Moniker Guitars

Moniker Guitars
Private
Industry Musical instruments
Founded 2012
Founder
  • Kevin Tully
  • Dave Barry
Headquarters Austin, Texas, United States
Area served
 Global
Website monikerguitars.com

Moniker Guitars is a guitar manufacturing company based in Austin, Texas, United States.

Each guitar is custom built based on designs submitted by customers using an online design tool. Moniker's manufacturing process enables their guitars to sell at prices comparable to store-bought guitars.[1]

History

The company was inspired when amateur guitar player Kevin Tully observed a bicycle manufactured by Republic Bike of Dania Beach, Florida, which allows customers to design each bike using an online tool.[1][2]

In 2012, Moniker Guitars was founded by Tully and his associate Dave Barry, both natives of Boston.[3]

Original funding of $25,000 was provided by IDEA, the business incubator at Northeastern University, and in 2013, a Kickstarter campaign was used to raise an additional $60,000 from 155 backers.[1][3]

By 2014, the company employed six people operating out of a shared workspace in Austin, and was producing approximately 12 electric guitars per week.[1]

Manufacturing

Customers use a "configurator" tool on Moniker's website to choose from three body styles, five stains, and 17 paint colors, as well as different component parts, including a pickup by Seymour Duncan. Text and user-designed graphics may also be added. The configurator software cost about $10,000, and the company's goal was to create an interface that was clean, simple, and easy to use. Moniker then employs CNC milling to precisely produce the guitar body, which is made from domestically-sourced wood. A fast-drying clearcoat manufactured by Simtec Coatings is then applied, followed by environmentally-safe water-based paints by PPG Industries. Adobe Illustrator and a vinyl plotter are used to create stencils from which text and graphics are applied. Though the company could assemble the guitar in 24 hours, the final product is shipped to customers in four weeks.[1][3][4][5][6]

Reception

In 2013, Moniker Guitars was featured on MSNBC's Your Business.[7]

The company's website states that their guitars have been purchased by Kyle Shutt of The Sword, and Justin Bradley and Josh Withenshaw of Anarbor. It also shows pictures of various musicians playing Moniker Guitars, including Matt Noveskey of Blue October, Paul Marc Rousseau and Shane Told of Silverstein, and Andy Lane of Driver Friendly.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Raymond, Chris (February 7, 2014). "Design Your Own Guitar—This Startup Will Build It". Popular Mechanics.
  2. ↑ "Corporate & Retail Programs". Republic Bike. Retrieved February 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 "Moniker Guitars Launches Site To Make Your Rock Star Dreams Come True". Northeastern University. Retrieved February 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ Mings, Josh (March 27, 2013). "Moniker Guitars Lets You Design Your Own Custom Electric Guitar". SolidSmack.
  5. ↑ "Moniker Guitars Launches Semi-Hollow Line". Vintage Guitar Magazine. July 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Austin's Moniker Guitars Launches Kickstarter Campaign". Guitar Player. August 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Moniker Guitars". MSNBC. March 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Artists". Moniker Guitars. Retrieved February 2014. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
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