How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

[the_drip]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Originally posted by wodka:
I contacted them about some side work but Lee said he couldn't take on any additional work for 5-6 months. They are probably swamped after NAMM. He was very nice about it though. Quite apologetic.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">from what I understand. GMW wasn't even at NAMM. [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[parntz145]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Your right,they werent at the namm show.Lee told me that mine wouldnt take to long to build because he already had the neck in stock.Its already been 3 1/2 months.Im not bitching,I would rather it take a long time and come out perfect than have it in a shorter time period and end up with a POS.

[StuTDavis]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Yeah, a lot of those "just a strat" kinda jobs can be pretty quick, and there's no reason they shouldn't be, really. I remember being in the shop one day when Lee was just starting to get TONS of orders for all these "stars' guitars copies", and he had resorted to having about 25 bodies all cut at once to prepare for orders, and I'm sure was prepared with necks to match, as well. They kinda went into "mass production mode" on those sorts of things, it seemed.

For simple straight colors and such, they can knock those out very quickly--spray and hang, then out the door. Custom colors, a lot of the time Dan will do. And graphics I believe just kind of depends on the graphic itself. Obviously, with a graphic he knows is going to take days and days, it seems it would make the most sense to leave time JUST for doing that. I'd bet he can knock out those simple graphics very, very quickly. So, I'd guess he probably looks a little ahead, zips out a lot of the simple stuff like these "stars' guitars copies" with the simple graphics they have in little batches, so he can hold onto the big jobs with less pressure and more time to dedicate to them. Just a guess...

The other thing that can hold up GMW guitars, and most any guitar BIGTIME is inlays. If the inlays are anything other than something really simple that GMW can do, they go out to an inlay expert and, last I'd heard a few years ago, the wait time he adds is anything between 2-8 weeks. But, when you get inlays from GMW, the inlays are dead-on perfect, like the graphics. Just like Dan with his art, there are very few people out there who can do that kind of stuff, with that kind of quality.

Stu

[Manyaxes]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

That's a great axe Chuck! [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[slayer]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Thanks guys!! I just bought a 1986 Hamer Chapp Custom, set-neck, ebony and boomers and short scale. Well, the original color was Pearl Ice, what ever that is and now it looks like it was in a smoking room for years, yellowed pukey color. I just either want it done in Black or sanded don to Natural Mahogany that is the body wood and then clear coated. anybody want the job? Thanks-Jack.

[RattleHead]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

I'm thinking of getting a custom star done by GMW sometime soon, I hope it doesn't take them a year.

[parntz145]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

I dont think it should take them a year to do a star.I just talked to Lee yeasterday and my guitar should be done next week.Thats about average time from what im told.I ordered mine Oct 31 and it should be done end of Feburary.I was told by friends that have ordered from GMW to expect at least a 4 month wait.Paul

[D'Painter]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Ok Guys – this one caught my eye so I’m here to say…….
I’ve read your concerns and complaints about wait and/or lead time to build or paint a custom guitar and I have to respond. [img]graemlins/brow.gif[/img] Yes, we are very busy and we do build and paint a lot of guitars. Compared to a lot of other companies GMW really has a reasonable turn around time, in most cases. Some projects do take longer than others; it all depends on timing, workload and complexity of the project. Think about it - When ordering from GMW you are not ordering for a Major Guitar Company like Jackson or Fender where you have a crew of 50+ people to get 1 guitar out. GMW is really run by only 1 person (Lee) and DRL Graphic’s is only 1 person (Me) so with the 50+ hours a week we work (not that we BS at all [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ) we do our best to keep up. Like one of the threads mentioned I do work for other companies besides GMW, Jackson alone has me painting over 40+ production pieces a month, not counting custom shop orders; then there’s Fender & Ibenez. We are only human and I’m sure there has, and will continue to be, times that things may fall aside. Believe me I hear your concerns – but like the old saying goes “Good things come to those who wait”; I know that some of you would rather not wait [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] – I take pride in my work and I want to produce the best quality graphic so it may take a little extra time….sometimes longer…. I realize that this can be discouraging and test anyone’s patience, but Quality is always better CRAP…..I’ll talk to Lee (GMW Guitars) and let him know your concerns as well. (No promises that the turn around will be any quicker in the future, as we are two separate people running two separate company’s)
[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[btx109]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Good to hear from you, Dan.

Guys, let me state this for the record...lots of guys describe photos of their guitars by saying, "Pics do not do this justice." Where GMW's work is concerned, this statement is 100% accurate. Dan's work is impeccable, Lee's work is exemplary, and their combined attention to quality and detail is unparalled IMO. From visiting with the two of them as well as Neal Moser, who does nut installations and fret work for GMW, they really do put an awful lot of time and attention to getting every detail right, no matter how long it may take. The painting that Dan did for my guitar is a literal work of art in and of itself. I was absolutely floored and beyond pleased...and as a fellow artist, my eye is very critical and discerning. So believe it when Dan and Lee tell you that the wait will be worth it. I would much rather know that my guitar was built by a couple of dedicated craftsmen rather than slapped together in a shop situation where it was touched by God knows how many hands.

My previous post wasn't meant as a slam at all, I was just responding to the question of how long did it take. The issue of whether or not it's worth it to me is altogether different.

Dan, if you're still reading, do you have a minute to shoot me a pic of the Maggot Brain graphic and email it to me at [email protected]? Lots of people are dying to see it (no pun intended)!

[jem777az]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Mine took about 9-10 months to get back, but it was well worth the wait. Lee had to do another run of birdseye necks which took a while and I know it took quite a while for Dan to do the graphic. Which is understandable considering the tape job involved. All I have to say is great work Lee and Dan! Like Dan said in his post, good things come to those who wait!

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

Lee and Dan RULE!
[img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[parntz145]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

I cant wait to get mine.Should be by next week sometime.I just hope I like it as much as you guys say you like yours.I have 4 Jacksons,1 is a soloist 1 is a 89 single hum strat,and the other 2 are dinkys.1 being a custom shop.They all have the same feel to them except for the soloist having a bit of a wider neck.I just hope the GMW has that feel that the Jacksons do.I ordered the same neck width,it just has a strat headstock.From what I have read and friends say they have that jackson?charvel feel and vibe to them.

[StuTDavis]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

If you are concerned with the neck profile from GMW, you can always tell them to shape it to match a certain style if you like. Lee is very familiar with a vast number of different guitars, and he's especially familiar with the Jackson/Charvel stuff. If you like the neck profile on your guitar, just tell him what it is and he can probably match it no problem.

Stu

[parntz145]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

We already went over it.I just hope it is a close match.

[StuTDavis]

Re: How long did your GMW w/ Graphic take?

If you told Lee what you wanted the guitar to be like, and he said "OK", chances are he knew exactly what you were talking about, and will pretty much exactly replicate that. Lee is VERY attentive to detail, and VERY much a perfectionist. In my experience with him, if he's not 100% sure about something like this, he'd let you know he's not sure, and he'd probably ask you to ship him a guitar or neck to match. That's from my experience doing business with him pretty solid for several years. Don't worry...everything will be just fine. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Stu