J. Backlund Design was formed to bring the fantastic guitar designs of John Backlund from concept to world-class instruments.  Master luthier Bruce Bennett and entrepreneur Kevin Maxfield established the J. Backlund Design shop in 2007 at the Chattanooga Business development Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Today, our company makes four J. Backlund models, with more designs in development.  It is our goal to produce cutting-edge guitars that are not only retro-cool to the eye, but offer the highest standards of tone, balance, playability, finish, and stability that can be achieved.

John Backlund, Designer

Designer John Backlund has been an "on and off" illustrator since the early 1970's, when he first published a simple ink-line art cartoon in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  He has worked as a freelancer and staff illustrator for a range of companies, including a manufacturer of collectible stickers for children and a firm that created airbrush illustrations for college-level science textbooks.

He has continued to pursue both commercial illustration and "fine art" in the form of watercolors, several bronze pieces, "found object" sculpture and constructions, and most recently the design of solidbody electric guitars and guitar amplifiers — even furniture in the form of retro-futuristic chairs.

Entirely self-taught as an artist/designer, John is influenced by retro-futuristic design concepts that are reminiscent of the period from the mid-late 1930’s to the early 1960’s.  The terms "Aero," "Rocket," "Streamline," and even "Atomic" are often used to describe his design work.

John has often found himself involved in pursuits besides art and design, including several stints as a reluctant motorcycle salesman, a rather terrible guitar salesman, a very young and inept western Nebraska sandhills ranch hand, and a fairly good flatbed semi-driver running a worn-out Freightliner FLD throughout the Midwestern United States.

Reflecting on guitars and design, John observed, "I like color in my designs.  I like bright things.  I like two-tones that compliment each other.  I like a splash of chrome for contrast, and I like it all integrated into a flowing form that is 'balanced,' well-proportioned, and pleasing to the eye.  Solidbody electric guitars are a tempting and wonderful candidate for my style of design, and being a guitar player for many decades, it’s only natural that they figure prominently in my efforts."

Bruce Bennett, Master Luthier

Master luthier Bruce Bennett has been designing and building guitars since age 14.  A former luthier with Gibson's Steinburger/Tobias division in Nashville, Bruce has created several designs for Warrior Guitars, working with the company from 1995 until 1998.

Bruce also has extensive touring experience as both a guitarist and a technician, which gives him a unique perspective in the design of playable and roadworthy instruments.  He has designed a line of effects pedals, including the well-known "Brown Sound" distortion, as well as custom tube amps and cabinets.

In 2001, Bruce went to work for The Pickers Exchange as a repairman and salesman, while building custom guitars on the side.  It was during this time that he encountered John Backlund through the Harmony Central Forums, where John had posted several very exciting drawings of unique guitar designs.  Eventually, Bruce and John formulated a business arrangement to produce prototypes.

In 2007, Bruce and Kevin Maxfield incorporated Bennett-Maxfield Music, the parent company of J. Backlund Design.

Kevin Maxfield, Business Manager

Business manager Kevin Maxfield first got the guitar bug at age 14, when he picked up his dad’s Harmony Stratotone.  His first guitar was a three-color sunburst ’62 reissue Fender Tele and matching Fender Sidekick amp, purchased the same day his Dad got a matching sunburst Strat.  After that, Kevin was hooked (he still has the Tele).

In 1987, Kevin and his dad visited the Mosrite Guitar Factory in Jonas Ridge, North Carolina, where Kevin acquired serial number two of the first M-88s, and began a relationship with Semi Moseley.  Later, Kevin would become the regional distributor for the Mosrite line, his entry into the music business.

Later, Kevin broadened his music business experience as a DJ for a classic rock radio station, an audio engineer, and a night manager for a recording studio in Nashville.  He has also owned a screen-printing company, which printed tour shirts for several local and regional bands.

Kevin began working with Bruce Bennett in 2004, designing hot-rod mods for inexpensive guitars, and having Bruce do most of the shop work.

Soon after, Kevin began working for the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.  He recently completed a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and quickly began putting his education to good use in developing Bennett-Maxfield Music, Inc. and J. Backlund Design.