frequently asked questions...

Q. How many guitar models are you building now?
A. I have a few experiments brewing, but currently, only the SBJ standard.

Q. Why no tone control on the SBJ?
A. Many "jazz players" hide behind the tone control, losing the character or personality of their instrument. The SBJ should be approached like an acoustic guitar, where you use your own technique and the extensive timbres that lie along the string length. The SBJ has a beautiful natural voice that will find you!

Q. I understand that you do not offer ebony for a fingerboard?
A. Yes, this is true. Many premium guitars use an ebony fingerboard, but I do not, for two reasons: First, ebony is much more unpredictable than quartered rosewood. Second, it changes the attack, in a direction that I prefer to avoid.

Q. Do you need a special case for the SBJ ?
A. The SBJ profile is a bit wider than usual, but will nicely fit in most LP/STRAT padded bags and many (but not all)  LP hardshells.

Q. Are you the inventor of "The Froc Pick"  ?
A. Yes, I developed and patented the Froc-T3-Pick, back in The Guitar Clinic days (1982). I still have a small private stash of T-3 picks left, but unfortunately, not enough to market. Some time ago, my manufacturer lost my mold, so bye, bye!

Q. Do you have any Amp suggestions for your guitar?
A. This is a good question, considering that the amp is very important to the sound! All tube is a handsome rule of thumb, older Fender amps (in good shape and some re-issues), like the Vibrolux Reverb or Twin Reverb are great. A Peavy Classic-30 is cheap and sounds terrific... in quiet settings the EL84 power tubes tend to develop a somewhat annoying rattle, but it's a very good deal! Most Solid State amps are designed around over-drive modeling, bells, whistles and power for less cost, but the clean sound on most of them is less than desirable.