Yamaha artist Miki Santamaria collaborated with the Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop in Calabasas, Los Angeles, to design his dream Yamaha bass, an instrument which reflects his personal sound and artistic vision. We had the pleasure of speaking with Miki about this custom project, as well as his journey and inspirations. First Impressions When Miki… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Miki Santamaria
Category: Custom Guitars
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Chris Buck
The master of tone and touch reveals what makes him feel “connected” to a guitar and why sometimes less input produces better results.
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jack Gibson
The “Big Four” of thrash—Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer—rewrote the rules of metal in the 1980s. And if you were ever to expand that list beyond four bands, Exodus would most certainly make the cut. The Bay Area outfit was wildly influential and are regarded worldwide as pioneers of the genre. For more than 20… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jack Gibson
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Amos Heller
The pop music world is no stranger to hyperbole. Everything is a smash, every artist a star… or a megastar. Those terms get thrown around so easily that they can lose their meaning. But what if you found yourself on what is, quite literally, the biggest tour in history? Well, you could ask Amos Heller… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Amos Heller
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Richard Jones
Stereophonics bass man Richard Jones has played a lot of big gigs on a lot of big stages with his storied Welsh band. From his rock-approved beginnings dressing up as AC/DC’s Angus and Malcolm Young with Stereophonics’ frontman Kelly Jones when they were just wee lads, Richard has spent the last 30 years creating infectious,… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Richard Jones
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jeff Schroeder
The Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Jeff Schroeder is a tough guy to pin down. On the one hand, he plays in one of the biggest alternative bands of all time, and yet it’s not out of place for him to wear a Michael Schenker t-shirt while he does so. He seems equally at home playing dreamy,… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jeff Schroeder
Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jordan Tice
Jordan Tice’s deft fingerstyle work has made him a steadily rising star in the bluegrass and Americana worlds since his 2005 debut. Whether on his solo releases (including his most recent, Motivational Speakeasy) or his collaborations with Hawktail and Haas Kowert Tice, or even performing the music of actor/musician Steve Martin, Tice delivers touch, tone,… Continue reading Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop | Jordan Tice
YGD Custom Shop | Steady Holiday Custom Revstar
Steady Holiday is the solo project of Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress Dre Babinski. She discovered Revstar guitars when performing at a Yamaha showcase at SXSW in 2019, and the series has been her mainstay ever since. “I’ve played around on several different Yamaha models, but quickly landed on the Revstar,” she recalls. “I love the elegance… Continue reading YGD Custom Shop | Steady Holiday Custom Revstar
YGD Custom Shop | Bobby Dall Custom BB Basses
With big flake sparkle finishes in orange and silver, these custom BB basses look and sound spectacular under the stage lights with Bobby Dall of Poison. Bobby has played BB basses since 1989, when the band was recording the Flesh & Blood album at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada with producer Bruce Fairbairn. “I wanted a… Continue reading YGD Custom Shop | Bobby Dall Custom BB Basses
YGD Custom Shop | Fred Kosak’s Custom FG Guitar
Andrew Enns, a Senior Acoustic Guitar Builder at the Yamaha Guitar Development custom shop in Calabasas, California, recently built a one-of-a-kind FG acoustic guitar for Fred Kosak of Stillhouse Junkies. Learn more about Fred and the guitar. I love that it retains some of the classic Yamaha design features while breaking new ground as a… Continue reading YGD Custom Shop | Fred Kosak’s Custom FG Guitar