After many months of testing, I finally have a limited quantity, small batch of Pickups available for sale. The Blade Pickup is $340. USD plus shipping, and the adjustable Pole Piece Pickup is $325. USD plus shipping.  I’m really happy with the way they sound. The Blade Pickup sounds very similar to a Charlie Christian and is excellent for jazz chords and single note playing. The Adjustable Pole Piece Pickup  also sounds like a Charlie Christian but has a slightly brighter sound.

I’m positive that if you play swing, bop or country jazz, you’ll be happy with either one of these pickups. We guarantee it!

If interested, Contact us.

Pickups, Pickguards, Custom Inlay, Set Up, Modifications, Neck Shims, More to Come….

Gallery

I recently picked up a copy of Ashley Kingman‘s new EP, Guitar Blasters Vol. 1. It had a great photo of a well used amp cabinet that I built 20+ years ago. I originally made two cabinets, one for myself and the other for Lee Jeffriess. Lee didn’t end up using it so it landed in Ashley’s hands. He put a Vox AC30 in it and it’s been his main amp ever since. I like the way his looks now, after being on the road for twenty years!

In mine I used a modified Showman head. For detail, I used my late grandfathers belt. He had a carburetor business called “Summertimes” which was hand tooled on his belt. We have a great story about my grandfather Denny and his “53″ Buick that we’ll share soon.

Its nice to see that both cabinets have withstood the test of time!

For the past three plus years, TK has been custom fabricating various projects for artist Andrea Zittel at A-Z West. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the work that we don’t take the time to get good photos. AZ recently gave us some great photos taken by photographer Jessica Eckert for the Andrea Rosen Gallery. All furniture designed by Andrea Zittel, built by TK Smith.

I saw this drill press at my local swap meet 3 weeks ago and thought by now it would be gone.  It was priced lower than some of the new plastic imported drill presses that they sell today and not one hole drilled into the upper or lower table from a careless user! I knew if I didn’t get it I’d kick myself later on down the road.

Its a well taken care of 1945 Craftsman made by Atlas in Kalamazoo MI. You also see the brand Dunlap on the motor. According to the history found on the Vintage Machinery website, Dunlap was a Sears brand used on their lesser-grade machines, however, some of the older Dunlap machines were really good quality. The Dunlap brand was first used in 1941. The name came from Tom Dunlap who was the head buyer of the hardware department at Sears at the time. Atlas was just one of many companies that manufactured for Sears. If you find a vintage Craftsman machine with the model number starting with 101, you know it was made by Atlas.

The Atlas company still exists in Kalamazoo under the name Clausing Industrial. Looks like they are coming out with a new drill press completely made in the U.S.A.

TK just finished this simple kitchen made of birch europly with black laminate faces. The client-friend saw the It House in a magazine, came to the desert from Berlin, bought a piece of land and built one for himself! When inside, the simplicity of this mostly glass structure, functioning completely off the grid, gives the feeling of really being one with the amazing desert surroundings.

Welcome to the New Year! Through the holiday’s and into the new year, T.K.’s been doing overtime in the shop working on his new guitar pickup. He wants it to sound like a cross between a Stratosphere and a Charlie Christian, his two favorite pickups, and it’s constructed like a Bigsby. He has talked about this for years! T.K. still has a ways to go until he’ll be happy with the final product, but we’re hopeing to have some production units for sale by summer. Stay tuned!

Just shipped out a batch of Walnut Cutting Boards that were purchased as Christmas gifts. If you’re looking for a unique gift this month, or for Valentine’s Day, feel free to contact us for more info.

I’ve been moonlighting the past few months doing custom inlayed pickguards and name plaques. If you’re a serious musician I don’t think there’s a better way to get your name out than having it on your guitar or instrument.

It’s also a known fact that my pickguards and name plaques will help promote record sales, and to boost show attendance through brand recognition. Ha Ha!!

My inlay jobs are 100% crafted by hand. So if you’re a serious musician drop me a line and have me build you a custom guard or plaque. You can see some of my recent inlay projects here.

Last week while searching for a decent wood/metal band saw, I found another Delta 24’’ scroll saw for parts. It came with an original stand, a belt guard and a few other really nice parts.  Last night I combined the best of both to end up with this smooth running, and in my opinion, beautiful looking, 60 plus year old scroll saw that I’m sure will last another 60 or more years.

There’s quite a few people that love old American made tools but you’d have a hard time finding one that loves them more that myself. You’d also have trouble finding someone who hates the imported crap they sell as ”tools” now days more than I do. They always seem to fail just as the warrantee is up. I find it so annoying. Here’s a few shots of some of the details I like.