The more we research guitarists to interview for our blog, the more we are amazed and truly inspired by what some of you are creating. It takes some level of creativity to even pick up and start to play a guitar. But some of you just don’t seem to stop, even in other areas of your lives, lol.

In our post today we interview a guitarist that truly represents someone that does not settle for the norm! His creativity inspired him to build a custom Steampunk Guitar Stand because he was fed up of the flimsy pipe design. And let us tell you that this stand is on ANOTHER level! It features two drawers for storage, internal lights, a cable holder and even a beer bottle opener!

We just had to chat with Elliot from Altered States Studios! And hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did.

What inspired you to start building custom guitar stands, especially with a Steampunk theme?

I had a hard time placing an expensive guitar on one of those unstable pipe designs. My guitar is like one of my pets that I only want the best for, lol. And I kinda wanted my guitar close to me when I’m just sitting down and chillin out while watching TV. But, my wife has other ideas and calls it too ugly to have in the front room, so it’s kept in the office.

So I was inspired to build something for myself that would be much more stable, feature some storage for capos, strings, and stuff like that. But it also had to look good enough to keep in the front room. So then I was thinking almost furniture-like? And the Steampunk theme was all the rage at the time, so I just went for it!

Can you share some insights into the design process for your unique guitar stands? How do you come up with new ideas?

   I wrote down everything I wanted my custom stand to feature on a piece of paper. Then I took a measuring tape and worked out the basic sizes and dimensions I would be happy with. I had to think about weight distribution here, knowing I could be placing some pretty heavy guitars on it. But I also didn’t want it to weigh a ton either.

Once I have things written down, I’ll usually sketch up something pretty basic as an outline, then chop and change things after that. But the basic core of the stand was done at this point.

What sets your guitar stands apart from standard pipe-type stands that are commonly available?

   Stability, storage, usability, lights, and aesthetics.

Could you describe some of the most challenging aspects of building your Steampunk guitar stands, such as the internal lights and trivet?

   Yes, everything was pretty straightforward really. But I did need a way to make the internal LED lights removable in case they ever broke or I just wanted to change them with something else. I also had to think about the drawers a bit. I could not get sliders for the rails that small, so I had to think about how they would fit and open/close.

The Steampunk theme actually made the build a little easier because it includes a lot of brass piping, which is perfect to hang guitar cables and even stand the guitar on.

How do you ensure that your stands provide both functionality and aesthetic appeal for guitar enthusiasts?

   I make them like furniture. Something that will fit in the living room, and at the same time, kinda does not if that makes sense? The Steampunk Guitar Stand is such a talking point whenever we have people come over. They love the lights when they are turned on.

Many of your stands feature practical additions like drawers and a beer bottle opener. How do these features enhance the overall experience for guitarists?

   Well, the beer bottle opener is obviously a little joke thing I added, but it’s actually kind of cool. But the storage I think is important because I always lose picks and capos and even strings! So I thought why not house them within the stand itself. It’s much easier to just open the drawer after I’m done playing and throw everything in them.

Can you share any memorable or unusual feature customizations on your stand?

   The night before I started to cut all the wood for the frame, I was watching The Amityville Horror movie and was inspired by the front of the house in the movie. It looks so scary but so unique all at the same time, especially in the dark. So when I cut the wood for the front of the frame, I modeled it on the front of the Amitaville House. So in the dark they look pretty close lol. But the only thing being murdered in the stand is probably whatever song I’m learning next, haha!

What types of wood and materials do you typically use in your creations, and why?

   For the Steampunk theme, I went with reclaimed wood and older parts on eBay. So it’s basically recycled in a way? But for some of the parts, I did find them at The Home Depot, so it’s more of a hybrid design.

What future plans or projects do you have in mind for your custom guitar stands, and how do you see your creations evolving in the future?

   I recently made a custom Stealth Guitar Stand! It’s obviously inspired by the Stealth Jet with the matte black look and glowing blue LED’s on the inside. But I doubt it’s under the radar!

It looks like you make more than just custom guitar stands? What else do you make?

   Really anything that inspires me. Obviously, I love guitars and music, but I also love bringing back lost arts like the Kaleidoscope and metal casting products. Creating things makes me happy no matter what it is. I have to be bringing something into the world or at least work toward it. Some people like to meditate or play golf to relax. I just like to create things. Hope that makes sense?

Can you tell us about Altered States Studios?

   Love to! Altered States Studios is my small business that is home to everything I make. I wanted a website where I could post new things and write about my process on a blog. I really need to add some new items I’ve made to it soon, but I have a plan to start posting much more and be more active on our social media accounts because that’s how you found us after all.

And the name “Altered States Studios” was picked because I feel that creating art and unique products can alter the state of your mind. It sure puts me in a better mood, lol. But if someone looks into a kaleidoscope I made, they are always like “Wow, this is so cool and so different!”

I added the “Studios” at the end because I also like to create music and make short videos/films so thought the studios part worked with that direction.

What advice would you give to other creative people looking to make stuff?

   Man, just do it! Start it today! Do a little at a time, and that usually builds up inspiration to keep on going until the end. I’m not the best guitarist, but I keep playing because I love it. The more I do that, I improve and feel good about doing it. And that’s the same as making something new. Each item you make gets better and better, and before you know it, someone is asking you to make them one.

I also watch YouTube videos to get inspiration and be in awe of what other people are making. Don’t let it deter you by thinking you could never make something as good as that! I don’t pick up a guitar and think I’m Slash, but if I learn a GNR riff in my own style that’s good enough for me! And that’s how I approach making new things. They are all unique to me and my style, and nobody but

You can find a detailed post all about the Steampunk Guitar Stand here:

The Steampunk Guitar Stand Build Post

If you want to follow Altered States Studios they are at the following links below:

Altered on Insta

Altered on X

The Steampunk Guitar Stand Interview – Final Thoughts

It was a pleasure to interview Elliot from Altered States Studios and learn about his innovative Steampunk Guitar Stand. His passion for creating functional art pieces is truly inspiring. Elliot’s story is a testament to the incredible creativity within the guitarist community. We hope his journey motivates you to pursue your own creative projects.

If you enjoyed this interview and know someone doing amazing things in the guitarist community, please let us know. We’d love to feature more stories like Elliot’s. Thank you for reading, and a big thanks to Elliot for sharing his inspiring work with us. Keep creating, and stay inspired!