Sugi Guitars & Basses

Makoto
“Nick”
Sugimoto
CEO
Chief Design
Engineer / Master
Craftsman
In the 15 years since the founding of Sugi Musical Instruments,
we have grown to become a recognized force in the
Japanese music scene. Our extreme attention to quality
and detail, coupled with our fresh innovative original designs
have been recognized by leading professional musicians
and the everyday musician as well Founded by industry
veteran Nick Sugimoto, and made up of some of the
most talented craftsmen in Japan, Sugi guitars are proud to
now present themselves to the worlds music scene.
Nick has been working in the stringed instrument industry
for more than forty one years. In 1976, he went to United
States for 1 year and studied guitar repair from Kunio Sugai
owner of Performance Guitar Co., also at Hoshino USA.
After he came back to Japan he joined Fujigen Inc. from
1978 until 1992 and Fujigen Hirooka Inc. from 1993 when
Fujigen Hirooka Inc. was established until 2002 . During this
time he worked for 23 years in R&D, custom guitar building
and engineering. He has been the main force at Fujigen in
the creation and engineering of all Fujigen’s design and
manufacturing for twenty years. His designs and abilities
have been indispensable to customers like FENDER USA
and JAPAN, IBANEZ, EPIPHONE, YAMAHA, GRECO,
ROLAND, FERNANDES, CASIO, TOBIAS, and many other
OEM customers and of cource Fujigen’s own brands Heartfield
and FgN. He has worked at the Fender Custom Shop
in 1990 to help in the design work for a joint venture with
Fender Musical Instruments and Fujigen Inc.
In his 23 years at Fujigen he has written up more than
1,500 engineering spec. sheets and engineering packages
for manufacturing. You can see a lot of his ideas in the catalogs
of the brands listed above.
Nick has worked for three different Custom Shops during
his years in the music industry. First he worked for the
“Greco Order Made Section” for two years. Second he
established the “Fender Japan Order Made Section” where
he made or produced more than 500 guitars. Third he established
the “Fujigen Custom Shop”. He has been the
General Director of Fujigen Custom Shop for the last five
years.
Professional Musicians Nick has worked with
StingJaco PastoriusMike PorcaroSamuel Porcaro
Victor BaileySteve BaileyAlphonso Johnson
Steve Vai Bob Weir Joe Satriani Paul Stanley
Paul GilbertPat MethenyJohn Scofield
Adrian BelewYngwie J. MalmsteenSteve Miller
Hojin EgawaMatsuda “Fire” TakumiKyujitsu Katyou
Daiki Takiguchi
and much More….
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