OverDrive Custom Guitar Works was founded in March 2009 by an overwhelming support of a Gilmour style Black Strat replica build project that I published in January 2009 on my Military Gear HQ web site.  I received numerous requests to produce some of the custom parts involved in the Black Strat Project, that most everyone looking for these unique parts stated that there would be a genuine interest among fellow Strat builders to purchase these items.  I was a bit reluctant at first, but after some insistent nudging from prospective customers I began producing the recessed mini-toggle switch mounting bracket that allows you to mount a pickup selection mini-toggle switch on the under side of the Strat pickguard which then presents only a small portion of the toggle lever (1/4") protruding through a small slot in the pickguard, this is the same style that is found on Gilmour's now famous Black Strat.  From there I started custom routing the all black 1 ply pickguards to accept the recessed mini-toggle switch mounting bracket system and shortly there-after began custom manufacturing the Gilmour style 4-1/4" shortened Strat tremolo arms.

I have since expanded my product offerings to building complete and fully loaded custom Black Strat pickguard assemblies all ready to drop into your favorite Strat body. Every component of these assemblies is hand selected for the highest quality and authenticity to the original components in Gilmour's Black Strat.  Recently I have employed a specialized shop that is custom manufacturing the all black 1 ply 0.120" rounded and polished edge Acrylic pickguard that already has the recessed mini-toggle switch slot ready to accept my mini-toggle switch mounting bracket system, these acrylic pickguards complement my complete pickguard assemblies wonderfully with their authenticity to the original. I also offer complete fully loaded pickguard assemblies with any of the various Fender Custom Shop or standard pickup sets with your choice of pickguards and accessory colors for your custom Strat build project.  I am also implementing some very unique pickup selection modification switching arrangements that you will not find anyone else doing, check out my full product line under the "Guitar Parts & Accessories" in the above menu.

Take a look around at the various parts, accessories, kits and custom guitars I am currently offering. Things are changing quickly around here to introduce new items all the time.  I am an authorized Seymour Duncan, Fender and Allparts dealer and are continuing to expand my inventory of genuine Fender parts and accessories dedicating our sales to the Fender Stratocaster, whether you are a custom Strat builder, repairing a broken Strat or looking to restore one in need of a little TLC, I have the parts you need.  I am constantly looking at new ways to expand upon my current product lines, so stop by often and see what new ideas and projects I have to offer.

It's sort of hard to imagine how a single custom built guitar project that was published on a Military Surplus web site was the beginning of OverDrive Custom Guitar Works, and it has since grown into a most enjoyable business dedicated to the Fender Stratocaster guitar that attracts customers from around the world. With unprecedented and immediate growth of OverDrive Custom Guitar Works it allowed me to shut down my auto repair business of 7 years and dedicate my time and resources to much more creative endeavors, my custom guitar projects.  It was a good thing to shut down the auto repair shop, it was quite depressing having to be the bearer of bad news day in day out to every customer who's car or truck has just broken down and needs repairs and to have to tell them it's going to cost $$$ to fix. They were not looking forward to spending the money since it was an unexpected break-down, which in turn was an unexpected expense, and I did not like constantly being the one telling them how much it was going to cost, it was a necessary evil that went with the business and I understand that, but I was always the "bad guy" with the bad news, I could almost always sense an unhappiness in their demeanor when it came time to pay their bill... The way I look at it is that the auto repair business is a "Bummer Business", it is not a happy one, no matter which way you looked at it, and I'm glad it's all behind me now...  Now on the other hand with the guitar business, it's completely the opposite, customers want to purchase that new custom pickguard assembly, replacement pickups or just a few parts to repair or restore an old guitar, they are looking forward to the improvement, enhancement or just getting their guitar working again, they are anxiously (in a good way) awaiting the arrival of their new purchase, it's so much happier and fulfilling of a business in knowing that I am assisting musicians throughout the world in achieving the tone they're looking for in their guitar and in effect furthering their craft. And I in turn am much happier working on a guitar than working on a dirty greasy vehicle any day...

Machining Deluxe Strat tremolo arms on the lathe.