What: Custom electric guitars.
* Company: J Backlund Design
* Address: 100 Cherokee Blvd., Suite 123
* Website: www.jbacklund.com
* Telephone: 643-4999
* Owners: Bruce Bennett and Kevin Maxfield.
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Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press - Bruce Bennett, owner of J Backlund Designs, shapes the neck of a custom electric guitar while at his shop in the Chattanooga Hamilton County Business Development Center on Tuesday.
* What’s special: J Backlund guitar models feature a “retro futuristic” design rife with swooping curves and winged edges.“Electric guitar design has been at a standstill for the last 60 years,” co-owner Bruce Bennett said. “Ours are the next leap.”
* The origin story: In 2001, Bennett met John Backlund, a Rapid City, S.D.-based truck driver and hobbyist artist responsible for the company’s instrument designs, through an online messaging board. In 2005 Bennett partnered with Kevin Maxfield, who came up with a viable business and financing model for building the instruments.
* How long does it take to make: Depending on the degree of ornamentation, guitars can take 60 to 80 hours to build.
* Where it’s sold: Directly via the company’s website and its studio/storefront.
* How long have they been making them: J Backlund Design opened its studio in the Small Business Development Center in 2007.
* Future expansions planned: J Backlund Design is seeking investors to fund overseas production of some models to place the guitars in domestic retail stores. Bennett said he’s also exploring expansion of the company’s line of amplifiers and effects pedals.
* Lessons of the trade: “Never start without the funding in place,” Bennett said. “No. 2: schedule at least three times more time to get something done than you think you’ll need.”
Casey Phillips has worked as a features reporter in the Life department for three years. He writes about entertainment, young adults, animals and people of interest. Casey hails from Knoxville and earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism and a bachelor of arts in German. He previously worked as the features editor for Sidelines at Middle Tennessee State University. Casey received the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists Award of Excellence for Reviewing/Criticism in ...
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