Anyone had the equipment customized ?

My tube amp and linestage were from a builder that only does built-to-order units.  For the linestage, I could specify whether it would actually include a phono-stage, whether the output would be capacitor coupled or transformer coupled (or both options available), the type/brand of input and output transformers, etc.  I chose a preamp (includes phono-stage), transformer inputs and outputs, I asked for remote control of volume (something the builder had not offered before), and I requested a balance control (implemented by utilizing two big Davin controls).  The custom amplifier has matching/complementary transformer inputs.  I initially got the amp with Langevin input transformers, but later, I went with Western Electric input transformers (the amp is essentially a rebuilt Western Electric 133a amplifier).

My speaker has been modified by me.  The midrange horn and compression driver have been replaced by a vintage Western Electric horn and compression driver.  This was easy to do because the horn in my system sits on top of the woofer cabinet on a totally open platform  The replacement horn actually looks better than the original because its 24" width exactly matches the width of the woofer cabinet (the original horn is smaller and weird looking).  I added an L-pad attenuator to control the output of the horn driver.  I will be doing additional modifications, including a totally new (but made out of vintage parts) crossover and top notch wiring for the speaker (probably Audio Note Sogon wire).

The problem with some "modifiers" is that they simply "upgrade" parts by substituting more expensive and currently trendy parts without considering the impact on sound.  Some parts choices, particularly with higher end gear, is determined by voicing the component, not just by picking the cheapest thing that will work.  It is not automatically the case that a more expensive part will sound better.  For example, I spoke with a builder who said that in his designs, the expensive, super tight tolerance Vishay resistors sound terrible, and I know a couple of builders who also prefer "cheap" carbon composition resistors.  Same goes with caps.

A local dealer who employed a builder to make his own house brand of tube electronics once asked me to listen to one of his amps.  To me, it sounded bad compared to other amps he had built for him and I got up the courage to tell him that his amp sucked.  He was actually happy because what he did not tell me ahead of time is that this amp had been sent to a modifier by a customer who did not like the result and wanted it fixed.  The modification involved Blackgate capacitors and teflon caps, etc.--all the latest rage.