Frank Pionteck

Guitarist – HERD THINNER

As a guitar player, if you had to stop & think for 2 minutes on what are the most important things to look for in a guitar, what would it be?!? For me personally it is “tone & playability”. These are 2 words I swear SMITTY must have invented! I first came to Smitty more then 5 years ago with one question: “How can I make this thing rock?” Instead of throwing me some boxed product off the shelf to get a sale, Smitty stopped me and asked “well what’s the problem?” – “What is it you think you are missing?” Smitty cared & wanted to know exactly where I was with my instrument, & explained to me how he thought he could bring my vision to life. Aside from many guitar setups, intonations & repairs (which are all professionally done) he opened my eyes to the exciting new realm of MJS custom pickups! We spent a good 2 hours after closing time to discuss what I was not satisfied with in my tone, & the many options he thought would benefit me for the demands I had.

For the most part of my professional playing career I have been an endorser of EMG pickups… As a guitarist in a Pantera type metal band, I never thought I could have better tone then what they provided me… Boy was I WRONG! After the many hours of debating where to go, I gave Smitty the green light to build me my dream tone. *The last thing he said to me before I left that day was “Frank, I won’t let you down man” – Damn was he ever right! EMG who? My MJS custom pickups scream louder, punch harder, & cut through better then anything I have ever heard! I wish I had a dollar for every time I have been told my guitar tone is amazing!

Let me tell you – I have 20 guitars with MJS pickups! Any of you who take your guitar tone seriously… what are you waiting for? Smitty really is “my guitar god” You should make him yours!!!