It was another busy week here at the shop. Matt B’s guitar is sealed and all ready for paint. Mike and Matt are working on concepts now. The zombie fret board should be back from Parable any day now.
We have a shipment of guitars in from Ed Roman for custom paint and some other goodies along with a couple local set ups and repairs.
Ed Roman guitars lined up for custom paint
The Mortal Sin got paint today! After much deliberation, Mike decided to go with hard core airbrush art to bring his prototype to life.
Last month when Trixter and Dokken were in town, Mike had the opportunity to meet John Levin. They discussed doing a project together and just yesterday John contacted Mike for a complete cusotm overhaul of one of his Charvel’s. Mike will be doing a lot of upgrades to the instrument and then, of course, giving it a pure custom paint job. Stay tuned for details!!
What a beauty!! Mike finished the Pineapple Express this evening, and wow! This instrument is an ABSOLUTE exotic masterpiece! The natural finish shows off the imported Tasmanian Blackwood and Koa neck straight from Kawaii. The gold hardware is a perfect accent to the rich colors. Check this out!
Yep! It’s official. Steve Brown of Trixter fame has just ordered his SECOND Learn Guitar Custom. After jamming with Mike last month here at the shop, he just had to have his own Flak Jacket.
Plans for Steve Brown's new Flak Jacket
So far the specs call for a Basswood body, Maple neck with an exotic fretboard. Finish will be heavy flake black base with red, silver and green flake graphics.
Check it out! Mike designed these dots years ago, but just since our partnership with Parable Guitars has had the resources to get them made. Mike’s Mortal Sin prototype is the first guitar to show off the kick ass new fret markers.
Death Dots are now and an optional upgrade available on any Learn Guitar custom build.
Mike recently completed a full restoration on a early-90’s Les Paul that had been used and abused for years. Danny Martinez, the lead singer and guitarist for Five13, a local Denver band, brought his beloved guitar to Mike for some TLC.
Mike did a full overhaul of the instrument:
Refretted
Leveled the fret board
Repaired binding cracks
Added a belly cut contour for increased comfort
Repaired headstock, and was able to save the original Gibson logo & face
“My 1960 re-issue Les Paul has been my “Ace” guitar since I bought it back in 1993. After 15 years, 5 to 6 nights per week, a trip to Europe, numerous recording sessions and insane abuse, let’s just say it needed A LOT of work. Mike assured me that I would get my baby back as if she were new. Needless to say, I was tentative. I’ve played and owned numerous Les Paul’s and haven’t found one that even comes close to my “Ace”. I didn’t want to get back a different guitar. What I got back was an absolute masterpiece! It far exceeded my expectations. From the fret job to the custom paint job, this guitar is brand new! Mike’s work is impeccable and his airbrush artistry is world-class! I can’t tell you how happy I am with his work and work ethic. I will refer everyone to him and I will take all my guitars to him from now on. ”
Danny Martinez
Five 13 – five13.com
It was a busy week in the wood shop. Mike has 4 guitars in process, one being spec-ed out right now and a bass coming up in the very near future.
Matt B’s electronics have arrived and his build will be back on the table this coming week. Mike and Matt have also settled on a fret board design, so Doug at Parable will be working on that as well.
Matt B's Fret Board Design
The Pineapple Express and the Mortal Sin Prototype are both just about ready for finish. Dal’s Pineapple Express was chambered, has the Tasmanian Blackwood top installed and has been routed out. The Mortal Sin was contoured and routed. Here are some images of last weeks work:
