Meet BJ Neblett

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to BJ Neblett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

BJ, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, as there has never been a question of creativity for me; it is something that just seems to come naturally. I’m sure I got it from my mother. She was an actress and always on the go, always into something, be it print ad modeling, doing TV commercials, a recurring part on One Life To Live, movie work, or any of the other dozens of projects she was involved in throughout her career. Mom was always on the go and sparked in me a desire to follow my creative instincts. To that end, I seem to have this voice inside of me, a driving force that keeps me on the edge of something new. I’ve learned to allow it to run free and follow its guidance. And while the path it led me down wasn’t always a successful one, it was indeed always interesting. From a promising baseball pitching career, cut short by service during the Vietnam War, to a long, successful career as a radio and night club DJ, to playing the guitar semi-professionally, to having several of my books and stories professionally published, to building custom and art guitars. As the Grateful Dead put it: What a long, strange trip it’s been. And a fun, exciting one. My muse has never let me down.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I consider myself semi-retired. That’s where you work, but don’t leave the house and get to set your own hours. My work presently is building and selling custom electric guitars and art guitars.
I’ve played the guitar since I was about ten, and have done some semi-professional gigs, including a CD release party at Seattle’s Hard Rock Cafe, and some local touring in support of a few different bands. I’ve also always been a tinkerer. Give me something mechanical and I’ll take it apart to see what makes it tick. That includes guitars. I’ve built and modified a few of my own, and have always been the go-to guy in the group when someone is having a problem with their instrument.
When the pandemic hit, and there was nothing to do, I said, “Why not?” And Custom Scorpion Guitars was born. I am now in my third year of building guitars and have my own website/store: customscorpionguitars.com
My aim is to build the highest-quality affordable guitars possible, with the accent on affordable. I feel my guitars rival those big-name brands selling for two and three times as much. I also work with families who have children wanting to play guitar, but the family can not afford to buy one. I donate several guitars a year and sell others at very reduced prices.
My Art Guitars are an extension of my creativity and very fertile imagination. They range from a guitar built entirely from recycled skateboard parts, to a tribute to working women, to a hand-carved, glow-in-the-dark hippie guitar and more. They are something that really needs to be seen, and are on display on my website. And by the way, all of my guitars, including the art guitars, are professionally built and can be played on stage or in the studio.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’ve always believed that to be a successful writer, you need to have a fertile, vivid imagination and have lived a full life. I think those traits are essential to any artistic endeavors. I was lucky enough to have been brought up in a home where my ideas and desires, no matter how crazy they may have been, were encouraged. My family was supportive during all the ups and downs. I don’t think you really need to be born with a particular skill. If something interests you enough, you can learn it. I believe passion is what fuels talent.
As a child, I was interested in everything. The world, and everything around me, was my education. I learned at an early age to focus my interests. If you are passionate about more than one thing, see if you can’t find a way to combine them. You never know what you can accomplish unless you try.
For those just starting out on their journey, or trying to decide what that journey may be, follow your heart and don’t give up. Failures are just learning experiences. You hear the saying, “Don’t listen to anybody, just do it.” That’s bad advice. Don’t go through life with blinders and earplugs. Listen to everyone and everything. Consider what they have to say. You don’t have to agree with it. You don’t have to accept or follow it. But listen and consider.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I would like to find a young person or two who are interested in learning to build guitars and are as passionate about it as I am. I would like to have an apprentice, someone to work alongside me and learn my process, while investing his or her own knowledge and ideas. Building custom guitars involves many different disciplines, including woodworking and refinishing, electrical and electronic work, and actually involves quite a bit of math. It is a very well-rounded endeavor, and I would like to find someone to possibly take over the business someday.

Contact Info:

• Website: customscorpionguitars.com bjneblett.com
• Instagram: @bjneblett
• Linkedin: bjneblett

Image Credits

All photos are solely owned by BJ Neblett