Lakota Custom Designs

Solid Wood, Custom Furniture and Accents for Affordable Prices

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I love to build custom furniture for people. Please let me build for you! To order, please send me an email (jdlakota@gmail.com), give me a call (774-254-4617), or use the quick form below. That's all you need to do to get started. Whether you know exactly what you want, or have just a vague idea, please contact me soon so I can begin planning and creating your piece. I love making furniture and can't wait to hear from you!

Please Enter a Valid Email Address Above, and Also Check Your Spam Box...

A lot of times my replies to your inquiries end up in your spam box, so please keep an eye on both your in box and spam box for my reply. If you don't hear from me within a few days, please give me a call at 774.254.4617. I usually respond the same day or within a couple days, so again, please check your spam folder.

Materials Deposit

For each order, I ask for a materials deposit. This is usually no more than a quarter of the total cost. I accept cash, personal checks, and cashier's checks. I do not accept credit cards.

Turnaround Time

I always strive to complete your project as soon as possible, but depending on how many pieces are currently on order, sometimes it can take a while. The main page and this page both provide a projected turnaround time based on existing orders. My best advice is to get a deposit to me as soon as you can to reserve your place in line when the shop is very busy.

Delivery, Pick Up, or Mail Service

I am located in South-Eastern Massachusetts and offer delivery/pick-up service for local customers (within 60 miles or so for delivery). Pick up is free, of course. Delivery is a minimal, extra charge based on the size of the order, and the rental vehicle I need to reserve to make the delivery (if needed).

For customers outside of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area, and around the world, I will gladly build and ship your order through UPS or a similar carrier. However, I will only ship medium-sized items or smaller items that do not require less-than-truckload freighting. Typically, the largest item I can ship without freighting would be a 5 foot tall bookcase that is 3 feet wide and 12 inches deep. The best way to determine if I can build and ship something to you is to contact me with the dimensions so I can determine if it is within the range of standard UPS.

Very large items require freight shipping, which adds tremendous cost and introduces much greater potential for damage during delivery. As you know, each piece of furniture I make is handmade, so having an item become damaged during its freight journey would cause a big problem in that another version of the same large item would need to be built again.

What is the Consulation Process Like?

To help demistify the consultation process, here is a sample email thread between Lakota Custom Designs and a customer named Ben who wanted a custom-made amplifier cabinet for his older Fender amplifier. Although this thread shows a convenient email design consulation, phone and face-to-face consultations happen just as regularly, and are always based on your preference and availability. Many thanks to this client for allowing Lakota Custom Designs to share this thread.

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"I am interested in having a replacement cabinet made for my amp. I am not sure exactly what the dimensions are but am pretty sure the front is 12in square. This is a photo of an example. I am interested in plain wood rather than having it covered when finished."

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Hi! Thanks for your inquiry. I took a look at the picture. Could you give me more information about this? I am not sure if you want to put the full amp into it, or swap out the components and electronics into a new cabinet (that I would build)?

Thanks again for your inquiry. I would love to build this for you. Best regards - Jeremy"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"I would be interested in having a cabinet identical in dimensions to this one. I would like to have the electronic components of my amp transferred into it so I'm really interested in replacing what my amp is currently installed in.

Do you know around how much something like this would cost? Or does that depend on type of wood or any other consideration? Have you done anything like this before?

Thanks for the quick response! Are you near Boston?

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Hi Ben - I have actually been a guitar player/musician my whole life and would be able to do this very well for you although I haven't done something like this yet. That will certainly look pretty cool when done.

For price, it would range from between $40 to around $120 depending on the type of wood you want to use, whether you want any trim on it, etc. If this price range is doable then we can take it from there. If you have a specific budget you want to target, let me know that and I can give you the most for your dollar based on that amount."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Hey Jeremy,

That price range is doable for me. I am just curious about choice of woods because I have seen that that can effect the sound of the amp in different ways. I don't know enough about this though. I guess I could look into it a bit more but was just wondering if you have any input on that one.

I hadn't thought of any trim or extra details but I guess that's something I would consider. It sounds nice. I was wondering whether you have any other photos you think might apply somewhat to what I'm interested in in terms of wood choice or even including trim that would help me decide.

I saw that you are not too far from Boston so that sounds convenient enough to me.

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Hey Ben - My research on the wood selection question makes me think that a hard wood--maple, actually--would be the best. I have seen this done with MDF, pine, etc. I think maple would give you a really nice tone and work the best. The best way to get an idea of what I can provide is by going to my website and looking at previous projects. How soon would you like to have this made? Also, please have a look at the link below for examples.

Best - Jeremy"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Maple sounds like a good Idea. I've always proffered maple sided acoustic guitars because of the tone from a harder wood. Aside from the choice of wood I don't know about staining or finishing or how either would effect sound of the wood. What options are available for that? I'm not too particular in what I'm looking for, just wondering. I recently got this older Princeton Reverb amp from the late 70s and the cab and tolex are pretty beat up so I figured this might be a nice replacement.

I guess I would probably not want any trim but I don't know if what we have talked about so far gives you some idea of price within the range of what you thought at first. Are there different types of maple that you would recommend?

I'm not in any real rush for it but I would probably decide on something pretty soon.

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Hi Ben - Maple in your choice of finish (or not) would be roughly $70. This is without trim. I only have access to one type of maple (without doing a special order). Please take your time, researching this, etc. Let me know when you know more about the specifics based on sound quality, etc. I think you're going to have a nice clean tone regardless of staining, or not, etc, but you should look into those aspects to ensure that I build and finish based on exactly what you want... As always, let me know if I can help with anything along the way."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Thanks for the info. The price sounds good. I would like it finished somehow but I don't know whether there are different options in the material used over any staining. Id want a shinier finish.

I kind of assume that the staining itself wouldn't change the sound any. But I don't know. Would I have many options for staining? I guess something that would show the wood nicely. Maybe on the darker side.

Thanks again

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Maple looks great with a clear finish or a variety of stains and finishes. I'll note that you'd like a shinier finish for now... Maybe one of the images on our website shows a finish color you would like, if not, feel free to say what you'd like (e.g. "dark tan"; "hazelnut") or link to an image you might find on the internet. Best! - Jeremy"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Hey Jeremy,

I'm also wondering how you will build it to the same dimensions. I guess I'd bring my amp by and leave it? I just don't know how else it would be duplicated. But I don't know anything about this process anyways.

I found these photos online which happens to be the same model amp as mine but just an older version. Mines the silverface type from the late 70s. But I guess something like this as a replacement is pretty much what I had in mind. I assume Id just keep the same speaker grill I have though. I changed the color in one of the photos to closer to what im interested in having mine. A darker brown but not dark enough to not see the wood grain.

I also found this sample of colors to kind of gage the darkness im looking for. Something closer to the one listed as teak but maybe a little lighter. I'm not going to be too particular but just to give some idea.

Let me know what you think

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Thanks for the additional information and attachments. The best thing to do would be to meet in the middle somewhere so I can take the measurements needed to construct it. Somewhere between Boston and Mansfield at a coffee shop or whatever."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"OK that sounds great. So you think you could take measurements and don't need to keep the amp at all to make it? With the finish I have in mind would it still be about 70? I guess the speaker is attached on an existing peice of wood that the grill covers and to the front panel so you could use the one I have and it could be attached like the one in the photo?

Also what is the clear finish that goes on top? Again I don't know anything about this kind of thing but I know the clear finish on guitar bodies effects the resonance or whatever so I was just curious.

Where and when would be convenient for you to meet up and take measurements?

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"This project is especially interesting because it can have multiple levels of involvement by me. For around $70 I can build the cabinet. For anything beyond that it will be more expensive. If you would rather have me take the amp and do the whole project, that is fine, but it is a different quote... What are you thinking?"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Hey Jeremy,

Well here's what I have in mind overall. The cabinet built and finished like we talked about with the proper holes drilled for attaching the handle/amp chassis(the handle I have is a different style than in the photo I sent, just a standard fender). And to be able to swap my grill/speaker board into the new cabinet. I am fine with the price changing because of this. I'm not sure if that changes whether you need to take the amp or just measurements.

I guess I'm basically looking for a duplicate of what I sent you.

Let me know how that compares to what you had in mind originally in terms of amount of work for you/price.

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Hi Ben - I would be more than happy to take care of the entire project for $120. You would drop off your existing amp and pick up the "new" one ready to use."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"OK how long would something like that take? When would you be willing to have me bring it by? I work days so it would have to be after 6 for me. It would basically resemble the photo I sent you? Or at least be a copy of what my amp is currently housed in?

I'm sorry if I keep asking so many questions I don't mean to be a pain.

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Don't worry about it! You should see some of the email threads.. Tomes! :)

Would take around a month given the needs of other projects at the moment. After 6 any weeknight is fine. Weekends work as well. We could also meet in the middle to make it easier.

Yes, except for the finger joinery in the first picture. My goal is to make customers happy. I would take on the project like all others with the goal of you being satisfied with the finished product. The end result will be that it will look like you bought it at the fender store of what not."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"OK that sounds great. Would you need to have my amp for the entire month?

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"If not having the amp for a time is an issue, I can always set this up for scheduling within a week or 2 instead of a month. The only thing is, it may have to wait a bit depending on exactly when I get the deposit and what is currently scheduled.. Right now I am finishing 5 pieces but it looks like in about a week I'll have more room/time in the shop. Otherwise it would have to sit around for at least a week if I got it right now."

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"Hey Jeremy,

I think I'd rather wait a week to bring it by so I'm not without it for more than I need to be. Just let me know when you think a good time might be. Around a week?

Also I found this online (I attached photo) and kind of gives me an idea of what I'm not looking for. Like all the bolts on the front and boxy although I guess it looks like most of the deference is that the edges aren't rounded.. I know you said it will look like it came right from fender and I don't doubt that but seeing this at least put into perspective possibilities of what other people have built.

And let me know what would be the fastest way to get this going. If you need me to bring a deposit by like you mentioned before hand or I guess since it is a week away I could even mail you a check.

Ok thanks again

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Ben, that is actually close to what I would be able to produce, without the bolts. Is the only other issue with what you see in the picture that the edges of each piece of wood aren't perfectly rounded like in the other pictures?"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"I guess the rounded corners are the only other issue besides having the bolts showing. If that is a pain than I don't care all that much. I think also the way that the electronics are raised up from the speaker grill so much makes it allot different from a regular fender box.

Maybe having something that doesn't exactly replicate a fender box is a plus though. Would the amp electronics have to be  separated by wood from the grill and raised up higher like in the newer photo I sent?

What would be the difference in looks between the more authentic fender looking photos I sent yesterday and what you would build for me?

Thanks and I'm still planning on following through with this but just curious

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

Right, right, I didn't notice at first that the latest picture had that separation. Yeah, it shouldn't have to have that at all. My goal is to match the pictures you sent me of what you want. I don't see any problems doing that. I can certainly round the corners and edges as much as possible.

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"That sounds perfect. I'll wait to hear from you and definitely look forward to this.

Thanks

Ben"

From Lakota Custom Designs to Ben

"Excellent. Just so you know, I will probably contact you early next week to get this started. I will let you know if there is going to be more of a delay than that, though. Best - Jeremy"

From Ben to Lakota Custom Designs

"OK Thanks"

Picture of the Completed Oak Amplifier Cabinet

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