"To the amp world - lately a lot of people have been adopting the name 'Category 5' for a lot of things. In the wake of Katrina I understand that. Rest assured that, as a personal survivor of Katrina, this name came to me in the months immediately following the storm and was not influenced by anyone else who may be using the name. My legal consults have suggested it would be very difficult to trademark something already in use for years by weather stations all over the nation and have it stick (like trying to trademark "exit signs"). From a philosophical viewpoint, having had my apartment in MISS blown to "Kingdom Come", losing my workshop in New Orleans, and watching dozens of friends and family lose everything they've owned, there's kind of an unofficial "I deserve to use this name" feeling even though everyone has that right. But on that note, even though we all wish we were the only amp company in the business, I would not wish any of our Katrina experiences on any of our competitors. To everyone making sound out there . . . Keep on Rockin' . . . There's enough to go around.

Sincerely,
KJL