Carondelet ("kuh-RON-duh-let") is the custom pickup operation spawned in 2020 by The Fret Shack, a guitar and fretted instrument repair and upgrade workshop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Owner Jeff Richard ("REE-shard", Cajun French) winds Carondelet pickups by hand, one at a time, using superior components and processes.

Jeff's list of Carondelet pickups users, owners and fans includes members and former members of Aerosmith, Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Acid Bath, Awaken the Giant, Tyron Benoit, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, Biohazard, Black Stone Cherry, Candlebox, Cheap Trick, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Down, Dangerous Toys, En Minor, Exhorder, Everclear, Goatwhore, King Diamond, Lillian Axe, Kenny Neal, Nine Inch Nails, Papercut Massacre, Power Trip, Preacher Stone, Revis, Slaughter, Steel Panther, Superjoint (Ritual), and 200 Stab Wounds;

and the backing bands for Paula Abdul, Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thorton's Boxmasters, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, The (Dixie) Chicks, Mariah Carey, Fiona, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Cody Jinks, Jennifer Lopez, Maddie and Tae, Marc Martel's One Vision of Queen, Scotty McCreery, Bret Michaels, Luis Miguel, Alanis Morissette, Vince Neil, Teddy Pendergrass, Selena, Gwen Stefani, Marty Stewart, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and Wilson Phillips.

Jeff has trained at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix; at the Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair in Big Rapids, Michigan; and has over 40 years experience as both a guitar player and bench technician. 

Jeff and his workshop is also an authorized warranty and service center for ESP, LTD, Takamine, Guild and Cordoba Guitars; and he is an authorized installation and service center for Bartolini, FU-Tone and Tesi.