Mountlake Terrace pickup maker faces tariff costs and lower sales

Wolfe Macleod produced 1,227 guitar pickups for Wolfetone Pickups in the first part of 2026, a decrease from the 1,869 units made during the same period three years prior. The Mountlake Terrace manufacturer attributes the drop partly to changes in consumer buying habits and increased costs from trade policies.

Macleod started making music equipment after attending Dungeons and Dragons conventions in his youth. He met his then girlfriend, who was related to Jethro Tull guitarist Ian Anderson, at one of these events. Macleod said he became interested in guitar playing through that connection. He later worked for Warmoth Guitar Products and spent about 10 years crafting knives and swords before founding Wolfetone Pickups in 1998.

The shop specializes in humbuckers, P90s, and single coils. A pickup consists of a coil of wire thinner than a hair strand wound around a bobbin and placed in a magnetic assembly. When a guitar string vibrates, it disrupts the magnetic field and induces a current in the coil. That current travels through the volume and tone controls to the amplifier. Macleod describes the component as the element that makes a guitar produce sound.

Customers often visit the shop to modify existing instruments. Macleod notes that many players love their guitars but find the factory-installed pickups unsuitable for their specific genre. He adjusts winding patterns and magnets to change the tone. For jazz and blues, he aims for note separation and clarity. For high-gain metal or thrash, he designs pickups to drive the amplifier into heavy distortion.

Macleod has been professionally crafting pickups for nearly three decades. He recalls hearing guitarist Rick Derringer use his equipment during the 2006 Taste of Edmonds event. Macleod said it was the first time he heard music from his childhood played through his own products. He said the experience still gives him chills.

The business has faced financial pressure in recent years. Macleod stated that many music stores and international customers are purchasing fewer American-made products. Wolfetone has paid thousands of dollars in tariffs alone. Despite these challenges, Macleod said he still enjoys his work and cannot imagine doing anything else.

The operation includes two employees in addition to Macleod. John Passarelli is the most recent hire. Passarelli has played guitar for about 47 years. He joined Wolfetone in early 2023 after a recommendation from a mutual friend. He needed part-time work while his Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, Whiskey River, performed 30 shows in 2024.

Passarelli works at the winding station. He described the process as requiring very small movements that are difficult to execute consistently. He said people do not consider the complexity of the task unless they do it for a living. Working at Wolfetone changed his perspective on guitar equipment. He used to change pickups rarely and only when he disliked the sound. He now appreciates the components more because he helps make them.

Wolfetone currently has orders to fill. Macleod hopes to grow the business and eventually have his daughter take over. Customers can view the shop's collection on the company website at wolfetone.com.