Meet Jim Galinato

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Galinato.

Hi Jim, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I started this journey, first as a guitarist for several Southern California bands that shared the stage with most of the well-known Rock/Metal bands of today.

It Started when my wife bought me a guitar kit for Christmas, I sanded, prepped, and painted it, built it, and soldered all the electronic components. that guitar plays great and I play it all the time. I have a friend that builds awesome guitars (JLE Guitars) and I asked him if he can help me build a guitar from scratch from getting the pieces of wood to completion. I’ve always had an entrepreneur kind of mind, so I wanted to build more guitars from scratch and sell them eventually but that process can take up to 6 months to build.

I know a couple of guys that have their own guitar brands that have their guitars manufactured overseas and they answered a lot of my questions on how to proceed, With that knowledge, I spent a few months researching and investigating, and learning my next steps.

I researched quite a few manufacturers and found a great manufacturer that allowed me to start with a very small batch of 6 guitars. I said to myself if I still have these 6 guitars after two years of not selling them. I would donate them to like a School of Rock program at least the guitars can get into the hands of the next generation of guitar players.

I’ve always had a dream of having my own guitar company when I retired. The older you get in age, you have friends and family members that have passed without living out their dreams. Life is really too short and I decided to just go for it and do the best I can with it. My motto now is to live my dreams now. I design all the different guitar models here in Queen Creek, Arizona.

I started Vayper Guitars in 2019, 3 years in, I’m selling my guitars online at a retail store, website, and on all my social media platforms, I’m currently getting my guitars in local music retail stores.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has it up and downs but more on the up. When I started The Vayper Guitars Brand, I wanted to create a brand-new guitar brand that is affordable and built with Quality for all players from beginners to players performing on the biggest stages of the World. The downside for me is not being able to manufacture more guitars, we’re still having issues with our manufacturer with Covid and the High Cost of shipping due to Inflation.

The upside is I am getting my guitars in the hands of players from beginners to pros. I love meeting the players and everyone I meet regarding Vayper Guitars (Retail, Customers, etc.) oh and I get to play all these guitars, I spend time with each guitar playing it and making sure it’s ready for their new homes.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In addition to owning Vayper Guitars, I’m also the host of (All Things Guitars and Music Podcast), where we talk all things guitars and music. I interview musicians, guitar builders, pedal builders, pick-up builders, band managers, and anything to do with guitars and music.

The Podcast Show is available on most Podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, Google, etc.) I also have a Guitar effects pedal company called (Vayper STOMPBAX Company) with 4 different models. In the future, I will be winding my own brand of guitar pickups and making them available to the public. All under the Vayper Guitar Company Brand.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The ability to network with anybody even in different Industries and to collaborate with different people in the guitars industry.

Also, this is a one-man company, I do everything from guitar designing, merch designing, website designing, artwork, and content creating for all our social media platforms and YouTube, I also deliver guitars if local to the Phoenix metro area which is great, it’s an excuse to have coffee or lunch with my customers and get to know them on a personal level. I once was offered over $100,000 to get the company to the next level, but I rather get to the next level on my own terms by working hard to achieve next-level goals and specifically not owe anyone anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vayperguitars.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/vayperguitars
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/vayperguitars
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/vayperguitars
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/vayperguitars
• Other: www.tiktok.com/vayperguitars

Image Credits
Jim Galinato and Nicole Galinato