Custom Shop

In the crowded world of aftermarket pickup makers, few continue to explore with as much passion and childlike wonder as Curtis Novak. In this new edition of “Custom Shop,” Jake Serek takes a look into Novak’s work.

In this month’s “Custom Shop” column, Jake Serek goes behind the scenes on Chris Swope’s life and work. Chris started out as an apprentice at Mass Street Music before working with Roger Sadowsky, then on to his own shop, Swope Guitars.

For this month’s “Custom Shop” column, Jake Serek takes a look into the work of Justin Abernethy of Abernethy Guitars. Justin has had an interesting career, to say the least.

Jake Serek is back with a new “Custom Shop” column. In this edition, Jake takes a look into the work of L. Ellis Hahn, the creator of L.e.H. Guitars, who has taken the familiar offset body design to whole new heights.

We’re thrilled to announce our long-running “Custom Shop” column is being taken over by Jake Serek of Serek Basses. For Jake’s first entry, he takes a look at the work of Pete Hilton and Hilton Guitars.

In this edition of “Custom Shop,” we chat with Jake Serek of Serek Basses on his musical start, his ideas on bass design, the importance of trying to be a little better every day, and more.

One of the best feelings in the world is being able to share your passion with other people. It’s even more special when you can share that passion with your family, which is part of the magic behind Fuzzrocious Pedals. The New Jersey-based effects company is run by the Ratajski (pronounced “ruh-tie-skee”) family. The husband and wife team of Ryan...

Many basses tend to have similar body shapes, but that’s not the case with SVS Designs. Each bass is drawn from the imagination of its owner and tweaked for real life use by luthier Shawn Shannon. With a background in extreme metal, it’s no surprise that the basses carry a certain extreme quality in their designs, although each bass is...

Earlier this year we featured the Roks Instruments Futura bass as a bass of the week. It garnered so much interest that we decided to get the inside scoop on the company with luthier Axel Roks. Based in the Netherlands, Roks describes his basses as “tools for musicians created in the twilight zone between craftsmanship and artistry.” One look at...

Every instrument of distinction starts with a vision, but passion and commitment are the factors that make it a reality. That perfect storm has come together with Finland’s Tuli Basses, a fresh boutique bass company aimed at quality over quantity. The man with the vision is luthier Aron Bach. A lifelong bassist, the American-born bass builder cut his teeth as...

Following your dreams isn’t always an easy path, but it’s an honest and rewarding one. It’s also one that Carey Nordstrand has followed to create his bass business. After finding his passion for bass, Carey took opportunities to get into the business and expand his knowledge. His bass company, Nordstrand Guitars, has grown from a one-man shop to a group...

Started in 1983, Revsound is a company that offers handmade bass cabinets. Proprietor David C. Luke’s deep interest in sound and sound production has driven his work to create powerful cabinets with an emphasis on staying lightweight. Luke builds all of the cabs to order in his Effingham, New Hampshire workshop. The RS series includes a 1×10, 2×10, and 4×10...