Surf Seattle
Reimagined Refurbishment
and Part of Juniper Avenue Guitar Works
Blasts From The Past
Taking used guitars and giving them a new look is a common hobby for a lot of guitar enthusiasts. Surf Seattle likes to take that a little further. Based on what the body style and coloring of the original guitar inspires, a new theme is brought forward and the entire guitar is reinvisioned. A lot of it is based on what the customer has in mind, but many customers let the creativity run wild.Some have been guitars picked up locally that inspired an idea that was then explored, made real, then sold to someone else on the other side of the US.These are some of the highlights captured in pictures. Pics wll be updated as we complete more projects, or find old pictures.
Original Surf Seattle (Jazzmaster Mini)
ClassMaster (Squier Jagmaster)
YACHT ROCK!! (PRS ES EG)
SKA-WIRE (Squier Classic Vibe Thinline)
The Toaster (OLP with Gretsch Humbuckers and hidden tone control)
GAX (Ibanez Gem AX50)
The Davy (Mako TB3)
Tele SG Jr (Epiphone Jr SG)
What is Surf Seattle?
Surf Seattle was a silly name thought up for a Jazzmaster Mini that was made to look like a surfer guitar.The name was catchy and contained the cultures that loved the "Offset" styles of guitars. Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Mustangs, Duo Sonics, and even old vintage import guitars were used by many of the "Grunge" era which emanated from the Seattle, Washington area. There guitars were found in pawn shops and picked up for cheap and made to serve the purpose of making iconic, Grunge sound.Why were they available for cheap? Because the era of Surf Rock had passed long ago. The Beach Boys and Ventures were no longer popular and the iconic guitars they popularized were no longer in fashion.Grunge artists sporting "Surf Rock" guitars inspired the name Surf Seattle. There apparently is some surfing in Seattle, but it is far from the iconic sunny, sandy beaches many envision when they hear the Beach Boys. So this Juxtaposition of surfing and Seattle culture very much reminded me of Grunge artists playing Surf Rock guitars.So, it was decided that guitars that are picked up cheap, and repurposed, or re-envisioned into something new would fall under the moniker, Surf Seattle.Take a look at our galleries to see some of the work done as Surf Seattle. All the work is done here, at Juniper Ave Guitar Works, but this is something fun done on the side.