About Neil Smith owner of Vegas Guitars Custom Shop
Neil is an open book - From musician to social worker to guitar builder
From a splintered family Neil Smith owner of Vegas Guitars Custom Shop was born in Anaheim, CA in 1957 and grew up primarily in group homes and was on his own at 16 & 9 mos. He began working on guitars in 1972. Shortly thereafter he began a successful career as a road musician playing with or opening for such greats as, Sam & Dave, David Clayton Thomas and Blood Sweat & Tears, Delbert McClinton, Jr. Walker, The Chiffons, Bo Diddley (recorded with Bo), Katie Segal, John Tesh, Little Anthony, Richie Havens and many others; Neil's road career also including performing in Canada, 15 U.S. states and as a G.S. 12 (government service) for the troops over seas in South East Asia (Japan, Korea, Guam, Okinawa) - many sites in the demilitarized zone and other remote areas. The work he did for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy earned him one of the first citations awarded an American band by P.A.C.A.F. for outstanding performance on two tours consisting of over 140 performance sites. The Army made him an honorary "Red Horse."
Additionally Neil and his band won 3 song writing awards for original compositions in a self produced record album. He's done many benefit fund raisers including those for, Colorado Women's College, The American Cancer Society, Toys for tots & several for Denver Children's Hospital.
After 17 years of touring, dispite considerable adversity (being hearing impared & dyslexic) Neil attended college and received two degrees in social work with honors and then attended graduate school for clinical social work (counseling).
"The social workers and group home techs I met growing up inspired me - I wanted to do something for others less fortunate than myself." - Neil Smith
During and after college Neil worked with children, seniors and people with mild to severe disabilities as a job coach, group home tech and caseworker for 8 years. Although finding a professional career interesting he decided to return to his first love - guitar.
"Over the years musicians have asked me to work on their instruments - I love the work so it's my pleasure. I think they ask me because, as a former player of all styles I know first hand how frustrating it can be when you have to fight your instrument either tonally or structurally. I understand the demands of different instruments in different styles of playing. Moreover, I've realized that while I love music and playing - I love building and repairing stringed instruments even more." - Neil Smith
Neil has mentored with several giants in the world of stringed instrument repair - foremost is the legendary Jim Anderson of the Notorious Guitar Hospital in Sparks NV.
"I've learned a lot from Jim, he's really the grand poobah of guitar! Also, I've learned from Jack French (Gibson & Heritage), Hideo Kamimoto & the great Irving Sloane; and I read everything I can get my hands on." - Neil Smith
Neil Designed the Pignose "Detonator" overdrive pedal and the Pignose legendary amp stomp pedal called "Piggie in a box." Currently Vegas Guitars Custom shop is the most trusted repair shop in the south & central west receiving guitars from as far away as Denver, Co to repair. Neil is the only Gold Certified Fender repair center in Las Vegas (their highest certification), he is also Fender's only Custom Shop Custom Care Center in the entire states of Nevada and Utah. He is a member of several luthier guilds and certified for over 20 guitar brands. Some of his clients are: Little River Band's lead singer and bassist Wayne Nelson, Mariah Carey's bass player Lance Tolbert, Bruce Rickerd (guitarist for Cirque du Soliel Mystere), Melle Vasquez (guitarist for Cirque du Soliel Zumanity), Steve Crenshaw (Doug Kershaw's guitarist), and many others including Blue Man Group, Zowie Bowie, Love, Strange Brew, Cirque du Soliel Elvis and many many more . . .
Neil's Vegas Guitars Custom Shop is the only repair shop in town that guarantees all work. If you want to know anything else about Neil - just ask him.
"I treat everybody like a best friend until they give me a reason not to - after all we only get one go round on this planet right!" - Neil Smith
Written by Denver journalist Dan Raymond
