OA Woods Store

After moving back to North LA in mid-2020, I began working for myself - taking on whatever work I could find (sometimes not too glamorous!). In October 2020, my brother gave me a phone call and asked if I would be interested in helping him out at his woodshop in Monroe, @OuachitaAntiqueWoods - He was short handed, overbooked and needed help getting caught up. He also had some big plans for the coming year, with intentions to open a new Boutique storefront. I was happy to help out with his business and get to spend time in the wood shop.

Over the course of the next year, we worked together to catch up on work load, in the process getting the shop reorganized and renovated. Then hired on 2 new employees that have both become integral to the operation and began design and building the store. In October 2021 we opened the new storefront.

See images of the finished OA Woods Store, of which many building components were built in-house by us at the woodshop - as well as all the furniture for sale! These pictures are from opening week - the interior is continuously being updated as pieces come and go!

Also see video from our “Ribbon” cutting!

See more work from OA Woods shop on their website, Woodshop instagram or Store Instagram and see more of my work from my time there on the ‘Furniture’ page of this site!

Snellecaster Build

This recent project that was a big step outside of my comfort zone: a solidbody electric guitar. Specifically, a frankenstein telecaster with a walnut body. I composited the body shape from elements of a telecaster, a danelectro and a jaguar/tornado. Parts list and build photos below!

PARTS LIST:

• Walnut body, made by yours truly. Body shape is a modified Telecaster, AKA Tele Frankenstein, AKA Frankencaster, with Danelectro and Tornado bits and pieces.

• Toasted Maple modern/vintage Telecaster neck from Warmoth, stainless steel frets, white corian nut, and spezel type tuner drilling.

• Fred Stuart “Lapwrap” Broadcaster Bridge Pickup
  This was a cool item. A hand wound pickup from one of the original pioneers of the telecaster. Very solid quality, and it sounds amazing. Originally designed for a lap steel guitar, this is a really hot and bright sounding pickup. Compliments the minibucker in neck position very well.

• Dimarzio DP240 “Minibucker” neck pickup

• Standard vintage Tele Bridge, with brass saddles

• Hip shot Grip-lock 18:1 geared tuners, staggered heights
  Side note on this item - they are freaking awesome. I will likely be putting these on every guitar I own from here out. Not only do they lock the strings in place, which makes changing them a breeze, they allow for super fine tuning control. On top of that, they're very sturdy and the open gear look is so cool.

• MISC

  • Dunlop Straplocks

  • non-fender Neck plate (I wanted a badgeless look)

  • Basic string trees

  • Basic steel string ferrules.

  • Basic Tele pickguard, modified using router and template in my woodshop.

  • Standard Control plate with cheap electronics for knobs and control plate. Ditched the cheap electronics (this was a cheaper option than buying each piece individually.

  • Deluxe wiring kit through Art of Tone:
    -CTS 250K solid shaft taper pots (10% tolerance),
    -CRL USA 3 position switch,
    -Russian “paper in oil” capacitor
    -Swithcraft Mono Jack
    -22AWG tinned cloth push back wiring

  • copper tape for cavity insulation

Wiener Doghouse

Hello All!

Writing to document this fun project. Earlier this year, my employer Kevin Bryan Architect and I worked together design this this custom doghouse in support of local animal shelter Robinson’s Rescue for this years Best-in-Sheaux event. The annual dog show and fundraising auction/raffle is held to help support the low-cost spay/neuter clinic and their work in our region. Kevin and I worked together on the design of the custom doghouse to mimic the work of historic local architects Samuel and and William Wiener, making it a Wiener (Dog) House! I built the doghouse in my shop/garage over the course of a few days. 

Check out my dog Ava in the pictures below, and read more about Robinson’s Rescue HERE.