Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

[Zerberus]

is NOT me, and I am proud to not be affiliated with that company.

After looking at their website for the first time in about 5 years, it DOES appear that they have improved, I no longer see GFS "Fastloader" trems and similar bottom of the barrel hardware, but rather Gotoh, Wilkinson by Gotoh and Schaller. Apparently no Floyds at all, my speculation as to why I will keep to myself.

It also appears that Frank has built up to the point of a one man custom shop, but I'm fairly certain that most of the instruments as well as the pickups are still MIK.

I post this only because I currently have 8 people on this forum incorrectly assuming that I am part or the owner of this company.

There is no Zerbeguitars website, nor will there presumably ever be one, as is the case with many if not most small luthiers.

Thank You for your understanding.

PS:Those that wish to see previous works can search for "Suc Custom" (the actual name has a faux accent over the c but my keaboard won`t let me do that).... However, no photos of these instruments exist that I have knowlede of, those that did exist were lost in a harddrive crash well over a decade ago.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Got it. Can't vouch for anyone else.

Let's face it, if somebody needed to communicate with you about constructing a bespoke instrument, the obvious things to do would be to either ask you directly in-thread or to shoot yez a Personal Message.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

I'd be surprised if anyone that actually knows you could make that mistake.

I mean from the photos they are visually intriguing but have absolutely nothing to do with what you're known for, Floyded superstrats.

As for a website for a one-man shop, it's not that bad of an idea, a mission statement (Floyded Superstrats, 'nuff said) a contact form or facebook link or sth plus a gallery with some of your past work. Nothing overcomplicated but still there for those wondering what your work is like/about.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

I'd be surprised if anyone that actually knows you could make that mistake.

I mean from the photos they are visually intriguing but have absolutely nothing to do with what you're known for, Floyded superstrats.

That is actually a misconception, that is merely my PERSONAL preference for a "working" guitar. Most of the instruments I have built were more off the wall, avant-garde designs dreamt up by the customer, in the vein of an Auerswald, Ritter, or Teuffel. Though there were of course also strats, teles, LPs and whatnot

As for a website for a one-man shop, it's not that bad of an idea, a mission statement (Floyded Superstrats, 'nuff said) a contact form or facebook link or sth plus a gallery with some of your past work. Nothing overcomplicated but still there for those wondering what your work is like/about.

Yes and no. I feel that a website is good for advertising, but deep down I also feel that if you need one you either have too much downtime where you`re not building /repairing instruments, or you have an ego problem (which I amittedly DO, lol). For example, if you`re already quoting a year`s wait for a custom build and then add additional business through an online presence, your wait times and /or prices just start going up, up up... to the point where many lose interest. around 1999 I was actuall up to 1,5 years and stopped taking orders until mid-2000, shortly before life started passing around a few year`s worth of sour grapes, which closed the shop and led to major changes, includiny me signing up for this forum

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Wait so you are a professional luthier and at one time in a professional band on the verge of going big?

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Yes

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

With your skill set why not open up a shop or even expand your operation to a larger scale or you would rather keep things on a smaller level?

 

[tc]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Let's face it, if somebody needed to communicate with you about constructing a bespoke instrument, the obvious things to do would be to either ask you directly in-thread or to shoot yez a Personal Message.

Nein nein nein nein nein!. If I needed to communicate with Zerberus, the obvious thing to do would be to make an offering consisting of gigantic puppy treats made out of ground (but still living, don't ask how) virgin.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Ah, yes. I forgot that Zerb is a deity, temporarily adopting human form.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

With your skill set why not open up a shop or even expand your operation to a larger scale or you would rather keep things on a smaller level?

That is exactly what I am currently working on, reopening. Unfortunately, 600$ /month doesn`t leave much money for tools after rent and food. Just yesterday a buddy brought me his (late) father`s planes, rasps, and saws, and I need another month to pay the second half of the 50$ we agreed upon. 2 -3 months after that, I might be able to afford clamps... so on and so forth, until tools with a total market value of approximately 500$ are actually here, ready to use. And then I have to figure out where and how exactly this is going to go down, as I have 180sy feet of space, one room, that I also have to eat, sleep, store anything else that`s part of my life, and otherwise live in.

Or I could rent a workshop smaller than my apartment for 450$/ a month and live under a bridge.

Those are very literally the only viable options at this time.


50 bucks says somebody will tell now me to get a (better) job to have more income, not having any idea (or caring) that I`ve been actively searching for about 2 months, and until Dec 21 was actively involved in formal training to expand my skill set and with it my marketability as an employee, so as to actually find said job and be qualified for it.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Well I wish you all the luck in the world man If I had the money to help invest I would. But the next time I'm in the market for a custom guitar ill look you up.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Well I wish you all the luck in the world man If I had the money to help invest I would. But the next time I'm in the market for a custom guitar ill look you up.

+1.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

So is this like a former associate/acquaintance of yours trying to cash in on a rep you established back then? I mean, I always took the name "Zerberus" to be a twist on "Cerberus" - or was Zerberus his twin I never heard of? Just seems like a galactic coincidence that two people would say "Hey, instead of Cerberus, we'll be Zerberus, cuz it's got a Z" :lol:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

So is this like a former associate/acquaintance of yours trying to cash in on a rep you established back then? I mean, I always took the name "Zerberus" to be a twist on "Cerberus" - or was Zerberus his twin I never heard of? Just seems like a galactic coincidence that two people would say "Hey, instead of Cerberus, we'll be Zerberus, cuz it's got a Z" :lol:

No, the similarity is AFAIK pure coincidence. "Zerberus" is actually quite a common misspelling in german.

I`ve been known by my friends a Zerberus or Zerb since I was 15 and my math teacher said "Sei ein braver Zerberus" (Be a good Cerberus) when I would get a bit rambunctious. But I have never actively used the moniker in any luthierie setting, only as a musician.

I met Frank a few years ago at the Musikmesse, 2009 I think, already knowing about the company as such. As a person he`s cool, and he`s quite knowledgable, as well. My only beef is with designing guitars, having them manufactured in Korea, and then advertising yourself as a "handmade custom shop". That`s why I make every effort to distance myself from his products, as that is not something I need anywhere near my resumé. It`s "beneath me", if you understand what I mean.

His shop is actually only about 150 miles away, if these lived up to the handmade custom shop definition that I view as the only one with validity, which is "everything is made in house except hardware and pickups", I probably would have asked him for a job years ago and alluded to myself being the only true Zerberus at that time.

So no foul play there as far as I can tell. :beerchug:

 

[tc]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

So is this like a former associate/acquaintance of yours trying to cash in on a rep you established back then? I mean, I always took the name "Zerberus" to be a twist on "Cerberus" - or was Zerberus his twin I never heard of? Just seems like a galactic coincidence that two people would say "Hey, instead of Cerberus, we'll be Zerberus, cuz it's got a Z" :lol:

When I googled "zerberus" to see the guitars I also got a Wikipedia link in German for Kerberos where it lists "Zerberus" as one of the variations on the name, and the guitar website is in German, so I guess that's where it comes from.

Edit: Zerb beat me to it.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

HAHAH **** man.......:knockedou

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

No, the similarity is AFAIK pure coincidence. "Zerberus" is actually quite a common misspelling in german.

Ah, that makes sense. Maybe if you changed it to Gerberus, the 3-headed baby? :lol:

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Since we have the umpteenth wave of this.... Zerberus Guitars

Maybe you should just go with a completely different name to avoid confusion.

I suggest "Happy Puppy Guitars"