Mike Shannon SL1?

[Alissarr]

Hi all, I recently bought an SL1 and the serial number places it as a 1997. The original owner swears it is a Mike Shannon built. Other than the build tag with the original guitar how could you know that? Also, what does it really mean to have a guitar built by Mike(is he really wiring pots, smoothing frets, painting, etc)? I always thought of the US shop as more an assembly line than one builder on a guitar start to finish.

[Dave Rocks]

I have 2 custom shops both built by Mike Shannon. He builds the bodies/necks. The paint and finish work is done by others. I have Master built certs for both and I met Mike right at the start of my builds.

The custom shop guitars (not custom select) are 100% hand made. No CNC. Hand wood working all the way.

[toejam]

The 1997 Shannon Soloists (actually, I thought they were from 1998) were a "reissue" of old-school specs, binding over frets, thicker neck heel. They were available in black, white, green, and blue ghost flames, and apparently one in sherbet orange, his signature on the back of headstock in silver marker.

[Axewielder]

Pics or it's an ESTEBAN-SL1

[Aso]

I have 2 custom shops both built by Mike Shannon. He builds the bodies/necks. The paint and finish work is done by others. I have Master built certs for both and I met Mike right at the start of my builds..

Dave can I ask how you got the Master built certs? I have one master built and another on order and thought the certs would automagically come with the guitar but did not. Just think it would be cool to have them.

[Dave Rocks]

Dave can I ask how you got the Master built certs? I have one master built and another on order and thought the certs would automagically come with the guitar but did not. Just think it would be cool to have them.

Good point - my did not come automatically either. I recently saw someone post about it so I sent my dealer (TMZ) an email and requested them. Tim at TMZ is awesome and he got them for me just a couple months back (years after my guitars were built)

[neilli]

Shannon soloists have his signature on the back of the headstock, chrome hardware, non recessed Floyd and 80s style neck heel..

[ilbianconero]

Good point - my did not come automatically either. I recently saw someone post about it so I sent my dealer (TMZ) an email and requested them. Tim at TMZ is awesome and he got them for me just a couple months back (years after my guitars were built)

Does yours have his signature at the back of the headstock or not?
And more generally, does he always sign them?

[Mudlark]

No, he doesn't sign them all. Shannon has built decades worth of guitars without his signature.

[Dave Rocks]

Does yours have his signature at the back of the headstock or not?
And more generally, does he always sign them?

No - mine are Custom Shop guitars and I requested that Mike be the builder and Kurt and Tim at TMZ made that happen.

No, he doesn't sign them all. Shannon has built decades worth of guitars without his signature.

Correct

[Alissarr]

Pics or it's an ESTEBAN-SL1

Right on. It might be. Isn't he the blind Zoro dude who builds guitars while wooing ladies all over the world?

[Alissarr]

image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

[Alissarr]

Cool. This one doesn't have the neck heel like my 84 soloist so I assume it's not then.

[toejam]

Yeah, that is a regular SL1 since it's got the recessed Floyd.

[Alissarr]

Yep, I thought that was probably the case when I grabbed it. It's still a killer guitar, but wanted to know a little more.