Happiness Is A Good Luthier...

[John Lee Walker]

Well, my customization project, after several misguided attempts, is finally underway tonight. I am home at the farm in Indiana, and I was informed when I arrived that my favorite Indy techy luthier (Jeff Russell, at Weedpatch Music in Nashville, IN) had to cancel all appointments and repairs until after Xmas due to family emergency. I was up the ca-ca canal without a paddle with only a few days to get this done. I called my guy back home in Florida and he knew of a very good luthier up here not even 20 miles from my property, in Rising Sun, Indiana. Turns out, it's Jamon Zeiler, well know luthier who makes his own style of original acoustics. He is also a Taylor/Guild/Martin certified warranty repair person. He works at Reese Harps, and builds harps at their facility that are very high quality. They are absolutely gorgeous. After a talk with him (and a really quick look at the harp factory) about what I wanted done, he sat me down and went into a very detailed explanation of what he was going to do. Then, he showed me one of his original guitars. Very impressed with this man's work - exquisite guitars. He also told me he was friends with Ren, at the Gibson Factory. Is that cool or what. Needless to say, I left my baby SJ200 MC in good hands, and I felt real good about it as I walked out the door. I pick it up Tuesday. One of the best luthiers in the country just 20 miles away from the Indy house. I consider that a good score, y'all. He thought my idea was cool - a J200 with a J160E electronics configuration. He really liked my custom Baggs crossover system. I think I found a goodun:)

 

I'm sure they wouldn't mind a little free advertising at the official Gibson Forum site. I am listing Jamon's contact information for anyone who may need luthier help within the KY/OH/IN tri-state area. Let's hear some more good (or bad) luthier stories and, if they are worthy, post their contact info for all who may be interested.

 

Hey, if you drive a Jag, you need a Jag repairman...

 

Here's to Jamon! Thanks man!

 

Jamon Zeiler

Shop: 812-438-3716

www.zeilerguitars.com

jamon@zeilerguitars.com

[jefleppard]

great story and stroke of luck. but of course, we'll need pics. pics. we need pics. yes, we do. pics.

[Always_Black]

Thanks for the contact info ! I have inquired to Jamon for some work I would like to have done as well.

 

Being in Indy, he's the perfect choice !

[John Lee Walker]

Hey cunk - yep, pics are forthcoming. I won't have the engraved Waverly tuners on it until next month, as they are back-ordered at Stew-Mac and not able to ship until Jan 4, but everything else will be done by Tuesday. I got the fossilized walrus ivory saddle from Mr Colosi, then changed my mind on the pins (had vintage bone) and got fossilzed walrus ivory pins w/4mm abalone inlay to match. LR Baggs customized crossover p/u system (iBeam/iMix/Element w/custom hot dot transducer pickups, switchable to Element) ) with J160E configuration on front of guitar -vol/tone gold bell knobs. Custom truss rod cover. Waverly gold engraved tuners. She will be lookin' good:)

 

Hey black - Yeah, Jamon came highly recommended. Great guy, very personable and professional. He's doing the whole J160E system on my J200 complete with block reinforcements for the pots, etc. Will be a very professional job with the original J160E inside/outside configuration. He was one of the few luthiers I've talked to that really liked my idea. I usually get 'you're gonna do WHAT to your J200?!' lol. He really got into it and suggested if I was going to do that, to do it right ala' the original J160E inside setup. He assured me that it will not affect the overall tone in any way whatsoever. Gotta love this guy!

 

What are you having him do, and to what guitar?

[onewilyfool]

Hey John Lee....what are you going to call this new guitar??????

[John Lee Walker]

Hey wiley - my regular Indy tech in Nashville, Indiana, wants to take pics and send them to the Gibson Factory and introduce them to the John Lee Walker Signature Model SJ200 Modern Classic. Hah! He says 'ya never know, they might like it and do a run of 'em!' Either they'd like it and it would go over real good, or they'd hate it and it would go over like a fart in church. Nevertheless, it is what it is - my happy guitar.

 

Nah, I wouldn't call it anything 'JLW' for a few reasons. She got her name the first day I introduced her to my mother, who we all call Mama Lou. I told her when I was finished with this guitar it would be the 'mother of all guitars'...hence, her name - Mama Lou:)

 

See, this Gibson is rather special to me. It was the dream guitar I used to sit around talking about with Jack, when he was still alive and well. You get very bored on the road at times, so you sit and talk about the weirdest **** imaginable. We would sit in that van and describe our dream guitars. This one is mine, and I know it will make a certain someone grin, wherever he is.

[John Lee Walker]

Hey, here's to ya, Jacko:)

 

 

Oops, sorry about the profanity in previous post, moderators. Wasn't thinking in censor mode.

[maninblack]

This is cool information. I live in Cincinnati. To me finding a good guitar guy is almost a serious as picking out a pediatrician for the kid. Does Jamon have a wait list? How is his turnaround time? A lot of the best luthiers in the area have shifted exclusively to the building side and moved away from repair and tinkering.

[John Lee Walker]

black - No waiting list at all. Called him up and he said bring it on over today. Very nice guy, really into his craft. Of course, turnaround time is going to depend on the extent of the work he is doing on any particular guitar. Two days for me, I was jazzed. Jamon does it all - builds, major and minor repairs, setups, warranty work, customization and inlay, you name it. Picking up my baby tomorrow. I'll give you a firsthand review