Tag Archives: custom job

Making Crappy Stuff Better #1:

As a forward, I say “cheap guitars” and “crappy stuff” knowing that they are neither synonymous nor mutually exclusive. Most guitars with higher price tags that I play these days suffer from the same issues as affordable ones. Having been alive to witness the onset of the existing market of new, ‘vintage’, and custom instruments, I can say that new big name instruments are prey to mass production pitfalls, and changes certainly went into vintage guitars that don’t show in the pedigree. Finally, there are so many custom guitar shops now that I couldn’t begin to guess the pro’s or con’s of each beyond my own chosen methods of construction and material/hardware selection.

The 2012 Cabin Renovation.

My family owned some land in Stafford, CT since 1961. Roughly 4 acres right near Soapstone MT. It was a pretty piece of land that had never been built on but for a scrappy barn, cobbled together from found wood and a trailer home that was condemned. I liked the area but had no money to build on that land. Nextdoor, however, sat this little 650 sq. ft. cabin. It looked rough but straight and as many times as I’d seen it, I saw no one leave or arrive. On a whim, I dropped a note in the mailbox to see what the scoop was.

The Many Spaces of Custom Job (1999 – 2026)

As much as my obsession with the perfect work space collided with my own self sabotage in actually doing work in them, the shorter recordings, the smaller projects, maybe the ones I didn’t spend so much time on because I intended to re do them one day when the space and equipment was more appropriate to the task turned out to be that ‘actual’ work. Not a draft as was intended but a finished, imperfect piece with qualities I never intended.

Custom Job Musical Instruments Opens it’s Electronic Doors..

Custom Job Musical Instruments is officially selling stuff. Presently, only two guitars are up but there’s two more on the way of the EarthII model, after which, I’m going to focus on repairs and restoration while working on a few acoustic projects I want to take on. But I’ll be adding smaller things along theContinueContinue reading “Custom Job Musical Instruments Opens it’s Electronic Doors..”

Custom Job Earth 2 CJE2SP240225 Born today….

A bit long in production on this one. Got quite sidetracked by the fretboard layout with the addition of wrap around ‘sun’ side dots, a larger diameter ‘moon’, a Fender style nut slot and a few other keeper details. Went with a satin poly finish on the back of the neck… super silky! Added aContinueContinue reading “Custom Job Earth 2 CJE2SP240225 Born today….”

Custom Job is Officially (if not temporarily) Located in Sterling, MA.

At long, long last, I wired in my heavier equipment and dialed everything in. This took a rather healthy chunk of time, BUT I can now basically turn a tree into whatever I want. This will be home to material dimensioning, body and neck carving, rough fret work, decorative work and finishing. Fine fret work,ContinueContinue reading “Custom Job is Officially (if not temporarily) Located in Sterling, MA.”

Earth II-A by Custom Job on the Way!

With a couple of tweaks to the Earth II design: 25” scale rather than 25.5”, relocation of the tuning machines, a drastic calming down of the electronics (2 humbuckers, master volume, two tone, one 3 way switch), stoptail bridge, walnut with maple veneers, nickel plated rather than gold and brass, Madagascar Rosewood fretboard, and aContinueContinue reading “Earth II-A by Custom Job on the Way!”

Earth II. Born today.

Sometimes my favorite part of a guitar. This one nods at Rickenbacker but I just call it “Gumby head”. The dust has settled, the solvent evaporated, the contacts are solid and clean. Got down to the final set up on Earth II today. Clearly a tip o the hat to some rad instruments. The BCContinueContinue reading “Earth II. Born today.”