Sims is one of the best known UK guitar custom shops. The origins of SimS Custom Shop began in 1992 when Martin Sims found it difficult to see the side edge markers whilst playing his bass under stage lighting.  So he went to the London Bass Centre to buy some LEDs he had seen on a Warwick. Unfortunately, he learnt that you had to buy the Warwick bass and order it with the LEDs.  Martin developed a method of retrofitting his bass with side edge LEDs without disturbing the fingerboard or frets.

The Bass Centre were impressed with Sims' LED retrofits and began to promote his work through their London shop. Guitar shows and magazine coverage followed and Sims LEDs service began to take off. He had orders from Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, Stuart Zender and many more and was able to move to Kent to establish a new larger workshop. He also began doing work for guitar manufacturers  including Warwick, Fender Custom Shop, and Feline Guitars. By 2002 Sims added a spray booth and CNC facilities to his workshop and was able to offer refinishing and CNC services. By 2004 complete Sims Custom Shop instruments were being made. 2006 saw the introduction of Sims pickups and the Enfield Guitars brand.

Source: Sims Custom website (archived 2007)