The story behind the build: Mucha inspired '71 Limited

Generally, a social media post isn’t the best place to discuss something in any kind of depth, so I’d like to use this platform as an opportunity to share stories about builds that deserve a little more than some words and a few hashtags.


The story of this build begins in early 2014. While teaching a build class, Pat (one of the participants) asked if I’d mind setting aside a flamed Imbuia top for use in a build for him. I didn’t have any plans for it, so I was happy to oblige. Over the years, Pat has become a great friend and supporter of Sully Guitars, and from time to time, we’d try to figure out exactly what we were going to do with this top.

In the summer of 2021, Pat decided that he was ready to move forward, and I was honored that he chose the ‘71 as the model for this build. He also had the idea that the build would include an intricate inlay inspired by the work of the artist Alphonse Mucha. Pat wanted to have the work done by renowned inlay artist Larry Robinson, and I was excited to make this happen. I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t super nervous about messing up the lovely artwork during the entire build process.

This was going to be a very special build for a very special client. Naturally, I still had the Imbuia top (actually two from the same billet), but I also had one body blank of one piece Black Limba that I’d been holding on to since 2014. This is significant in that it was the last piece from a board I had used to build Pat a guitar a few years prior. We decided on maple for the neck shaft, and I suggested using some curly maple that I received from Mike Shannon, Principal Master Builder of the Jackson Custom Shop. I hold Mike and his work in the highest regard, so I wanted to use some wood from that stash for this build. The specs came together pretty quickly, but I also added a few things that he hadn’t thought of, such as chambering out the body and adding what I call a WTF hole in the top. We agreed to leave the binding off of the neck and headstock, but add it to the body. I mentioned that there would probably be enough material to match the headstock to the body, and Pat shared that if there was enough material he’d like to have the control cover also be made from Imbuia “although I know you’re not a fan of this sort of thing.” He’s right, but I wasn’t going to say no.

We had the basic idea for the specs, so I got to work. Let’s get to the photos, shall we?

NOTE: Be sure to mouse over the bottom of the photo when its open, as you’ll get a bit more info.

The basic machining was done, and the fretboard arrived from Larry’s shop. Before I glued the fretboard to the neck shaft, I thought a bit more about the build and if there were ways I could step things up a bit. I wanted to add some subtle details to the neck that would complement the intricate inlay. It’s not that I felt the guitar was plain, per se, but with the exception of the inlay, most of what’s been done so far is along the lines of what I’ve already done, or what I’d normally do. I felt that this build needed a little more.

Earlier in this article, I mentioned that I had a second top from the same billet (board); I used some of it for the headplate and what would become the control cavity cover, but I didn’t stop there. I decided to thin some of it out and with some redwood burl, I made a laminated back strap for the headstock. I thought the color of the redwood burl would be a nice compliment to the olive and brown tones to the Imbuia, and I also added a sliver of it between the fretboard and the neck shaft. It’s super subtle; kind of an “if you know, you know” detail. I also suggested using gold EVO fret wire; I’m generally not a fan of a bunch of gold all over, but since the guitar was already going to have gold hardware, it seemed like a nice way to continue the color palette instead of using our standard choice of stainless steel fret wire. After sending a mockup to Pat, he agreed, and we went with it. Once the neck was fretted, shaped, and sanded, I sent a couple of photos and decided that would be the last batch of progress pictures I’d send. Don’t get me wrong; I love keeping clients informed and updated, but I started to see the finish line, and while it’s cool to get pictures along the entire process, I felt it was more fun to keep the extra details (some which I have yet to mention) to myself and not ruin the surprise, ya know?

More pics? Let’s do it.

At this point, the neck is glued in and in the paint booth. I thought that a Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish might be nice, so we went with that. We use nitro from time to time, and I dunno, it just seemed like the way to go. Once the finish work was done, it was assembly time. I’m gonna be straight with you, here; there were a few aspects of this build that stressed me out. I always do my best with every guitar I build, but I know that things happen, and I wanted to keep Murphy out of the shop, so to speak.

This guitar was to have a humbucker in the bridge position and a P90 in the neck position, and we went with black bobbins, which I wasn’t 100% sold on, but I figured I’d wait until I had it in front of me and could mock things up. If it was going to have dual humbuckers, I would have gone with a zebra configuration, because everybody knows zebras are like bacon; they make everything better. When I was beginning the assembly process, it was very, very clear to me that black bobbins were NOT the answer.

The answer lied in one of the cutoffs from the body; make a P90 cover from that material. Okay, fine, I can do that (and that was nerve wracking), but we don’t make wood bobbins for our humbuckers.

But my friend Adam at Elysian Pickups does. Adam is an old friend (we met at a day job we both had in the late aughts), and if I was going to involve someone from another company in a project this special to me, it was going to be a friend. I had plenty of cutoffs from the second Imbuia top, so I sent them to him to make bobbin tops. It turns out that he had just come up with a new pickup model, so it seemed fitting to put that into this guitar.

I was a little unsure of how it was going to look; I have to say that whenever I’ve seen a guitar that’s just WOOOOOOOOOOD everywhere, it’s not really been my thing. I think that you need a balance of constrasting colors and textures. When I completed the assembly, I thought it worked better than the original plan, especially considering the control cavity cover (and truss rod cover) were all from cutoffs from the build, and I think it added a thread of continuity. Then again, I’m biased.

The pickup arrived from Adam and looked fantastic. I was relieved, but also cautious, as I know that Murphy can strike at any time. The other guys in the shop were also apprehensive to do anything other than look at it, which I completely understood. Hell, until I knew it arrived safely, I was nervous that something was going to happen to it.

Earlier in the year, I had custom ‘71 cases made by G&G and since we still had some Imbuia left over, I figured it’d be a nice touch to laser etch a badge for the outside of the case.

The guitar was complete and ready to ship. Pat lives a few hours away, and I was relieved knowing it wasn’t going to be on a truck for very long. Thankfully, it arrived safely, and I got an incredibly sweet call from Pat. It was an absolute honor to build, and I hope it serves him well.

There are a few builds that come along and push me out of my comfort zone. This is a build that I’ll never forget and am very grateful for. Guitar building is a mix of inspiration, sanding, and problem solving, and this build was no exception. I know that Sully Guitars are often sparkly, pointy, and fun, but there is (I hope) a bit of refinement in that. A lot of times, we make guitars that I feel give their owner a little permission to be a little more extra than they feel they might be. It’s not often when I get a chance to stretch out a bit and show the more refined side of what I think Sully Guitars can be, and I’m very grateful for those moments, too.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the story behind the build.

Sully

Conspiracy Series pre-orders, Michael Sweet, Pickups, and more!

Conspiracy Series pre-orders are open!

Pre-orders for the Conspiracy Series guitars have begun. There are some new models like the Michael Sweet signature MS Revolution, graphics, and of course, sparkles. As usual, there are different payment options, too, so click the image below and get more info about each of the models.

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The pre-order window is open for a limited time, so don't sleep on it, since preorders will determine what extras become available. The facebook group has a lot of great info about the Conspiracy Series as well, so if you haven't joined yet, click here. Of course, the Sully Guitars website has all of the info, too.


Pickups

Sully pickups are made from recipes that I’ve used for years, and I’m happy to make them available to you as an aftermarket option. There are a handful of humbuckers available as well as single coils, and they're all made to order in the US. Check 'em out here

Custom orders

For the time being, the custom order books are closed for the foreseeable future so I can get through the backlog as well as some new/refreshed models (like that 624 makeover I've been threatening for a while). I'm working on getting some part time assistance (I've got someone in mind already), and if things go as planned, that's going to be a big help in the long run.

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TikTok Star/R&B artist Zaria joins the Sully Guitars artist roster

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Welcome Zaria!

Like thousands of others, I loved the way Zaria handled ridiculous questions about wearing her Metallica shirt; she laughed it off, grabbed her guitar, and started playing.  Like Zaria, we won’t be pigeonholed; while we often make pointy, sparkle-laden guitars, they’re versatile instruments that can be used to play any style of music. While Zaria has been primarily known as an R&B/Hip Hop singer to this point, she can bring the riffs, and we’re looking forward to working with her as she brings her love of playing guitar to her music.

Says Zaria “I’ve never connected with an instrument faster than I did with my Sully '71. The tone is in-your-face and the playability inspires me to explore. I’m excited to represent Sully Guitars as I take my music in a new direction.”

Check out her current music here

622 orders are open!

That’s right! If you missed out on batch #2, now’s your chance to get even.

The 622™ may hearken back to yesteryear, but it's got all of the Sully Guitars features you'd expect. It's comfy, speedy, and priced between the Conspiracy Series and our Custom Series guitars. Yep, you read that right! Pricing begins at $1750, and they're made by me at Sully HQ. You know...the garage.

Reserve your spot in this small batch while you can!

  • Click the button below for more info

  • Get yours with a $500 deposit

  • Continue your reign as the coolest person on the block.

Construction for this next batch will begin in November, and they should be ready to go in early 2021

Yeah, yeah, how’s it sound?

Don’t take my word for it, hear for yourself!

Conspiracy Series Run 4 is here!

Run 4 is a go!

As promised, preorders for the next run of the Conspiracy Series have officially begun. Complete with new models, new colors, a new bridge pickup, and a few more hardware options. I’m pretty excited about it, and I hope you are too.

Here’s what we’ve got planned:

Concorde: Making its debut at NAMM 2020, the Concorde is an addition to the product lineup that I’m really happy about. It’s pointy, it’s curvy, it’s comfortable to play; what more can you ask for? Balance well on a strap? Yup. An output jack that’s out of the way? I got you. Get yours here

Supernova: Making its debut as an official model, the Supernova had a bit of a redesign to better align it with its sibling, the Elita. The Supernova is our offering for the X fans, and yes, it’s got 24 frets. :) Find out more about it here

Raven 7: Finally. While we make 7 strings from time to time, they’ve been missing from the Conspiracy Series. Until now. We’ll expand our 7 string offerings throughout 2020, but for now, you can get a Raven 7 for the same price as a Raven 6. If that’s not enough, we’re also bringing our Shipwreck finish to kick it up a nacho. For those who want to grab a Raven 6 string this run, there are a few options for you as well. Clicky.

Baritone Elita: I’ve always been a fan of baritones, and models like the Elita are a perfect platform to get low. It’s got a 27” scale, and while there are a few color options, I can’t get over the stealthy look of the Hail Satin Black model that we had at NAMM. It got a great reception at the show, and now’s your chance to grab one for yourself. Where? Right here

With all the new stuff, pricing has remained in line with previous offerings, and you still have the option of interest free installment plans to make it even easier to join the Conspiracy. And yes, that was a whole bunch of sales-y copy, but I’m truly excited about these new guitars, and I hope you are too.

Oh, and if you missed the Premier Guitar demo video of the Concorde, you’re in luck!

New Sully Guitars artist alert: Pascual Romero

Welcome Pascual Romero!

Pascual Romero’s joining the Sully family ushers in a new range of baritone instruments to the Sully lineup, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Pascual Romero and the new Elita baritone

Pascual Romero and the new Elita baritone

Pascual entered the metal world in Los Angeles two decades ago, and his rise was sparked by his tenure in the early days of the popular metal band In This Moment. He since has been a member of and worked with many bands in the metal world such as Pathology, Black Veil Brides, Fear Factory, Dysphotic and Divine Heresy. As a guitarist and songwriter, Pascual is currently in Devil's Throne, a blackened doom band that has been steadily making its mark on the underbelly of metal playing with bands like Intronaut, Witch Mountain, and the Monolith on the Mesa festival headlined by The Obsessed and Om.

"I'm thrilled to be among the ranks of Sully artists, bringing a new element to the line with the Elita Baritone. This thing has an absolutely crushing low end and can handle my heavy, downtuned playing effortlessly." 

New model alert! Welcome the Concorde®

We’re very excited to add the Concorde® to the Sully Guitars lineup. Designed in collaboration with Grover Jackson Engineering, the Concorde® will be available via the Sully Guitars Custom Series (made in Texas by yours truly), the Conspiracy Series (made by World Musical Instruments in South Korea), as well as a special, limited batch that GJ and I will build at his shop in Southern California.

It’s no secret that I’ve always been inspired by Grover’s iconic designs, and this model is something that I approached with immense respect. When I arrived at my final design, I shared it with Grover, and we agreed that the Concorde® was a great way to carry his vast legacy forward.

The Conspiracy Series Concorde will be available to preorder February 1, 2020. The Custom Series Concorde is currently available for custom order.

The Concorde® in Champagne Sparkle

The Concorde® in Champagne Sparkle

The Sully Guitars Custom Series Concorde® (Pricing begins at $2950 USD) is a set-neck instrument with a 25.5” scale length, Mahogany body with a radiused Maple top, laminated Mahogany neck with 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets (24 frets available spring 2020), Ivoroid headstock and fretboard binding, Ebony fretboard, Hollow Block inlays, Hipshot locking tuners, bridge configurations of Tunematic/string through the body or Original Floyd Rose tremolo, dual humbuckers wound by Grover Jackson Engineering, and a volume control with a push-pull coil split, and a three way toggle switch. Custom wood, binding, inlay, bridge, and finish options are available.  

The Conspiracy Series Concorde® (Pricing begins at $1249 USD) is a set-neck instrument with a 25.5” scale length, Mahogany body with a radiused top, laminated Maple neck with 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets, Ebony 12-16” compound radius fingerboard, slash inlays, Luminlay side dots, Hipshot locking tuners, bridge configurations of Tunematic/string through the body or Floyd Rose tremolo, dual humbuckers wound to Sully specs, volume control with a push-pull coil split, and three way toggle switch.

The '71 turns 10

I’ve told the story more than a few times, so here’s the condensed version. For decades, my dream guitar was a Gibson Les Paul like Ace Frehley’s. When I was 14, I got a DIY Les Paul kit for Christmas, and I was elated. I glued the neck in, painted it black (naturally), and took it to the local guitar shop to have the assembly and setup done (this was 1986, long before I started the youtube channel, and guitar building information wasn’t really available to me).

Steve at Villano’s Music looked it over, sighted down the neck, sighed, and told me that the neck was so twisted that it’d never be playable. I was CRUSHED. A few years later, I bought a single cutaway 1961 Gibson Melody Maker. Played great, but it was too light, and I constantly felt I’d break it. So I traded it in for a USA BC Rich STIII with a Floyd and a snakeskin paint job. That guitar ruled.

I got my first Gibson Les Paul in 2004. It was a black ‘73 Custom that had huge frets installed. I was stoked. It looked so cool, but I never really liked playing it. Sold it a couple of months later. In 2008, I thought I’d find a trashed Les Paul on eBay for cheap, fix it, and make it my own. I filmed the entire process (and there are many things in there that I did that make me laugh now), and you can find it on the YouTube channel. When it was complete, I thought it was okay; it played well, it sounded fine, but I just didn’t care about it (even with all of the work I put into it).

The original sketch

The original sketch

I eventually realized some key points about Les Pauls that kept me from keeping one and decided that I needed to make my own version of it. Of course, it couldn’t look like a copy (otherwise why bother?), so on September 13, 2009, I started drawing.

And drawing.

And drawing.

I’d make some changes, let it breathe for a while, come back to it, make some changes, let it breathe for a while, etc. Once I realized I had analysis paralysis, I started making templates based on the design. And made changes. I made the first body in November of 2010, and while it was pretty much what I had in mind, the final body shape was realized in June of 2012. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t working day in and day out, poring over every little detail; I’d simply make something, live with it, and come back to it and refine. It’s one of the only times in life I can think of when I’ve been patient, but this method seems to have served me well over the years.

The idea of the ‘71 turns 10 in exactly three months. It’s had an interesting life so far, and if I could only build one guitar; that’d be it. It’s absolutely the most “Sully” Sully model that I’ve built to date. I think there should be some kind of commemoration for this, but I’m not sure what it looks like just yet. I’ve got tons of photos of the progress of the first five ‘71s; maybe they’d make a nice book. I’ve got hours and hours of unused ‘71 related videos; maybe it’s be neat to edit them down into something. Hell, maybe I’ll make one that uses some of the elements of the original sketch. So many ideas. I think I’ll live with the ideas a little, come back to it, and see where we are.

Summertime and the livin' is covered in sawdust....

Hey kids, how about an update?


Custom orders are closed

As mentioned a few weeks ago, the custom order books are now closed. We’re hoping to open up a few spots in the fall, but we may need to close them through the end of the year. During this time, we’ll be focusing on the following:

Current custom backlog: There are a lot of guitars in the build process, and I need to get them moved along.

Conspiracy Series: Run 2 of the Conspiracy Series arrived at Sully HQ, and I need to get them processed and shipped. Spares will be made available shortly thereafter, so if you missed out, all may not be lost (as long as you wanted something that was popular in the pre-orders). They’ll be posted on our Reverb store.

Run 3 Conspiracy Series pre-orders will remain open for a little while longer, so for those who wanted flame tops and trans finishes, your wish has been granted.

Ormsby Guitars/Sully Guitars mashup: It’s something we’ve been discussing for a while, and we’re getting close to making it available for pre-order. It’ll be gold, Jerry! More on that this summer.

Preparing for the arrival of our CNC: Yes, the robot is coming. I’m excited. You should be, too. CNC technology is something we’ve been using to various degrees for years, and I look forward to full implementation and assimilation. Since I’m still working in the same small space I’ll need to tear some things down, build some new things, and let some tools go (I’m looking at you, pin router).

Standard Series: With the arrival of our robot overlord, we should be able to roll out the Standard Series, which is something I’ve wanted to offer for a few years. We have the Conspiracy Series, which brings a lot of Sully goodness to you at less than 1/2 the price of a custom, but I’ve also wanted to offer a product line that’s between the Conspiracy Series and our Custom Series. I’m not 100% sure what it will look like just yet, but I’ve been working toward it for a while now, and I think I have a pretty good idea.

Oh yeah, and my favorite 800lb gorilla, NAMM. If things continue as they should, you just might see a new model. Or more.

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NAMM 2019 Recap

NAMM. Huge fun, huge blur. Super excited to have been able to share not only customs, but a bunch of the Conspiracy Series guitars. Proud to say that Sully Guitars will now be available in Chile through EAS, with a plan to expand into South America. We’re in conversations to get into the UK as well as Japan, so stay tuned for updates.

We’ve added new artists like Roman Surman, lead guitarist in Wednesday 13’s band, and he’s got his Conspiracy Series Elita and Raven out there with him. Longtime friend Andee Blacksugar (KMFDM, Black Sugar Transmission) has joined the artist roster, and we’ve got a few other artists that we’ll be announcing soon.

Special thanks to Victory Amps; they had a Conspiracy Series ‘71 Starling and 624 at their booth, and we look forward to future collaborations.

Enjoy some photos and videos below!