Joe Stilwell
Joe Stilwell
Hey there! If you’re seeing this, chances are you're one of my customers — and I just want to say a genuine "thank you." I started at Sweetwater back in May 2019 in one of the most behind-the-scenes roles you can imagine: unboxing and reboxing guitars in the Guitar Gallery. It was good work that gave me a deep appreciation for what this company cares about from the ground up.
Over the years, I worked my way into our legendary Guitar Workshop, handling thousands of instruments, then into quoting and technical support on the admin side. That journey gave me a full view of what makes Sweetwater so special — and why I made the leap into Sales. I believe in what we do here. It’s about people, relationships, and doing the right thing every time.
I built my path here one guitar box at a time — and now I get to use that experience to help you make the right choice.
As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, please let me know anytime I can offer help or advice.
(800) 222-4700 ext 3257
E-mail Joe-
Education/Certifications:
- Bachelor’s in Business Management from WGU
- Word of Life Bible Institute Certificate -
Where are you from originally?
I come from a General Motors family and was born in Michigan, near the Flint area. My family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana when I was in middle school, so I’ve been here a long time now. Fun fact: my now-wife, Casi, was actually my locker neighbor when I first moved here. We didn’t start dating until after high school, but still — pretty wild how life works out.
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Gear you own:
I’ve got a lot of gear, but a few standouts worth mentioning:
- Fender Rhodes MkI, lovingly restored by the amazing folks at Chicago Electric Piano Company
- 1960s Gibson B-25N, passed down from my great-grandpa (built in Kalamazoo, MI), fully restored by Sweetwater’s Guitar Workshop
- Martin D-15M Burst, my workhorse acoustic, outfitted with an LR Baggs Anthem SL — seriously amazing -
Family info:
Family is a huge part of my life. My wife, Casi, and I recently welcomed our first child — Eli, who’s 10 months old as I write this. We’re active in our local church and spend time with extended family every week.
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Other stuff we should know about you (hobbies, talents, interests, etc.):
I’m a huge NBA fan — especially playoff season. I also love playing the game myself. A few of us at Sweetwater get together once or twice a week during lunch to shoot hoops and get some exercise.
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What is the most important thing you've learned at Sweetwater?
I started at Sweetwater partly because it was right in my backyard, but also because I already had a great impression of the company from being a customer — and of course, I’ve always loved music. At the time, I was chasing a career as a full-time musician and looking for ways to keep growing.
Since then, working at Sweetwater has taught me so much — about business, about people, and truly, about myself. I’ve learned what motivates me, what I value in a company, and how I want to carry myself professionally.
I started here when I was 21, and it’s been a huge part of my personal and professional journey. I’ve spent the majority of my adult life here, and I’m still learning and loving the challenge every day. -
Links to my music
I love to make music. Genre-wise? Somewhere in the indie/singer-songwriter/soft rock zone.
- Calder the Band: https://caldertheband.bandcamp.com/album/shape-up
- Joe Stilwell (Solo): https://oldoaksounds.bandcamp.com/album/unseen-evident
Interview with Joe...
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Joe was absolutely amazing throughout the entire process! He worked with us to get exactly what we needed and definitely went above and beyond for us with this purchase. I definitely recommend Sweetwater and I definitely recommend Joe Stillwell..he's absolutely the best!
Frank from Dearing, GA
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Fantastic experience. Joe was outstanding in understanding my musical interests, goals, and budget. I appreciate that when the included manual in the box of my new Kurzweil K2700 was in Korean, Joe reached out to Kurzweil who fedex-ed me the English manuals conveniently bound in a three ring binder. I will definitely be doing more business with Sweetwater in the future.
John from Flagstaff, AZ
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I am just starting to learn how to play the guitar Joe has been there every step of the way for me.He is extremely knowledgeable and answers every question I have.He even took the time to talk to my son about amp settings! I can't thank him enough for all of the help he has been.I am a Sweetwater customer for life.
Jon from Camano, Wa
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Joe Stilwell was absolutely amazing! He is incredibly helpful and answered all of my questions about the gear I was interested in, regardless of how silly it felt to ask them. I can’t wait for my new products to arrive and will be buying from Joe at Sweetwater in the future!
Tamara from Cumby, TX
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Excellent customer service, excellent product, excellent staff! I love that I can always reach a live person with questions. I always get individual treatment.
Kathy from Wilmington, NC
