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MEET THE BUILDERS
Joe with a proud buyer of a new J Donahue guitar build.
Master Boutique Guitar makers
Altered States Guitars are produced by a select group of master builders known for their quality and expertise in the industry. Note that there are no mass produced Altered States Guitars. The builders are, Joe Donahue, Pavel Maslowiec and former Fender custom shop builder Fred Stuart.
1 - Select your builder.
Get to know each guitar maker first by discussing your vision for the guitar's over all design and voice. Based on each builders work load - matched with your delivery needs and price - choose a maker to work with for the project.
2 - Work with your selected builder to define the guitars specifications.
MEET THE Master guitar designers and builders
Greg M Atkin
Altered States Guitar Inventor
I have been playing guitar for over 50 years now. First as a living room guitarist - just as a past time.
Over the years I watched myself improve little by little.
However, holding a flat pick properly was a challenge. In 2000, I invented the SharkTooth Crossover Pick (a comfortable thumb pick) and then joined the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists (AFG). My love of guitar accellerated from then on.
The Altered States Guitar concept came to me as just an interesting idea at first. Over time, though, the AS concept was refines and I then invested in making several prototype guitars.
I hope that you enjoy listening to the prototype AS guitar videos that we now have on this site.
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J Donahue Guitars
Master Guitar Builder
Joe Donahue, of J. Donahue Guitars, is without a doubt one of the finest luthiers I've ever had the pleasure to meet.I first met Joe at a local guitar show in southern California. The minute I picked up his replica of a 57 Les Paul Junior, I was floored. Seriously, he nailed it better than any other guitar maker I've ever seen.Like Leo Fender, Joe Donahue has a big passion for the arts and music. Joe also has an incredible sense of detail as an engineer and designer.If you have the opportunity to acquire one of Joe’s guitars, I would highly recommend doing so.
STEVE SATTLERBusiness Development ManagerMusic Connection Magazine
Pavel Maslowiec
Master Guitar Builder
Over the years I have serviced, repaired and built custom guitars for many of the worlds most famous players.
My Customers: BraXton Olita (Ashlee Simpson), Ray Brady (Ashlee Simpson), Lyle Workman (Sting), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann), Eric Sardinas, Rocco Deluca, Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Ted Nugent, Thin Lizzy), Allan Holdsworth, Switchfoot, Fred Taccone, Robert Adolph, Patt Hennessy, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Mike Ness (Social Distortion), Walter Trout, Mads Eriksen, Josh Thomson (Peoplemover), Brett Rasmussen (Ignite), Kamren Alexander (Stereofix), Jude Cole, Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow), Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd) ,Daniel Lanois ( U2 , Bob Dylan).....
Fred Stuart
Guitar builder & Pickup Designer
Fred is a really great guy, insanely creative and one of the best Tele style builders in the world, IMO.
I worked with Fred at the Fender Custom Shop for almost 12 years, and he was one of our most requested Tele builders. He also designed and built some of our most creative guitars.
I offer Fred's pickups in my new P-1, he hand winds 'em all and they sound killer. He does virtually everything on his guitars, even down to making his own trussrods.
He's always experimenting too, which I think is great. His guitars are very vintage cool.
JOHN PAGE
2006
Frequently asked questions
What makes Altered States Guitars different?
That is just it. Altered States Guitar technology is a different way to voice an electric guitar. We are not claiming to be better than other guitar makers or designs. Just different - and in a good way.
With Altered States, there are many combinations of wood, metal elements and bridge configurations that contribute to the guitar's timbre or voice.
Altered States technology always consists of two body wood selections. Second, the neck design usually consists of a reversed cut laminated neck for strength and stability. However, one piece necks are also available.
The custom Altered States 3D split bridge is the heart of the guitar. It is this bridge that brings the pure wood resonations in the body to the guitar's voice in a most novel way.
Finally, playability is determined by all of the dimentional elements that each player subjectively contributes to each Altered States Guitar design.
How do I learn more about Altered States Guitars?
First, I recommend that you subscribe to the Altered States Guitar YouTube channel and listen to the various prototype guitars that have been made to date. There are some really great guitarists featured there in each video. Enjoy!
Here is the ASG Youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzl8i8ifwtKUnuI0S3r-hhQ?view_as=subscriber
There is also a FaceBook page dedicated to the Altered States Guitar fan base.
Please visit the FaceBook page and give us a "Like".
https://www.facebook.com/Altered-States-Guitar-104028261139358/?modal=admin_todo_tour
For more information call me direct at 714-663-0071.
My email is gatkin@alteredstatesguitar.com
What is an Altered States Guitar Design?
Each Altered States Guitar design consists of a dual wood body, such as, mahogany & swamp ash. The Joe Donahue (J Donahue Guitars) built prototype shown on the Collections page is a good example. The two wood types feature a typical glue joint in the middle or center line of the guitar.
Again, the custom 3D divided bridge is the heart of the instrument. The bridge is divided - horizontally and vertically - so that there are three strings supported on each side of the guitar's body. This split bridge is how the pure fundamental resonance from each wood type is generated.
Furthermore, brass or stainless steel pillars are (optional) used to couple the top & bottom 3D bridge plate components.
All of these selected elements contribute to a unique voice for each guitar built.
What is the price range for an Altered States Guitar?
We are now in the very beginning stage of ASG development. There are now three prototype guitars in existance. All three are hand made and have different configurations.
Check out the Altered States Guitar Reverb site for available AS guitars for sale (see link below).
https://reverb.com/shop/greg-ms-gear-depot
Please contact me directly for more detailed information about each AS guitar now available.
You can also see photos on the Collections page here on this web site.
Thank you for visiting!
Greg M Atkin
714-663-0071 Office