Lee Garver
GMW Guitar Works
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GMW Guitar Works
Glendora, California
Years hot-rodding: 20; 15 as a painter
Starting at: $1200 Base price (one
pickup model); $1450 Base price
(two pickup model)
Typical wait time: 5–16 weeks
Contact:
gmwguitars.com
626-914-8082
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How did you get into painting guitars?
Its funny because my background isn’t in art
or paint… I graduated from Stanford with a
Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. After
doing that in the field for a few years, I realized
that I couldn’t do that the rest of my
life. I actually got my foot in the door while
searching for a keyboard in the eighties. The
guy who was selling it to me introduced me
to Wayne Charvel. From that point, I had
Wayne build me some guitars, and then I met
Neal Moser because Wayne was working with
BC Rich. Moser got me into the industry by
building, and then as we moved into the nineties,
it became more autonomous with GMW.
For painting, I set up my own booth in 1990
– 1991, and I had another guy that did all the
painting. I just learned by watching over his
shoulder, and in 1995 I just took it all over
and painted everything myself. I just shut up,
watched and took other painters’ advice.
What prompted you to go into the custom,
hot-rodded paint world?
I think my influences started from just admiring
the Jackson/Charvel and BC Rich companies
back in the eighties. I’m a product of the
Van Halen, George Lynch and Journey generation.
My graphic artist, Dan Lawrence, used
to work for Jackson and BC Rich, so I sort of
followed into that mold because I loved and
identified with those guitars. I wasn’t really a
wood-based kind-of-a-guy back then; I was
more interested in the graphics and flash on
the guitars of those rock bands during that
era. We started doing repairs and modifications
on Jackson/Charvel and BC Rich guitars,
and that’s how I built the GMW name.
As we moved into the nineties and the new
millennium, I became disinterested in that kind
of work—just this year I stopped doing repairs,
modifications and new paint jobs on guitars
from other companies, so we could focus solely
on GMW and Empire guitars. I just turned
fifty-five, so I wanted to take my company in its
own direction before the wife puts the hammer
down and makes me come home.
What models of guitars are you
painting now?
We still have our influences from the eighties
and nineties flowing in our shop with the
graphics. With the Empire line, we blended
it in a manner where we’ll have exotic
woods, but the overlays on those will be
intense graphics. We’ll cover the traditional
guys with straight ahead paint schemes and
colors—guys into graphics and eye-catching
designs—but also a blend of both those
worlds. While they may want different paint
jobs and graphics, our client base seems to
be rooted in that Jackson/Charvel camp of
smokin’ guitars and crazy, colorful designs.
Are you guys willing to do custom orders
on paint or graphics?
Yes, we’re open to custom graphics and paint
ideas, but with our extensive online archives,
people usually find either a design or paint
scheme usually find either a design or paint
scheme that works for them. And if nothing
else, it provides them a starting point. People
just go through our “Generator” on the site
and design the guitar how they want, with
several options for each area and components
of the guitar. When it comes to the paint,
they just simply refer to the archived graphic
or paint, and we can reapply that design or
graphic to their particular body style. Even if
the two guitars are different, they can get a
basic feeling of what will be the end product.
What seems to be the go-to setup and
paint style people go with at GMW?
I’d say most of them are going to be like
a Fender Strat or Jackson-esque guitars,
which is our SS model. Our graphics and
paint schemes seem to just flow and fit better
on those styles of guitars. Probably just
another nod to our influences… the eighties
rock/metal movement, in line with the
Jackson Soloist models. But we do stuff on
the LP-style, a Star-style and even quite a
few Tele-style guitars too.
What are some paint schemes that
embodies what GMW is all about?
I’d have to say our hot-rod flame, snakeskin
and camouflage models are our most popular,
with additional paint schemes on request.
Who are some artists you’ve done work for?
The most recent were the two polka dot flying
Vs for Zakk Wylde, plus we have also built
guitars for Pat Smear of the Foo Fighters,
Michael Anthony and Dweezil Zappa.
Why should someone buy a GMW guitar?
I think because we give you the most bang for
your buck. We simply don’t have the massive
overhead that the bigger guitar companies
carry, which equates to consistent value. In
addition, we listen to what you have to say
and what you’re looking for in a guitar, and we
make sure the end result is better than what
you expected—its all about customer service
and satisfaction at GMW. In fact, I answer all
the emails personally and within 24 hours.
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