshire. Every pedal, every synth, every tape echo we produce has a story, and every restoration we undertake is carried out with the care it deserves. That’s who we are.
But we’re also living in a world where the pressures of manufacturing in the UK are becoming harder and harder to ignore.
The Realities of Running a Small Business Today
We’ve never been shy about the fact that running a business like ours comes with its unique set of challenges. From sourcing hard-to-find components for vintage gear to staying ahead of a growing demand for bespoke items, every day is a balancing act. But what’s really starting to bite is the rising cost of doing business in the UK.
Brexit, energy prices, inflation, the pandemic’s lingering effects—they’ve all had a profound impact. We’re feeling it everywhere: from our supply chains to the rising costs of labour, and even down to the skyrocketing energy bills just to keep the lights on in our workshop. It’s become tougher to maintain the same standards of quality while keeping our prices reasonable.
We know many of you come to us because you believe in buying gear that has soul—something hand-built or lovingly restored by people who understand what it means to push musical and sonic boundaries. But with the financial strain growing, we’re faced with a tough decision: do we continue to shoulder these costs and risk pricing ourselves out of the market, or do we look at options like outsourcing some of our work abroad?
The Temptation of Outsourcing
Outsourcing to overseas manufacturers has become the go-to solution for many businesses in our position. Let’s be real—it’s cheaper, faster, and often more scalable. Moving some of our production abroad could slash costs significantly, which means we could offer more competitive prices on certain products.
But here’s the rub: doing that would mean sacrificing some of what makes Soundgas… well, Soundgas. It’s not just about the bottom line for us. It’s about preserving a tradition of craftsmanship that’s increasingly rare in today’s world. Each piece of gear that leaves our shop has passed through the hands of real people who care about what they’re doing—people you’ve come to know and trust.
Why We Want to Keep It Local
One of the things we’re most proud of is that we’ve been able to create jobs and support local talent. Keeping our manufacturing and repair work in the UK means investing in the next generation of engineers, designers and builders who will continue to keep the flame alive for vintage gear and cutting-edge innovations alike. It’s about sustaining a community of people who love this stuff as much as you do.
Moving manufacturing abroad would undermine that. We’d lose part of what makes us unique, and we’re not ready to give that up without a fight.
But We Can’t Do It Alone
This is where we need your help.
We know you care about the craft and the gear, but if we’re going to keep our operations here in the UK, we’re going to need more than just moral support. We need the continued trust and backing of this amazing community to make it work. It’s simple: the more you support us by choosing to buy directly from us or spreading the word, the more we can reinvest in the people, tools, and materials that allow us to keep creating the things you love.
We’re not just selling products; we’re preserving a legacy, a way of working that values quality and authenticity over mass production and short-term profits. It’s what makes us different from the faceless manufacturers churning out gear with little story behind it - and with near zero investment in the community around them.
If we can rally together, we can keep pushing the boundaries of sonic innovation right here in the UK, and we can keep making sure every Soundgas piece is a part of something much bigger than just business.
A Call to Action
If you’re reading this, you’re part of the Soundgas story. Whether you’ve bought gear from us, sent something in for repair, or follow us on social media, your support means the world to us. If you believe in what we’re doing, please help us keep it going:
Spread the Word: Tell your friends, your fellow musicians, and anyone who cares about great sound and craftsmanship.
Buy Direct: Whenever you can, purchase from us directly. Every sale helps keep our team employed and ensures we can keep producing top-notch gear right here at home.
Engage with Us: Your feedback, ideas, and encouragement are more valuable than you know. Keep sharing your experiences with our gear and our service - or if you’ve been inspired by our social posts - it motivates us to keep going, even when things get tough.
This isn’t just a business for us; it’s a passion. And with your help, we’ll keep the Soundgas spirit alive—one handmade, perfectly restored, or carefully crafted piece of gear at a time.
Thanks for sticking with us.
Jo, Tony & The Soundgas Team
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Let us know what you think. How important is keeping our production in the UK to you? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below or over on our socials.