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| GNB
Custom Built Guitars
(registered business name is GNB Guitar Customizing) is a small
one owner business. GNB only builds guitars to customer specifications.
The client list is small, but consists of some of the best players
in blues. Gary Brinkley, the owner and operator has been playing music since 1957. After playing for awhile, Gary could never find everything he wanted in one guitar . The result of this frustration was modifying everything he would buy. Finely after retiring, Gary went to Guitar Building and Repair School in Webster Groves, Missouri. One of the instructors at the school was Vince Cunetto, the man behind the Fender Relic Guitars. After finishing official training, Gary met Jimmy Thackery. Jimmy needed a backup for his number one guitar "Mergatroid". Jimmy played two guitars Gary had just completed for his own use, and liked them. An exact copy was made of Mergatroid and that was the beginning of a long friendship. Jimmy made a statement about the clone saying Gary has the ability to build 40 years of soul into a new guitar. GNB does not have a walk-in shop. Everything is done by appointment. Professionals that spend a lot of time on the road contact Gary and he will go to them " It helps when I see them play, and have them show me on their guitars what they like and what they would like done to make it better". Jimmy Thackery told Gary he needed to replace the neck on Mergatroid, it was just worn out, Jimmy received the new neck (aged to match the rest of the guitar) and with great anxiety bolted on the new neck. Gary received a call from Jimmy saying that the new neck was, he thought even better than the original neck, and the harmonics he was getting was great. His worry had been that he would loose that special sound and tone that Mergatroid had, but if anything it had improved things. Since a lot of the requests for custom guitars are based on some well know brands, GNB will have necks and bodies built to specifications by company's licensed to reproduce the big brand necks. Gary will not build a guitar using low grade wood or materials, only the best of everything is used "If a customer does not want the best, I won't build it". GNB is not a counterfeit company, no trade mark will be used on any guitar unless authorized to do so. GNB also modifies existing guitars to customers specs. Since not all professional touring musicians can afford a full-time guitar tech, GNB will handle emergency calls from customers on a priority basis. On many occasions, Gary has traveled to met the artist at one of his venues,and do emergency repair on the spot. He put it this way "these artists make their living playing their guitar. They will carry more than one guitar, but I know artists that need that special guitar around, and if they can't play it, nothing will go well. After you play a guitar for many years, it is like part of the family". Quality work reliability, and customer satisfaction is everything! Gary N Brinkley GNB Guitar Customizing |