About Us

How it Began

This journey begins back in 1979 when a very young me went to a KISS concert. I distinctly remember the moment when Ace Frehley was on stage alone, single spotlight shining off his costume sending beams of light everywhere. His solo increasing momentum, and smoke begins rushing out of his Black Les Paul Custom. Then it floats into air as he reappears and shoots the guitar with another Les Paul It was the moment I decided to pick up guitar. I immediately acquired my first “Memphis Les Paul Copy” in black of course, just like Ace..

Fast Forward to the 80’s in Arizona, I was in local valley bands Triaxe and Jakal with dear friends Bill Secres, Mike Burch, and Anthony Camboni. While Ace Frehley was my inspiration to play, being a southern boy, Southern Rock and Blues were always my roots and heart. So, while times dictated the hard rock and heavy metal, I always insisted on throwing in some Skynyrd, ZZ Top, or Blues numbers.

My guitars of the time were the typical 80’s Destroyers, Explorers, and Flying V’s. This is when I built my first guitar – a white flying V that I played until I cracked headstock and destroyed it on stage out of stupidity and anger. This time frame introduced me to a lot of pickups searching for tone. The DiMarzio Super Distortions, The Ibanez Super 70’s, MityMite, and others. These are the inspiration for many of my vintage hard rock models.

I quickly went back to my first loves Les Pauls. During the 80’s you could buy them all day long for $500.00. So, I quickly ended up with several including 20th Anniversary Custom, Vintage Gold Top, Alpine White standard, and others. This was also when I first went into studio to record. I remember the engineer ironically comparing my stuff to Marshall Tucker Band. Not long after, I met Ace Frehley, the guy who started me down this path.

Jump forward few years, marriage and kids, and I found myself building websites. This is where the journey began getting crazy. I created a website called Down South Jukin. It was an online community dedicated to honoring Southern Rock. I almost overnight grew beyond any of my dreams. I began receiving calls from the artists, doing interviews, etc. Before long, my dearest friends were people who I had posters of as a young man. George McCorkle of Marshall Tucker talked me into moving to Nashville area, and the roller coaster began.

George was my best friend. I was his Guitar Tech, Webmaster, Personal Assistant, and neighbor. George introduced me to everyone in Nashville. We created Jam-A-Que, a Southern Rock event held every spring at my home in Tennessee. We created Southern Fried Magazine, and so on. I was blessed to meet, become friends with, and work with, almost everyone in Southern Rock. Shortly after George’s death I was blessed to share stage with his son Justin and nephews the Southern Boys Band.

Years later I found myself returning to Arizona where I was contacted regarding one of my custom guitars being raffled off for charity. This began several years of guitar building. Mostly for charity, especially anything Cancer related (ironically). I was very proud to see my guitars onstage with Chis Hick (Marshall Tucker) and others. Then December 30th, 2024, I was rushed to hospital. On morning of December 31st, I was told I had Stage 4 Bladder Cancer. Thus, this battle and journey began. I remember having a discussion with dear friend Sam Morrison and saying I hate taking charity, but my humility has went down the toilet with the stacking debt. I can’t “physically” or “financially” build guitars so maybe I should wind pickups. I’ve wound for myself, but maybe it was time to do that to help with medical expenses. Sam being the great friend he is said, I want the first set!!!!... So, he indeed has the first prototypes of couple models. I’ve wound for Chris Hick and Rick Willis (Marshall Tucker), Sam Morrison and Dave Kurtz of Sam Morrison Band, Ken and Wolfgang of Southern Rock Society, Mike Estes (Skynyrd Fame), and many more. To this day I still hand wind everything to each person’s desires. Every Penny goes to help pay the bills this Cancer, treatments, and surgeries have created.