'Ebony'

This guitar is a precursor of the S&S and 486 line.  A hollow Alder body topped with Macassar Ebony and a one-piece Macassar Ebony neck.  The original guitar underwent some modifications over time.  The original Tele-style bridge with a Seymour Duncan Hot Stack was replaced with a roller bridge, a Bigsby and a BoneTop P-90 style pickup.  A second BoneTop was added and the 3-way switch placed in the upper bout.  An Ilitch noise-cancelling coil ensures studio-quiet operation.

Spalt 'Teletone'

When I came across a beautiful flamed piece of light Swamp Ash large enough for a one-piece body, an interpretation of the iconic Tele seemed in order.  A tightly figured Bird's Eye Maple neck, black bakelite pickguard and butterscotch tinted nitrocellulose lacquer pay tribute to the original.  A mini humbucker in the neck position and an intonated bridge constitute more modern appointments.

Aure Custom

In addition to the magnetic Tele-style configuration,  there are piezos mounted in the 'point technology' tremolo for a MIDI output.  The top is Wenge, with a Maple 'faux' pickguard inlaid.  The  white and black sections on the fanned fretboard correspond to the white and black keys of a keyboard, a feature patented by Aaron Wolfson.

'Coppertop'

All-Mahogany body and neck, Rosewood fingerboard.  Loosely inspired by the work of Zemaitis.  I used an old brass bridge and knobs over a thin sheet of aged copper.  A P-90 in the neck and a vintage Gibson Lap-steel pickup in the bridge give a full, rich sound.  The back is finished in black lacquer.

'Brass Buddha'

The copper top on this guitar is left to oxidize naturally.  A brass plaque depicting the buddha is inset into the top.  Vintage radio knobs with metal tops and brass hardware reinforce the theme.  The bridge pickup is a green 'BoneTop' Tele-style, the neck is a cream 'square tab' DiMarzio PAF humbucker - the earliest series, which by now have aged nicely and offer some of the best PAF-tone out there.  Mahogany body and neck.  Nitrocellulose finish on the back.

the jem series

These guitars are an offshoot of my collaboration with Thomas Nordegg, Steve Vai's (and many others') longtime tech.  Based on the Ibanez Jem model they explore various technical parameters.

jem 1

This example has a Lacewood top and is stripped down to the essentials.  A LSR nut and Steinberger gearless tuners ensure tuning stability while streamlining the appearance.

jem 2

A bit over the top, with a Snakewood fingerboard with Abalone purfling, gold hardware and a Sustainiac circuit, this guitar has a Mahogany body and a figured Maple neck.  The finish is nitrocellulose lacquer.

jem 3

Sister to the Jem 2 with different finsh.

C5

The result of staring at a left-over piece of prime old-stock Honduran Mahogany, too short by 1/2"  for a regular LP style body.  The neck appears a tad longer and as a result also offers better access to the upper frets.  The wood speaks for itself, tonewise...

C6

Swamp Ash, bird's eye Maple, Tele bridge/pickup and a vintage Gretsch Filtertron make for a deceptively simple guitar.

C7

Two versions of the same guitar - the search for tone...

'RS Corvette'

Producer Rob Schnapf left some parts - a Warmoth neck and two TV Jones humbuckers - which didn't fit our current projects at my shop.  I decided to make him a Gretsch Corvette knockoff for his birthday.  It has a Mahogany body, a Bigsby tremolo and the lacquer finish is lightly relic'd.

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