Sims Custom ShopReviews 135

Patrick (Van Gogh) Sims turned my plain white Fender Stratocaster into a work of art.
I was hesitant to paint my guitar so I looked at the work Pat Sims produced on his web site.
I was shocked at how well the paint and finish looked when I opened the return box.
The Guitar Center repair rep who reassembled the guitar said "It's the nicest finish that he's seen on a custom guitar" Store customers were noticing it too. So pleased to have worked with Pat Sims on the guitar, and now I have a custom Race Red Stratocaster that looks like art.
Thanks again Pat!
-Steve

I bought a guitar body that had previously been swirled and clear coated by someone else (not Sims Custom Shop). The clear coat that was on the body wasn't great though. I had Sims Custom Shop re-clear the body, buff it and polish it. The results were literally fantastic! The body looks absolutely perfect and the clear coat is like glass, literally. Perfectly flat. Perfectly smooth.

I was so impressed that I sent Sims one of my other guitars for a full refinish, which I'm so excited to see!

Communication was on point. I was kept in the loop the entire process. Shipping was fast. The work is flawless.

I had pretty high expectations about the new paint design I had in mind for my Warwick GPS Corvette. After talking it over with Patrick I was pretty confident he understood exactly what I was aiming for. I couldn't wait to see the results. I wanted a rock&roll retro look on a German bass. Well I just got the body back and I was blown away by just how Patrick at Sims Refinishing was able to nail my vision. They even exceeded my expectations and I'm already getting ready for my next project. I recommend Sims Refinishing to anyone that is looking for the highest level refinishing on your guitar or bass. And yes, they hand cut and painted the checker binding pattern. Excellent

I had originally contacted Patrick because I had a natural colored Suhr Modern Satin that I absolutely loved, but wanted refinished.
Obviously with this guitar being in the 2-2400 price range, I was looking for someone who would do the job right the first time, and pay extra attention to detail.
I had originally been deciding between 3 different colors (Daphne blue, pearl white, or shell pink) and Patrick called me on the phone and took the time to explain the pros and cons of each color, his experiences refinishing guitars in each of these colors, and the pros and cons of Satin / gloss finishes.
With Patrick's help, we decided on a satin Shell pink, and it turned out immaculate.
I also had Patrick replace the original pickups with the same Suhr Pickups (but in white)
His wiring was incredible and clean. (See photo)
Patrick never ships out a guitar he isn't 100% satisfied with, because it's his work on display.
Needless to say, Patrick was friendly, kind, always willing to call you and explain the process or any details of the job / hiccups (if any) encountered along the way.
Patrick is a true artist and a master of his craft. His work is some of the cleanest i've ever seen, and I was 100% blown away by the results. His work exceeded all of my expectations.
Patrick is busy, but rightfully so. If you're thinking of getting a guitar refinished, have the patience to send it to Patrick and get it done right the first time. You won't regret it!

Thank you Patrick for the incredible work.

Overall I am very happy with the service Patrick provided.

I am going to break this review down into two categories. Quality of work and customer service.

Quality of work:

Overall I would give the paint job a 9/10 rating. The paint job is flawless EXCEPT there are some inconsistencies/cuts/ chunks around the bolt holes and input jack. BUT, this could just be being nit picky. The colour and craftsmanship was *******% times better than what I expected and better in person than any of the pictures Patrick had sent me over the duration of the job.

Customer Service:

The job was initially quoted and sent off to Patrick August 29,2018. The project was quoted to take 4-8 weeks.

Overall, the process took 8 months. I received the guitar this April of 2019.

THIS being said, Patrick had a couple of unforeseen issues with my particular project. I am an understanding easy going guy, so I always gave Patrick the benefit of the doubt. However, the only thing I would have liked to seen was stronger communication and follow up. I would sometimes be left 4-6 weeks without hearing an update or any news on the project. That being said, I understand I am not the only person with a guitar that Patrick is painting. But still...

Once the guitar was completed and resolved, process went smoothly.

Verdict:

Overall I am very happy with the service Patrick has provided. Although the communication wasn't top notch, the quality of work definitely made up for it. As a first time user with Sims Custom Shop I didn't know what to expect. Now understanding his process and service and timelines, I wouldn't be as sceptical as I once was in sending Patrick another project.

I have plans to send Patrick another guitar in the future.

Hope this helps for anyone looking to send Patrick a guitar!

- Jamie

If you want a flawless - vibrant finish with the most acute attention to detail - look no further than the one man team at Sims Custom Shop.
Patrick's decades of experience creating & applying some the best guitar paint & finishes in the USA and beyond is unsurpassed.
A pleasure to work with and his communication during your commission and post delivery follow up is 1st class.
I have zero problems recommending Sims Custom Shop for all your guitar finish needs.
I will be doing many other projects with Patrick myself for my Lust for Tone Guitar division.
Flawless work takes time and dedication so don't rush an artist. Respect the craft.