John Dannert
This guy needs no introduction. To the masses, he’s John Dannert. To the few, he’s Smilin’ John. I had a friend tell me years ago, “You may be blessed with five in your lifetime.” He was talking about those inner-circle people—the ones who don’t need an explanation because they already understand. You don’t go looking for those people. Somehow, they find you.
Some people bring happiness wherever they go; John brings it everywhere he goes. He’s been there through the chapters, the good, the bad, and all the insanity in between. Those chosen few become part of your story because somewhere along the way, they became part of you. That’s Smilin’ John. My friend, my brother, and proudly part of the Elk Nation.
Kyle Dannert
My street name for Kyle is Calvin. You know, like a character leaning against a Lincoln Continental in an episode of Starsky & Hutch. I call him that, and he probably doesn’t appreciate it. But we’re brothers, so he lets me slide. That bass in this scene? Yeah, it used to belong to Flea.
And in my opinion, Kyle is every bit as talented—and I don’t throw words like that around lightly. And, as a surprise to absolutely no one, this is an Elk Nation first: John and Calvin, two brothers on the Elk site. Now, I’m not their biological brother, but they’ve never made me feel like anything less. I’m just their brother from another mother. Life decides who your brothers are, and somewhere along the way, these two became mine. As for welcoming Calvin to the Elk Nation? Hell, he’s been here all along.
Eric McKenna
Eric McKenna is one of those guys who seems to have lived about five lives in one. Founder of Boogie Street, host of the Eric McKenna Project podcast, DJ on Pickle Radio, and a real estate agent to the stars.
He once told me, “You may be blessed with five people in your lifetime—the ones who will travel that long road with you.” I never forgot it. Somewhere along that road, I realized Eric wasn’t just telling me about the five—he was one of them.
I could say so much more about this guy. Eric is the real deal, and he puts the E in entrepreneurship. Someone once said, “Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” Eric has mentored me simply by the example he sets, and that’s what makes him one of my five. Thanks for the friendship, the lessons, and most of all, the inspiration.
Donald Dunlavey
Donald isn’t an easy man to befriend. He’s seen some things, knows some things, and bullshit has never made it far with him. Don will test you, watch you, and figure your game out quick. And if you think you’re finally in his inner circle, don’t get too comfortable—he’ll let you know. He may just tolerate you. Long before that, Don was a staple of the Macon music scene and knew the Allman Brothers before “Whipping Post” was even whippin.’
Don’s story always reminds me a little of Invincible. You know the movie—the regular guy gets one shot and ends up playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s Don, only with a guitar. When his shot came, he grabbed it, and suddenly this Macon boy was playing arenas with Zac Brown. Opportunity may open the door, but you still have to be good enough to walk through it. Don was.
And did I mention Don builds world-class guitars? An embarrassment of riches, right? If you’re in the market for your own Excalibur, Don can flat-out build it. Just don’t expect it on your timetable—you might get a talking-to. The man’s a master luthier, an original in every sense of the word. But what I value most? He considers me part of his inner circle. Well, I think?
Andrew “The Rap God” Watson
Wait, what? Lee, this is a drummer. He’s not one of us.
Well, I’m making a special exemption for this guy. Andrew’s my boy, and now he’s taken his exceptional talents across the pond to Scotland. Yeah, I’ll let a drummer into the Elk Nation. This drummer.
Why do I call him The Rap God? Because somewhere amongst all that percussive skill, the man can flat-out spit bars. And I’m not talking “drummer thinks he can rap” bars. I mean pro-level.
If you ever run into him, ask him to give you a little Tenacious D. Then stand back and let the man work his magic. Tell him Lee sent you.
Jordan Ziff
Jordan Ziff calls me up one day and says, “Dude, I dig Elvis.” Well, that gold sparkle Strat he’s holding in the picture? Yeah, that pretty much tells you where that conversation went.
The man’s been at it since he was 14, went on to tour with Marty Friedman, no doubt, this guy’s a beast. Now he’s coming out of the cellar with some little-known band called RATT.
But here’s what I appreciate about Jordan—there’s not an ounce of pretension about him. For all that talent and everything he’s accomplished, he’s as down to earth as they come.That’s the kind of guy I’ve always got time for.
Elvis once said, “Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine.” Seems to me Jordan’s running a ZR-1 Corvette engine. Check him out for yourself. Elk Land has nothing but love for this guy.
Sean Sforza
Sean Sforza is one of those guys whose name you may not see on the marquee, but trust me—you’ve seen his work. Sean has spent years in the television trenches as a producer and production manager, working with some of the biggest names in the business, including Netflix, ABC, and 20th Century Studios.
Around here, I’ve always believed talent will get you through the door, but character determines whether people want you back in the room. Sean’s managed to make a career out of both. Hollywood may have him, but we’re damn proud to have Sean Sforza in the Elk Nation.
Ed Lott
Remember those wrestlers back in the ’70s? The ones they’d introduce as weighing 275 pounds and hailing from “Parts Unknown”? Well, that’s Ed Lott. Ed lives somewhere out there in Parts Unknown, and I’m pretty sure that’s exactly the way he likes it.
And before you think this picture was taken in some high-end guitar shop—nope. That’s Ed’s personal Bat Cave. His own private stash of six-string insanity. Rumor has it tucked away in there is one of Eddie Van Halen’s VH guitars, handcrafted by Charvel for the legend himself. Can I confirm it? Nope. But when a man lives in Parts Unknown, they tend to be secretive.
Glenn Jackson
If you see him down at the docks on his yacht, say hello. After all, he’s a man of wealth and taste, you know.
This handsome man is my brother, and of course he shops here. In this photo, he’s grinning like he stole something. Why? Well, as you can see, he’s holding his latest acquisition—a stunning Gibson Custom Shop ’68 Black Beauty—and naturally, he’s flexing the Rolex.
Izzy Miller
Some people dress Western. Izzy Miller lives it. A genuine Western star and media personality, he’s authentic, entertaining and impossible to overlook.
Naturally, he needed a guitar with character. His 1966 Longhorn looks like something found between Piggly Wiggly and Route 66—vintage, distinctive and cooler than the other side of the pillow. Where did Izzy find it? Well, you know.
Joe Mass
Joe Mass is a friend and a Philly-area guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with some serious miles behind him—Michael Sembello, Bootsy Collins, Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl and more.
These days, Joe’s back teaching at Swarthmore and passing it on to the next generation. Great player, good friend, and the real deal. Honored to have him in the Elk Nation.
Bruce Kulick
Bruce Kulick needs no introduction. From KISS to Grand Funk Railroad and everything in between, Bruce has spent a lifetime proving he’s one hell of a guitar player—and doing it without ever needing to tell you so.
The only thing that might outclass Bruce’s ability with a guitar is his kindness and humility. In a business where egos can fill the room before the player does, Bruce is simply a good human being. I’m honored to call him a friend and even more honored to have him in the Elk Nation.
Jim Wideman
Jim Wideman is one of those guys it’s simply a pleasure to know. A pastor, author, speaker and pioneer in family ministry, Jim has spent more than 40 years serving the church and helping others do it better.
But titles only tell part of the story. Jim’s a man of faith, family and service—the kind of guy who reminds me of Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron.” I’m proud to call him a friend and honored to have him in the Elk Nation.
Dave Fowler
Dave Fowler came out of the mountains of Swannanoa, North Carolina, with four strings and a dream, and brother, he made ’em count. Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, Billy Ray Cyrus, Cinderella, Dr. John, The Boxmasters—the list goes on. Touring, studio work, producing, songwriting, television…Dave’s been there, done it, and probably has a better story about it than you do.
Great musician? Absolutely. Better man? Unquestionably. As someone once wrote, “Integrity is telling yourself the truth, and honesty is telling the truth to other people.” That’s what Dave Fowler is all about. I’m proud to call him my friend and honored to have him in the Elk Nation.
Mike Sandman
Mike is one of my five. Another one of my five, Eric McKenna, said it best years ago: “You may be blessed with five in your lifetime.” The people who are there to the end. I’ve known Mike for years, and I knew a long time ago he was one of mine.
Mike and I are kindred spirits—the kind of friendship where you don’t have to explain much because the other guy already gets it. And on top of all that, the man is one hell of a guitarist. One of my five, one of my closest friends, and exactly the kind of guy the Elk Nation is about.
Zevi Solomon
I’ve known Zevi a long time. He’s an Atlanta guy, a good friend who’s been to my house and jammed with me, and one hell of a guitarist. His band is Corsa—apparently Italian for “run,” “race,” or “journey.” I had to look it up. What the hell do I know? I just know the guy can play.
Do yourself a favor and check out Corsa’s video “Lights” on YouTube. The song is killer, but the video itself is something else—the cinematography is absolutely incredible. Great music, impressive work, and a longtime friend I’m damn proud to have as part of the Elk Nation.
Greg Platzer
Greg Platzer is a good friend, straight-up as they come, and has very little tolerance for BS. With 45 years in vintage restoration, repair, and custom builds, his client list says plenty—KISS, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Bon Jovi, Walter Becker, Lita Ford, Skid Row, Blackberry Smoke and a whole lot more.
When Greg isn’t bringing old guitars back to life, you’ll find him playing in Get Petty, a Tom Petty tribute band. Great guitar guy, great player, and more importantly, a good friend. What you see is what you get with Greg—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Don “Dirty” Nichols
“Dirty” Don has been a close friend for decades. To the rest of the world he’s Don—to me, he’ll always be Dirty, a nickname I gave him years ago with nothing but affection. As bandleader of Barbwire & Lace Outlaw Country Band, you can usually find him with his trusty Les Paul, a top hat, and enough Southern pride to fill the room.
Dirty and Barbwire & Lace have been bringing outlaw country to the masses for years—the way it ought to be done. Good music, good people, and the real deal. Check ’em out. Barbwire & Lace.
Kaz Machida
Kaz Machida knows vintage guitars. He should—he’s the man behind Hyper Guitars in Tokyo, one of Japan’s premier destinations for serious vintage gear.
And naturally, Kaz made the grab on something special—a 1976 Gibson Explorer in white, one of only 67 made. Rare, cool and exactly the kind of guitar you’d expect to find in his hands. From Grinning Elk to the Land of the Rising Sun. Yeah, Kaz is Elk Nation.
Kirk McKenzie
Kirk made the grab on this killer 1979 Ibanez Artist 2640—and just like that, another great guitar found the right set of hands.
He knew what he was looking at, didn’t fool around, and pulled the trigger. That’s how you do it. Welcome to the Elk Nation, Kirk.
Doug Aldridge
Doug Aldrich knows his way around a guitar. Dio. Whitesnake. The Dead Daisies. A few million miles of stages, Marshalls and Les Pauls later, you could say the man has earned his stripes.
So when Doug made the grab on this killer Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck, we figured it had found the right home. Some guitars need an introduction. Some guitar players don’t. Welcome to the Elk Nation, Doug.
Ed Turner
I’ve known Ed Turner for 30-plus years, and I’ll tell you straight—he’s one hell of a friend. In a way, Ed and I started our businesses around the same time. We’ve watched each other grind, grow, take a few punches and keep moving forward.
These days, Ed owns Indian Motorcycle of Mall of Georgia. Different machines, same disease—we both still make a living buying and selling the stuff that makes grown men act like twelve-year-olds.
Thirty years later, I’m proud to call him a customer. I’m even prouder to call him my friend.
Brian “The Mug” Milstead
I’ve known Brian “The Mug” Milstead for years, and I’ll tell you this—there are plenty of people who can sing the blues, and plenty who can sing soul. Brian feels it. In my opinion, he’s about as close as you can get to the real definition of blue-eyed soul. There’s grit in that voice, but there’s heart behind it. Nothing manufactured. Nothing forced.
Brian doesn’t just sing a song—he gets inside the damn thing, moves the furniture around, and makes it his own. I’ve heard a lot of singers in my life, and I know the real thing when I hear it. The Mug is the real deal.
Kerry Champion
Kerry is a Georgia boy like myself, and maybe that’s why we hit it off from the start. He’s got that Southern way about him—a sweet soul, a good heart, and the kind of guy who doesn’t have to work very hard at being your friend. It just comes naturally.
There’s something to be said for people you simply enjoy having around, and Kerry is one of them. We share some Georgia roots, a few laughs, and I’m sure more than a few stories that are probably better left right where they are. Proud to call him my friend—and one of the Herd.
Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan is one of those guys who changed the way people looked at his instrument. He didn’t just play bass—he took the damn thing places most of us didn’t know it could go. From Talas to David Lee Roth to Mr. Big, Billy has spent a lifetime proving that four strings are plenty when you know what the hell you’re doing.
But what has always impressed me is the man behind all that talent. Billy is gracious, funny, down to earth, and generous with his time—the kind of guy who has every reason in the world to have an ego and somehow missed that meeting. A monster player and an even better human being.
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa once bought a vintage Fender clock from me. Unfortunately, UPS decided to have its way with it somewhere between my place and his, and let’s just say it didn’t arrive looking quite as vintage as it did when it left. Over the years I’ve returned the favor and bought a slew of cool stuff from Joe, so I guess we’ve managed to keep the guitar economy moving between us.
And then there’s his place. Calling it a guitar collection doesn’t really do it justice—it’s more like walking through a vintage guitar museum where everything happens to belong to one guy. Guitars, amps, history everywhere you look. For a gear nut like me, it’s the kind of place where you could lose an afternoon pretty damn easily.
Jim Pittman
Jim’s my brother from another mother, straight out of Detroit. Funny enough, we met over a conversation about a Gibson XPL, and somewhere along the way a guitar conversation turned into a real friendship.
We think the same way on damn near everything—sports, politics, music, and life in general. Loyal, straight up, and always good for a laugh. Like I said, a brother from another mother, and I’m damn proud to have him in the Elk Nation.
Alton Eddins
Al and I go way back, and when I say we’re tight, I mean it. Back in the ’80s, his band Maxx Warrior was an East Coast metal powerhouse, with CJ Snare and Perry Richardson later going on to form FireHouse. Al also played with David Allan Coe and Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
But forget the résumé for a minute. Al’s my boy, and that means more to me than any name you can put on a marquee. Proud to call him my brother and even prouder to have Al in the Elk Nation.
Drew Winn
Drew Winn is one of those guys I’ve had the pleasure of watching build something from the ground up. When I first met Drew, he was a man of modest means with a serious love for guitars and the knowledge to back it up. Years later, he’s the owner of Guitar House of Tulsa and has become one of the most respected vintage guitar dealers in the world. He’s even appeared on Antiques Roadshow as a guitar expert.
But there’s more to Drew than buying and selling old guitars. He’s a hell of a musician and songwriter too, and has made records of his own—including his self-titled album produced by Tom Bukovac. I’ve watched the whole journey, and seeing where he started compared to where he is today makes me damn proud to call him a friend and a member of the Elk Nation.
Jeff Offutt
Jeff Offutt is one of those guys who seems to have his hands in everything—and does it all well. Owner/operator of Ravens Room Studio in Thompson’s Station and part of the empire at The LowEnd Bass Shop with Brian Barrett, Jeff is seriously talented, well respected, and cool as the other side of the pillow.
More importantly, Jeff’s just a damn good guy. And if you ever meet him, do yourself a favor—ask him to tell you the story about ripping a car door clean off. I’m not telling it here. That one needs to come straight from Jeff. Proud to have him in the Herd, but even prouder to call him a friend.
Dion Edge
Dion is a luthier to the stars, and after all these years, he knows everybody—or at least all the players who matter. He’s a certified Van Halen freak, a fine guitarist in his own right, and a man of faith.
But what I admire most about Dion is his unyielding faith—not to mention the incredible talent. That faith says everything about the man behind the music. Dion isn’t just part of the Elk Nation—he’s a personal friend, and I’m proud to call him one.
Dave Peterson
Dave Peterson is a friend, a curator of all things cool, and a guy who’s been buying the best for years. He knows quality when he sees it, and he’s never been afraid to make the grab when the right piece comes along.
Maybe that’s why we’re kindred spirits—and probably why he shops with the Elk. Good taste recognizes good taste. You can find Dave at California Dreamin’.
Eric Ernest
I’ve been friends with Eric Ernest of Abalone Vintage for decades. To the rest of the world he’s Eric. To me, he’s Double E—his gangsta name, you know. This guy is world-renowned, and when it comes to vintage guitars, there aren’t many sets of eyes I trust more.
Need a Burst authenticated in the parking lot of a Buc-ee’s in Budapest? Hell, he comes to you. Knowledge, experience, and a friendship that goes back decades—that’s why Double E belongs in the Elk Nation.
Brett Coleman
Guy on the right… “Why, you are a strapping young buck. Don’t crush me.”
“Brett, no worries. You can call me Gulliver.”
Now, with all seriousness, Brett knows everybody—and believe it, everybody knows Brett. He’s also got one hell of a collection, some of the finest examples of metaldom you’ll ever lay eyes on. Don’t believe me? Check him out at @gilaguitars. Guitar porn to the max.
Brett’s also my road buddy and a damn good friend. I know Vai knows him, and you should know him too. Exactly the kind of guy who belongs in the Elk Nation.
Wallace Reed
Wallace Reed has been a staple of the Atlanta music scene for years, known for his knowledge, his integrity, and the love he shows to everyone he meets. He’s also an accomplished guitarist in his own right and, more importantly to me, a dear friend.
Wallace is a legend—a first-ticket Hall of Famer in my book. Every time I visit with him, I’m also visiting Chet Atkins, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, and a few other legends through him. The stories, the history, the guitars—Wallace has lived it. He is a living example of a life well spent, someone we should all aspire to be. Proud to call him my friend and have him in the Elk Nation.
Jason Hakim
I met Jason Hakim years ago when he was managing Guitar Center, and somewhere along the way, business turned into friendship. He’s knowledgeable, straight up, and one of those guys whose word still means something.
More than anything, Jason is just a good soul. In this business, you meet plenty of people—but every now and then you meet one you’re glad stuck around. Jason is one of those guys, and I’m proud to have him in the Elk Nation.