~ Goldbug Guitars ~

GoldBug Products was founded by Sam “Sandy” Winters after several decades as a professional musician and instrument maker with the purpose of designing and manufacturing the finest metal parts for fretted instruments. Goldbug replacement tuner knobs and bridge pins went into production in the spring of 1997 through a collaboration with foundry artist and musician Daniel Baughman. Their products were first introduced at the 1997 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and were an immediate success, selling out their first production run in three days.

Since that point Goldbug parts have been used by many of the finest guitar makers in the world including Jim Olson, Steve Grimes, Lance McCollum, Rick Baker and Linda Manzer.  Goldbug parts are also used by Gibson Guitars and Martin Guitars. Goldbug  has designed and manufactured  several custom OEM products for special edition guitars by Martin Guitar Company.

“Why not?”

In  2006  Goldbug Guitars came about in response to the question “Why Not?”. Specifically, why not build guitars and design and manufacture ‘all’ the parts?  Why not design all aspects of the guitar to the highest design standards. Why not produce all the metal parts out of precious metals?

“Why not do things that have never been done?”

Goldbug Guitars is the answer to those questions.

Excluding electrical components and some mechanical parts (screws, washers, frets, etc.) Goldbug designs and produces every part of their instruments, including bridges, tailpieces, pickup rings, tuner knobs, tuning machine housings, strap pegs, control knobs, switch tips and inlays. Most metal parts are made of solid sterling silver. Each part has been exquisitely designed with unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail. Goldbug  hardware is manufactured using a process that has been used for centuries to produce fine art sculptures and fine jewelry. Each item is individually cast, one piece at a time.

GoldBug “Tru-Tap” pickups are true coil-tapped pickups that utilize their own original and unique design. Goldbug “Tru-Tap” pickups can switch from humbucker to single coil configuration with virtually no loss of output power, and no battery required. No more weak ‘quack’ when simply shunting off one coil. These pickups are not your garden variety 4-wire humbucker …..count the wires if you want proof.

Goldbug Guitars are manufactured with 50’s era construction techniques. They use ‘long tenon’ neck joints, 17 degree headstock angle, 4 degree neck set back, genuine South American mahogany bodies and necks, solid select hardwood carved tops. They use no CNC machinery, every instrument is built just like they did five decades ago back in Kalamazoo and Fullerton. Sandy Winters’ career spans 5 decades, having played his first paying gig at age 13. He has spent all of his adult life as a professional musician and musical instrument maker and repairman, as well as college instructor, electro-mechanical designer, cabinet maker, and print-maker. He has performed throughout the USA, Europe and the Far East.  He learned his basic wood and metal shop skills at a very young age from his father who was a nationally  respected antique airplane restorer. He has a Bachelors Degree in Music Theory and Composition and a Masters Degree in Music History.