Today we’d like to introduce you to John Pavek.
Hi John, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in southeastern Montana in an area known as the “High Plains”. It’s over 3,000 feet in elevation but so arid it’s nearly a desert. In this landscape the climate is harsh, soils are poor and about the only thing that grows is prairie grass. I was also the last of eight children, my father having been born and raised through the Great Depression. A frugal rearing together with few local resources ingrained in me a strong “reduce, reuse, recycle” ethic long before it was popular. So, it made sense as I grew and began to develop a woodworking hobby that I would use as many reclaimed items as I could find. Having begun playing guitar at 14 and having been a contractor for nearly two decades, along with my woodworking passion, a future building guitars seemed inevitable, but being lucky enough to do it for a living never seemed within reach. I moved my family to Charleston in 2018 for the weather and so that my wife could apply to be in the City Market downtown. At the time my contracting business was still going strong and guitar building was still just a hobby (albeit, one that consumed all my free time!). I got a chance to apply for a booth space at the Charleston City Market in 2020 and was accepted. One thing led to another and I’m now able to only make guitars for a living! I still exclusively use reclaimed wood and will continue to do so. We also have effects pedals and tube amps in the design and prototype phase that will be coming sometime in 2022 along with opening a showroom in Mount Pleasant in early 2022 located inside Mount Pleasant Music.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The musical instrument business is largely going to an all-automated production model, and pricing reflects that. It’s difficult to compete with a guitar built overseas in the area of price, so we’ve decided to focus on quality and uniqueness.
We’ve been impressed with Reclaimed Rhythm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a one-of-a-kind electric guitar maker located in Mount Pleasant, SC with retail space in the Charleston City Market and soon Mount Pleasant Music. We use local, reclaimed wood and hand-wound pickups. We strive to make a unique product that is still familiar and comfortable. Our vision is not just to make great guitars, although that is also part of the mission. We want to help each musician find their own sound. With this in mind, our current efforts are on what our company president, John Pavek, calls the Reclaimed Rhythm “Sound Solution”. We have extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of various playing styles and how all parts of a guitar rig interact together. We can help you find that signature sound that you’re searching for to set you apart from other players and bring new life to your mix. We don’t just make great-looking, sounding, and playing guitars, we make your sound.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I LOVE the pace of life here! And I struggle mightily with the humidity!
Pricing:
- unique electric guitars starting at >$1,000
Contact Info:
- Email: reclaimedrhythm@gmail.com
- Website: www.reclaimedrhythm.com
- Instagram: Reclaimed Rhythm
- Facebook: Reclaimed Rhythm
- Youtube: Reclaimed Rhythm
