How Mississauga's Mike "Smitty" Smyth Helps Independent Artists Thrive
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The strength of a community is built upon supporting others and one independent Mississauga business owner is doing just that. Enter Mike “Smitty” Smyth, founder of MJS Custom Pickups, who helps independent artists thrive.
Strength in Small Circles: How Independent Artists and Businesses Can Thrive Together
In today’s creative economy, independence is both a badge of honor and a brutal challenge. For many artists, especially those outside the mainstream, growth often hinges on securing arts grants—lifelines that are increasingly competitive and unreliable. But what if sustainability didn’t depend on institutional support? What if it could be built from the ground up?
Smitty has spent nearly four decades crafting high-quality guitar pickups. More than that, he’s been quietly championing a movement: one where independent artists and small businesses collaborate, uplift, and grow in harmony.
The Journey of Craftsmanship
Smitty’s journey began with necessity. He started fixing guitars at a young age and built his first at 19. He later did repairs for several GTA music stores. Frustrated by the lack of pickups that matched the instruments he worked hard to build, he started making his own. “Poorness,” he jokes, was the spark. Encouraged by legendary luthier William “Grit” Laskin, he began offering pickups to the public—and MJS Custom Pickups was born.
His innovation wasn’t just technical, it was relational.
Collaboration Over Competition
At MJS, pickups aren’t mass-produced—they’re co-created. Every product begins with a conversation. “We don’t make any pickups here first,” Smitty explains. “We collaborate with the artist and then we make the pickup for them.”
“Smitty is one of a kind. Working with him has been a great learning experience. His technical and musical knowledge was beneficial in choosing the right product for a few of my instruments. It’s always a joy to sit and talk for hours about music and guitars. All around great guy.””
This philosophy has led to long-standing partnerships with artists like Rik Emmett of Triumph, who initially came to Smitty for a pedalboard fix and ended up outfitting dozens of instruments with MJS pickups. “We mesh well,” Smitty says. “That’s the whole idea—you help each other out.”
“I admire Smitty for his damn-the-torpedoes individualism. He is his own man, and has opinions and takes actions that display that.
No surprise that he finds artists timid and businesses wary of synergy with music. Trying to get artists to understand marketing, promotion, retailing, etc., is usually like trying to herd cats. Both sides have plenty to offer the other: but control freakiness tends to generate conflicting polarities. The Smythsonian of Pickups understands the value of word of mouth. So he looks to generate positive gossip. The dude likes to chat.”
Micro-Partnerships, Macro Impact
Smitty’s approach goes beyond music. He believes any small business across all niches, can benefit from partnerships built on trust, not just transactions. These micro-partnerships create value, visibility, and resilience. “Artists and small businesses are both hustling,” he says. “They know what it takes to grow from the ground up.”
Whether it’s a local café hosting a gallery night or a boutique brand teaming up with a musician for a pop-up event, these collaborations amplify reach and build community. “We’re pulling on the same rope,” Smitty says. “I’m pulling for them, and they’re pulling for me.”
“To be honest, I couldn’t imagine my career without Smitty and MJS. My guitars and basses sound how I always envisioned them and I’m proud to tell and share with the world who helped me achieve these things. MJS inspires me to write and play and in return I’ll always push their products to my audience and my peers.”
Beyond the Grant System
Arts grants have long been a lifeline—but they’re not the only path. Smitty urges artists to think like entrepreneurs and businesses to think like allies. “Independent musicians should be independent,” he says. “They’ve got to be filmmakers, songwriters, promoters, fundraisers—and we’re here to help.”
That help might come in the form of discounted services, shared social media exposure, or simply showing up to support one another’s work. It’s a model that values people over platforms, and relationships over reach.
“It’s the small business partnerships and sponsorships with people like Smitty that have allowed me to reinvest in my music. I love how he has such a collaborative, synergistic business model… that old school “you scratch my back I scratch yours “mentality, which is hard to find these days. It’s companies like MJS that keep our world going round.”
A New Blueprint for Growth
Smitty’s message is clear: stop waiting for permission to grow. Start building with those around you. The independent creative economy thrives not through competition, but through collaboration. So if you’re an artist, look beyond the grant application. If you’re a business, look beyond the bottom line.
Find your people. Build your partnerships. And grow together.
