About Smokehead Guitars
Based in Oxfordshire, UK, Smokehead Guitars produces unique hand-crafted guitars made from hubcaps and boxes. An experienced musician myself, I have played blues for many years, and my natural recycling instinct has led me to give items a new lease of life. Put together with carefully-sourced brightware and pickups, my creations deliver a sound which can range from a clean, bright surfing tone to one which is raw and gutsy. Combine this with sleek looks any blues player would be proud of and you have a Smokehead Guitar.
"Made to look like a Cadillac and sound like banshee"
The core build involves steam bending hardwood, typically Oak, to create a shell to which the hubcap can be fitted. The fitting techniques are dependent on hubcap type; these can be traditional banjo stays or hex bolts which will complement the finish. Within the shell lies a hardwood substructure to which the neck is connected via a hex bolt mechanism, rather than traditional screws as found on contemporary guitar systems. This means that the neck becomes more stable, alleviating any movement during tuning and setup. A backplate is still used but for decorative purposes only.
Bridges are also connected to the hardware substructure or, where appropriate, they "float" on the hubcap to enable the hubcap itself to contribute to the sound quality. Tail pieces are connected to the substructure or, in the case of arch-top jazz-style, to the bottom of the guitar. Hex bolts/screws are used throughout the build for extra rigidity and continuity.
Humbucking or single coil pickups can be used or adapted as required, although it is not always possible to use some pickup types due to the nature and physical profile of the hubcap. For this reason it is generally possible to facilitate a neck-positioned pickup, but bridge-mounted pickups are seldom viable.
All wood materials used for new projects comply with CITES regulations.
Bridges are also connected to the hardware substructure or, where appropriate, they "float" on the hubcap to enable the hubcap itself to contribute to the sound quality. Tail pieces are connected to the substructure or, in the case of arch-top jazz-style, to the bottom of the guitar. Hex bolts/screws are used throughout the build for extra rigidity and continuity.
Humbucking or single coil pickups can be used or adapted as required, although it is not always possible to use some pickup types due to the nature and physical profile of the hubcap. For this reason it is generally possible to facilitate a neck-positioned pickup, but bridge-mounted pickups are seldom viable.
All wood materials used for new projects comply with CITES regulations.