Mad-Rockin' Guitars
Service, Sales and Design
Mad-Rockin' Guitars is a custom shop located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA and specializes in customizing and upgrading guitars. We strive to be everything you'd expect from a classic independent guitar shop, with lots of cool gear and expert technical support. Call us for any maintenance, sales or repair needs you may have and check out some of the custom gear that we make. You’re sure to find some surprises here at M-RG. Over 40 years of experience!
Custom Shop Bliss
We like to break the mold when we can, here at M-GB and make our own guitars, straps, pick guards, paint jobs, etc. and vibrato bars too!
High Performance
High performance upgrades are a top priority here. Faster necks, better pickups, quality components... Whatever it takes to make them ROCK more!
A Pinnical of Style
We use cutting edge designs from years of trial and error, to make our products stand out in a crowd. Your ideas and custom orders are always welcome.
The T-bar (Tailbender)
Most of our guitars feature the T-bar, also known as the Tailbender. This Patent Pending device is a powerful expression tool, and found exclusively here at M-RG.
No Whammy Needed
Not all guitars look good with a whammy bar, and not everybody wants one. The Tailbender is the perfect alternative to a whammy bar and is discrete on the guitar.
A Secret Weapon
The T-bar is like a secret weapon you use on the guitar, to get ultra smooth vibrato, deep string bends and no doubt you will turn heads when you play!
TremlordTM
Mad-Rockin' Guitars believes in high performance, quality and FUN. While working on guitars over the years, I began designing and making my own whammy bars and even invented a whole new system. Thus, the Tremlord company was born and we continue to develop these creations. You can see here; sites.google.com/view/tremlord Patents Pending.
$450 Surfcaster
2019 Squier affinity with custom paint, re-profiled neck/ head stock. Medium tall stainless steel frets, Tusq nut, hand-wound pick ups / switches and T-bar.
$350 Apocalypse
2020 LTD Eclipse with custom body / neck work. Double locking Wilkinson bridge with T-bar, new pickups, a cut-off switch and skull / cross-bone inlays.
$350 Fender-bender T
2020 Squier affinity equipped with Tusq nut and a vintage 6 screw Wilkinson tremolo with Tailbender. Steel Twin replacement pick-ups from Iron Gear.
$600 Vampyre
2020 LTD Viper with custom body / neck work. Double locking Floyd Rose with T-bar, new pickups, a cut off switch, pick guard and bat fret markers.
$350 Fender-bender T
2020 Squier affinity equipped with Tusq nut, vintage 6 screw Wilkinson tremolo and a Tailbender. Custom cream pick guard and reprofiled neck.
$350 Fender-bender S
2020 Squier affinity Sunburst Stratocaster, with a Tusq nut, Tailbender and Iron Gear Texas Loco replacement pickups.
$500 Gladiator
2019 Cozart kit build with custom neck, body and pick guard. Tusq nut, wilkinson 6 screw and 3 bar Tremlord system, with Dirty Torque pickups from Iron Gear.
$600 Custom Monarkh
2020 Jackson Monarkh with modified body and camouflage vinyl top. Wilkinson 2 post tremolo unit with 3 bar Tremlord system and Iron Gear pick ups.
$325 Speedway Johnson
2010 Johnson acoustic with fire inlays and custom stickers. Blues Engine humbucker, along with volume / tone controls and flat wound strings!
$450 Custom Kelly
2020 Jackson Kelly JS32 with custom diamond plate pick guard, re-profiled neck and a 3 bar Tremlord system. The Reaper bar, T-bar and Wheelie bar!
$350 Custom Dinky
2020 Jackson Dinky JS32 equipped with a T-bar mounted to a licensed double locking bridge from Jackson. Re profiled "easy play" neck.
$1200 Made in Japan '93
1993 Made in Japan Jackson Dinky professional series. Original pickups, custom T-bar bridge, fully restored and repaired from flood damage / neglect.
Custom Guitar Straps
Not only good looking, but the worlds most comfortable guitar straps!
Patent Pending
Designed here and made available exclusively for Mad-Rockin' Guitars.
The Worlds Most Comfortable
The elastic takes the load off of your shoulder and the swivel eliminates tangles.
$175
Mad-Rockin' Guitar Strap with a lot of stud work. Black leather with elastic and swivel.
$125
Customized leather trap with some stud work, fringes, elastic front and rear swivel.
$75
Classic brown 3" leather guitar strap with elastic band, rear swivel and fringes.
Cigar Box Guitars
We make Ukuleles and Cigar Box Guitars Too! Hand crafted from some of the finest discarded materials in the world! A lot of attention and detail goes into these little wonders and boy do they sound good and are fun to play. Acoustically they sound fantastic, made from tone woods and built in resonators for extra ambiance. They come pickups inside so you can plug 'em in and get loud and dirty if you want. These litl' babies are made to play as good as any guitar, with proper string action and intonation. There are 3, 4 and 5 string models to choose from and they come set-up with easy play, open tunings that will satisfy almost any muse! Prices depend on how much work goes into them. A Ukulele or CBG that leans more towards Art.. (looks good / plays fair) will start around $150. When you require something more, prices go up to the $300 - $500 range. What you get is a fine instrument able to play / sound extremely well and suitable for any stage!
Handcrafted Art
A clean machine, shown here are the internal reverb springs, which give off a warm and ethereal ambient sound. Once the pickups are in and the strings are set up, you get a perfect little instrument for Country, Blues, Rock, Doom Metal...
Built to Play
Now finished, the box is closed up with all the pickups and electronics hidden inside. Volume, tone and blend knobs help shape the sound stained and varnished wood finish and traditional f holes are carved in the top for acoustic volume.
Details
"Worn in" fret-board, stainless steel nut, gold tuners and a matching head-stock.
$175
4 string concert Ukulele with 15" scale length on a Olivia cigar box. Comes with a custom Hawaiian flower lea strap, wall mount and a micro head stock tuner.
$325
4 string maple neck- through design, with a 24" scale length on an Arturo Fuente box. Loaded with a piezo rod pickup and a side mounted 4 band acoustic preamp.
$400
4 string Torres box with a 23" scale length and an internal piezo rod pickup for sound. Menards yard stick fretboard with drywall screws for fret markers and 24 med-high frets. Hand-rubbed oil finish, with traditionally carved violin f holes
$425
5 string Torres box with 23" scale length, humbucker and piezo pickups, w/ volume, tone and blend knobs. Hard rock maple neck with solder-burn fret markers and 24 med-high frets. Hand-rubbed oil finish, with traditionally carved violin f holes
$350
3 string Arturo Fuente box with a 24" scale length and bottle cap tone and volume control nobs. Loaded with a humbucker pickup and a glass bottle-neck bridge. Distressed Menards yard stick fret-board, with 26 frets and a matching head-stock.
George B. Alan
Makin' em and Breakin' em for over 40 years!
I got a drum set at 7 and my first guitar, with a whammy bar at the age of 11. Back in the 80's there weren't that many "entry level" guitars to get you started. So, you had to fix up whatever you could get your hands on.
Those beginnings eventually found me all over the country in recording studios, on film sets and in music venues. Starting at Okay's Corral in Madison, WI and then to Seattle at the Off ramp and many clubs and studios during the grunge scene. While earning my degree at the Art Institute of Seattle, I worked with many high profile acts including Pearl Jam, Sound Garden and Nirvana. I was involved in hundreds of recording sessions, west coast tours and even got red-flagged at Roxy theater on the Sunset Strip, for playing too loud! (130 decibels..)
Now, here with Mad-Rockin' Guitars, I repair instruments and make guitars. Developing new products is a passion of mine and currently have 6 patents, along with hundreds of original guitar designs. Madison is a great place for musicians and I look forward to serving you and the local scene. Thinking globally and acting locally, making sure that the Rockin' is staying alive, world-wide!
Workshop 1
The Garage
Enough space to make guitars and tool parts together. Woodworking space also converts into a spray booth.
Workshop 2
The Woodshed
This is the place to set up guitars and make repairs. It is also where I play a lot of guitars and give lessons too. The woodshed is wrapped in cedar siding and an excellent room for recording.
Workshop 3
Home Office
A More relaxed creative space for Art-work and detailed projects. A great place for multitasking, computer work and yet more guitar playing!!
Have a project in mind? We take custom orders, if you can dream it - we can build it! Also, you'll want to checkout our selection of custom guitars already made and upgraded. We beef up our guitars with the new components and modifications, so as to that make them more awesome and playable. Buy your next guitar, through us, online and get a proper set up, along with any upgrades you might need. Discounts are available for returning customers. Also, if you are close, you can bring your instruments in to my shop and get an inspection or repair you might need.
Open for business, 24 / 7 - 365 days a year for gigging Musicians! (call or text for appointment, no walk-ins Please) Contact: George at (608) 209-0349 gtrgalan@gmail.com
Mad-Rockin’ Guitars
Price Guide
Free Inspections
General Bench rate is $40 per hour
(All prices are subject to change)
Full Set-up $25 - $45
Cleaning - Tuning - Fret dressing - Neck and bridge adjustment - Electronics cleaning - Neck and bridge adjustment - Correct Intonation - Tighten hardware
Hydration - Lubrication
Restringing $25
Plus cost of strings and Set-up
The following may have the cost of new parts and restringing charges added on:
Fret-end dressing $20 - $50
Fret Leveling / re-crowning / polishing $25 - $75
Full Fret job $150 - $275
Fret removal - installation - leveling - crowning - end dressing - polishing
Change Tuners $35
Change Nut $25 (pre-slotted)
Change Nut $65 (blank)
Change Bridge $35 - $65
Pickup Cavity Routing $35 - $55
Vibrato Bridge Routing $75
Pickup change $50 -$75
Pick guard change $25 - $45
Electronics change $25 - $50
Output Jack $15
All repairs and custom work loosely follow the $40 per hour bench rate:
Cracks and breaks, stripped screws, dents and blemishes, paint touch up, refinishing, etc.
Guitar Lessons: One time, hour and a half lesson for $100, otherwise $50 per hour.
Call or text (608) 209-0349 for appointment
$450
Wisconsin Cheeseboard Guitar; fully handmade with maple, walnut and hickory strips. 23" scale length with med-high frets, adjustable bridge and mini humbucker.
$450
Texas Chopping Block Guitar; handmade with maple,walnut and hickory wood. 23" scale length, adjustable bridge and mini humbucker.
Neck-through Construction
Neck through design sends the solid, one piece hickory neck all the way into the body cavity and set in place with wood glues and epoxies. These guitars have wonderful sustain, play-ability and great sound thanks to the solid wood and floating mini humbucker.
$500
Flying V Arturo Fuente with a 24" scale neck and center block design. Internal resonator springs, two humbuckers, 3 way switch and volume / tone.
$450
Red V Oliva with 23" scale neck, center block design and med-high frets. Resonator springs and a floating humbucker with volume / tone controls.
$350
Bible Box Guitar made of cedar wood. Solid hickory neck, with nail fret markers. Internal piezo rod pickup and a "sliver of the cross" styled wood bridge.
Wanted:
Have ideas? Let me know what they are.
M-RG needs talented people who want to get involved. If you are a champion and want to help, I encourage you to get in touch. There is awesome stuff happening here, with lots of plans to expand. I look forward to hearing from you!
George 608-209-0349
gtrgalan@gmail.com
Your custom ideas here
Learn how to make your own cigar box guitar!
Classes available for CBG builds
You can visit the shop hear at M-RG and learn how to build a cigar box guitar of your own. Share our tools and knowledge to make something from scratch or one of the many starter kits available. Sessions like this start at $150, or you can come in and get help finishing that unfinished project you started for less. The only thing cooler than having a CBG is making one yourself.
Leather Rose $350
Heavy duty 3 string CBG with 23" scale Maple neck, humbucker pickups and loads of custom flash.
My Father Cigars $400
4 strings and a Mahogany neck through design, with humbucker under the hood for a superior sound!
Drew Estate $300
Miniature stand bass, with built in preamp and four Poly strings for an authentic acoustic sound.
High end custom My Father Guitars $650
These original instruments are built one at a time, with high end components and design for optimum performance and style.
Loaded with the best components
Quality tone woods and finishes, along with a lot of attention to detail, bringing these favorite CBG pickers to life.
Fix your own darn'd guitar!
Classes are available and the tip jar is always close by, if you want to get some schooling on fixing instruments. Guitars are like vehicles and need to be kept up to work properly. You are welcome to come by and visit the shop if you want, to learn some of our maintenance and set up procedures.