| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder(s) | Mark Fuqua |
| Headquarters | North Carolina, U.S |
| Area served | Global |
| Products | Guitars |
| Website | Official website |
Motor Ave guitars are made by Mark Fuqua in Durham North Carolina. MotorAve Guitars began in Los Angeles, CA in 2002 in a workshop on Venice Blvd in West LA. Later he was located on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. In 2007 he moved to his current location in North Carolina where he continues to make MotorAve Guitars. Besides their line of handbuilt guitars the company also repairs guitars on a limited basis as well as performing modifications such as changing pickups, electronics, hardware, frets and other components.
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All Motor Ave guitars are built by hand and can be fitted with several different options including different pick ups, fretboard, inlays and finishes.
The BelaAires originated in solid-body guitar built as a one off for a customer looking for a large guitar due to his own large stature. To avoid back routed control cavities, the guitar was designed with a large pickguard, similar to the one of a Fender Telecaster Thinline. After the guitar was delivered Fuqua decided to create a semihollow version of the guitar with a Bigsby vibrato. The guitar had a solid core in the body's center and a sharp soundhole similar to what is normally found on Rickenbackers. During its construction Alain Johannes, visited the shop to pick up a vintage Maton which had been repaired and took a liking to the unfinished guitar. A few weeks later the finished guitar was delivered to Johannes and a week later Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme ordered one for himself which was his main guitar during the recording of Era Vulgaris.
The LeMans was specially designed to be extremely thin much like a Gibson SG. The guitar is fitted with a single bridge pickup to allow for an extra strong neck joint which allows extra transference between neck and body. Another feature to make the guitar simple and easy to maintain is the control plate with a single volume control and jack input, the short and simple circuit also reduces capacitance for a clear tone. One of the first LeMans models were built for American hard rock band Burning Brides guitarist and vocalist Dimitri Coats.