About Michale Lipe:

Michael Lipe has been building guitars for the biggest names in music business for over 25 years. During that time he was a Senior Master Builder in several of the Major Name Custom Shops in the USA. Michael Lipe is considered as one of the top10 luthiers in world, one of the two most important master builders in Ibanez history and certainly the single luthier with most superstar guitar players in his credit list.
 
Pro-GuitarPlayers & Collectors most often associate Mike's name with the Ibanez Endorsers Custom Shop USA on Case ave Hollywood. The guitars build there were made exclusively  for  Ibanez  endorsed  artists, none would be resold or made for customers or dealers. Mike Lipe & Mace Baily were the only master builders there, they had built nearly everything that was on MTV with reign from 1989-1994. Michael Lipe certainly has had direct impact in the Ibanez commercial growth, he has worked with Jazz legends, Rock Icons and Super Virtuosos on developing creating and building their own signature models. To this date many custom shops work closely with  Mike Lipe, for example, all the warranty services and custom modifications on ZEMAITIS (guitars costing $10,000 and over) are done exclusively through Mike Lipe. The guitars built by Mike are priceless exhibits on the walls of the Hard Rock Cafes, Museums, and Private Collections. One such example is the Kurt Cobain's Starfield guitar at the Guitar Center's Walk of Fame, which was built by Mike back in the early 90's.

Excerpt from lipeguitars.com:

"Mike Lipe is one of the most respected names on the Los Angeles music scene. He has been playing guitar for over 36 years, and has had more than 25 years experience building and customizing guitars for some of the biggest names in music.

Starting in the mid 70's, working in a music store, Mike learned the demanding craft of woodworking and finishing from an old violin maker. After eight years at the music store Mike left to work for guitar manufacturer "MIGHTY MITE". In 1983 Mike went into business for himself and became L.A.'s original "Guitar Doctor". After six years of building and customizing guitars for some of L.A.'s most respected musicians, Mike's business was purchased by IBANEZ in 1989. At IBANEZ Mike helped to create a custom guitar shop on the West Coast where he was a master builder of fine guitars for IBANEZ endorsers throughout the United States. After leaving IBANEZ, Mike went to YAMAHA. Here he worked on the assembly and quality control of the "PACIFICA" line of guitars for two years.

Mike worked for HOFNER (known as music group) , FENDER warranty service center for World Music in Santa Clarita CA and is on his own as LIPE GUITARS U.S.A. Is now doing warranty service in the USA for "ZEMAITIS GUITARS".
Custom modifications available for Zemaitis through Mike.

Guitars that are hand built, by a master."

CLICK HERE to read more about Michael Lipe at his website.

A few of the players that Michael Lipe has built guitars for:

• Coco Montoya
• Mark Karan
• Carlos Santana
• David Bowie
• Sting
• Joe Satriani
• Steve Vai
• Charlie Sexton
• Paul Stanley - KISS
• John Fogerty
• Brian May - QUEEN
• Paul Gilbert - Mr. Big
• Delaney Bramlett
• Ritchie Kotzen
• Tommy Shannon - STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
• Steve Hunter - LOU REED
• Otis Rush
• Martin Borre - JETHRO TULL
• Reb Beach
• Rocky George - SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
• Jennifer Batten - Michael Jackson
• Scott Henderson
• Frank Gambale
• Tracy Guns - L.A. GUNS
• David Hidalgo - LOS LOBOS

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