Yesterday, we had the incredible opportunity to work behind the scenes at the sold-out show of Machine Gun Kelly in the Lanxess Arena. We were invited to customize the guitars of MGK’s guitarist Justin Lyons with a series of unique fretlook fretboard designs - and what started as a small backstage project quickly turned into something much bigger.
With more than 18.000 fans filling the arena, the energy was already incredible before the show even began. While the audience waited outside, we headed straight into the guitar tech area to get to work. Surrounded by flight cases, tools, and some seriously beautiful instruments, we began applying custom fretlook designs to Justin’s guitars. First up was his Reverend Sensei. For this guitar we created a bold “Guitar Slayer” lettering complete with a matching logo, turning the fretboard into a true statement piece. Next came the Reverend Roundhouse, which received a striking Statue of Liberty design inspired by the visual theme of the tour’s stage production. Finally, his PRS guitar was fitted with our Lost Americana Blocks, a design that takes inspiration directly from the aesthetic of MGK’s album artwork.
The entire crew was incredibly welcoming and helpful, which made the experience even more special. When Justin saw the finished guitars, he was so excited about the designs that he immediately showed them to MGK and guitarist Sophie Lloyd personally. Their reaction was pure excitement. They loved the designs so much that we were invited to customize their guitars as well - something we had secretly hoped for and luckily prepared for.
For Sophie Lloyd’s Kiesel guitar we created galactic purple Stripes that perfectly matched the shimmering body color of the instrument. For MGK himself, we installed Lost Americana Blocks on his Les Paul and designed a special pink version of the pattern for his Schecter signature guitar.
Watching the concert from the tech area right next to the stage was an unforgettable experience. Our photographer captured amazing photos and videos throughout the night, and one moment stood out above all: MGK’s Les Paul, featuring our custom fretlook design, slowly descended from the ceiling in front of the entire arena. Seeing a guitar with our design floating above 18.000 fans was surreal.
The night ended with happy musicians, a lot of new connections, and even an invitation to the aftershow party. Most importantly, the guitars featuring our fretlook designs will now be used throughout the entire 2026 tour - a perfect reminder for us of what we love most: turning guitars into something truly personal and seeing them come to life on the biggest stages.
