I went on a great adventure with my good friend Ronnie Czajkowski, master carpenter for Bruce Springsteen, who has also worked with Dead & Company and Billy Joel. Ronnie, after many phone calls, got me an audience with Johnny Depp. As I worked in my shop and watched his defamation lawsuit I really felt a […]
Stephen Colbert’s interview with Bruce Springsteen begins with a round of show-and-tell. The Boss goes first, and he shares the story behind the legendary “Born to Run” guitar. As Bruce shares its history, he gives credit to New Jersey native and master Luthier/Engineer Dr. Phil Petillo. Bruce was 22 at the time and purchased the […]
The last bunch of pics from the Nils Lofgren tribute guitar I did for Kyle and Carol! Nils signed the pickguard I made for Kyle and Carol when they met him at a concert. I handmade all the pieces on this beauty from the Spalted maple pickguard and tremolo cavity covers, the back battery cover […]
This was a fun project! I made this for Billy Joel’s lead guitar player Tommy Brynes! Check out the process! The engraving method was a wood burning style with small soundhole windows for the eyes and nose of the skull!
I had to get this black Gibson Chet Atkins guitar done for the Billy Joel show last Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York. This guitar is used on Billy’s song The Entertainer. I did two weeks work in two days. I was at the mercy of the glue drying on the bridge and […]
Check out Billy Joel’s Fender anodized gold tremolo cover with secret engravings dyed black of President JFK and Beethoven in the scene. Boxing has a deep meaning to Billy Joel. He was bullied as a kid and learned to box to defend himself. He has a great respect for the sport. I hope you all […]
Bass Specs: 1) top: two piece book matched German quilted maple with laminated thin Nigerian ebony center body highlight 2) back body: two piece book matched American Alder with European inspired geometric inlay design 3) neck: nine piece laminated (made of American birdseye maple, Nigerian ebony and German white holly/handmade lathed stainless steel inserts in […]
Boxing has many meanings to Billy Joel. Growing up he learned to box to help him defeat bullies and it has symbolism for fighting in the music industry to become one of the world’s greatest. The pickguard is made of black phenolic. Phenolic can take seasonal changes without cracking. My Father (Dr. Phil Petillo) used […]
I worked all night till 3am getting this guitar ready for the 2012 Grammy Awards. Rick “Chainsaw” Lapointe brought it in the night before leaving for the west coast. Rick is a sweetheart and a veteran in the music business. I was so happy Patti enjoyed the guitar after my restoration for the Grammys. I’m […]
This was a deep and special project I got to be a part of. Last December 14th, 2016 me and Laura Appello were invited by music, film and TV industry veteran Bobby Chirmside to the Rick Springfield Stripped Down show at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank New Jersey. Bobby is a dear friend […]
Steve Forbert’s 1949 SJ Gibson restoration. Steve has been a longtime dear friend of my Father (Dr. Phil Petillo). This guitar has been through hell in a good way. So many shows and also travelled the world. The frets needed some attention. A lot of repair guys/techs would recommend a refret in its present state […]
I had to get this black Gibson Chet Atkins guitar done for the Billy Joel show last Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York. This guitar is used on Billy’s song The Entertainer. I did two weeks work in two days. I was at the mercy of the glue drying on the bridge and […]
