About Us

THE COMPANY

Bell Tone Synth Works LLC was established in Philadelphia, PA in 2016 by owner and senior technician Alison Stout.

In just a few years, Bell Tone Synth Works had developed a reputation as one of the best synth tech shops in the country. We are committed to providing thorough, detail-oriented repair and restoration work combined with friendly, responsive and transparent customer communication. Thanks to the value we place on truly understanding how analog and vintage digital systems work and the time we constantly invest in expanding our knowledge, we have also become known for succeeding in fixing troublesome issues where other techs have failed.

Since 2021, we have also worked as the on-staff synth techs for the Music of Music Technology in Harleysville, PA, which is operated by the nonprofit EMEAPP and houses the largest private collection of electronic music equipment in North America, including much of Keith Emerson's collection and the Minimoog prototypes. In our work there, we have the opportunity to help to restore and preserve extraordinarily rare and sometimes undocumented instruments.

THE TEAM

Alison Stout, owner and senior technician is a classically-trained musician with over 15 years of electronics repair experience.  After graduating from college with a B.A. in music composition, her interest in orchestration led her to an interest in synthesis and a love of classic analog sounds. Finding herself increasingly fascinated by analog electronics theory, she devoted much of the next decade to its study before opening Bell Tone Synth Works in 2016. In addition to repairing and restoring synths at Bell Tone, she also is responsible for designing all of our synth mods and retrofit products.

Darian Scatton, senior technician began studying electronics, restoring combo organs and building modular synths in 2013. Looking for a change in direction after years of working as a web developer and programmer, he joined Bell Tone Synth Works in 2017.  He is also a lifelong musician and classically-trained harpist and also plays guitar and synths in several Philly bands. As a side business, he also makes gourmet chocolate under the name Prism Chocolate.

Josh Lis, technician trained as an aircraft mechanic in the air force. He joined Bell Tone in 2025 after working for a helicopter company while moonlighting doing repairs on studio gear.

Mark Tajzler, operations specialist/technician trainee has a background in art history and museum work but due to his passion for music, had spent the last several years in working in operations at a major music retailer.