Custom carved signs that demand attention…
Now more than ever you are in competition for the attention of your customers. Gone are the days when you could hang a simple shingle outside your place of business and expect to be the local supplier. You are competing with businesses all around the world on the internet and it is important that you look just as slick and professional as they do. We have been in the business of getting people’s attention for 30 years. Trust our 3 decades of experience in custom made signs to not only direct customers to your door, but the kind of customers ready to do business.
We’re able to produce a wide range of different signs to meet your needs:
Handmade Wood Signs
Custom carved HDU signs
Custom Made Metal Signs
Custom carved PVC signs
Custom Outdoor Business Signs
Handmade Signs
Our Work
Just a few of our unique attention getting signs…
This unique self-promotional handmade sign won 1st Place in an international sign competition sponsored by the United States Sign Council and third place in an international competition sponsored by Signs of the Times Magazine.
This custom made sign is a combination of many techniques which are meant to showcase a number of our strengths including hand cut and polished brass lettering, CNC carved polyurethane, hand painted faux wood grain with both 23K and variegated gold leaf over prismatic lettering and graphics that have been enhanced with a gorilla glue technique.
The figure is a self portrait of the owner and the shop dog DiDi hand painted and sculpted out of epoxy resin.
This humorous legal warning sign won Best of Show and 1st Place in an international design competition sponsored by the United States Sign Council.
This custom carved wood sign features crushed glass inlay, hand-cut and polished letters, with hand sculpted figure and plants.
These amusing handmade signs are made from high density urethane foam hand painted with aged finishes giving it a very realistic feel. Basking Ridge, NJ
Featured on the cover of Sign Builder Illustrated Magazine, this unique custom carved wood sign is an epoxy resin sculpted moose with a 23K gold leaf ribbon mounted on cherry and mahogany finished wood panels. Basking Ridge, NJ
This hand carved sign is made from a PVC Plastic Panel with 23K Carved Gold Leaf Lettering, Custom Raised Panel Posts mounted on Stone Pillars. Carved Shell Header Mounted in Custom Fabricated Steel Bracket, 23K Gold Leaf. Basking Ridge, NJ
This hand carved sign is made from a PVC Plastic Panel with 23K Carved Gold Leaf Lettering, Custom Raised Panel Posts mounted on Stone Pillars. Carved Shell Header Mounted in Custom Fabricated Steel Bracket, 23K Gold Leaf. Basking Ridge, NJ
This amusing reminder to lock the door won 1st place in an international sign design competition sponsored by the United States Sign Council.
This custom carved wood sign features metallic finishes and a custom welded mounting bracket. Bedminster, NJ
This hand carved wood sign is made from two inch thick HDU with 23K Gold Leaf Raised Prismatic Lettering. Hand Carved woodgrain. Custom cedar post frame.
This national award winning custom made metal sign is composed of variegated rusted steel plate welded to a curved steel frame.
One inch thick PVC lettering project above the curved surface. The semispherical logo was CNC carved and latex spray painted. Basking Ridge, NJ
This custom made sign is made from a PVC Plastic Panel with 23K Carved Gold Leaf Lettering. Basking Ridge, NJ
This handmade wooden sign was a student gift to Fairleigh Dickinson University and features a hand carved horse surrounded by router carved HDU lettering. Teaneck, NJ
This custom made sign for Basking Ridge Fire features a 3 inch thick custom carved sign panel made of PVC with 23K gold leaf carved lettering and a custom hand carved Maltese cross. Custom copper caps were fabricated to top the existing brick pillars
Custom carved HDU sign with 23K Gold Prismatic Lettering. Basking Ridge, NJ
Custom made wood sign featuring vinyl lettering on custom wood post and panel. Bernardsville, NJ
LOVE
This handmade sign with a traditional Chinese character for love was custom hand carved into stone before adding 23K Gold leaf lettering. Basking Ridge, NJ
HOBOKEN TRAIN STATION
Custom wood carved sign features hand-cut letters finished with 23K gold leaf. Hoboken, NJ
This custom made metal sign was custom cut out of satin finish aluminium.
The handmade metal letters were then individually applied to the building facade with stud mounts.
Hand carved HDU sign with 23K Gold Prismatic Lettering atop a Black PVC Outline Letter and Suspended Between Columns on Two Steel Rails. Basking Ridge, NJ
Custom carved sign made from HDU with 23K Gold Prismatic Lettering. Bernardsville, NJ
This is a mechanical 3d automata I created for a competition at the International Sign Convention in Orlando, FL in 2018. The theme of the competition was marvelous machines. Our entry posted here is of an early 20th century style roof mounted sign of our logo featuring moving wings, head and letters.
Visit our Blog to See our Most Recent Work...
Process
An initial consultation may be conducted by phone or e-mail but we encourage customers to visit our shop to experience first hand the range and quality of our custom carved sign work.
Below is a list of helpful information that can really help us focus in on the perfect custom made sign for you:
A Photo of the Location
Photos of any Signs that You Admire
An e-Copy of Your Logo
A List of Any Colors You Would Like to See in Your Sign
Your Budget (This helps us determine how much detail and what materials we can incorporate into your design)
1. Design
If you do not have a design of your own, we would be happy to develop a custom sign design for you with our award winning in house design staff. We always provide you with drawings for your approval so you will know exactly what your custom business or residential sign will look like before we ask for a deposit.
2. Permits
If your project requires permitting, we would be happy to advise you throughout process, or for an hourly fee, obtain the proper permits for you.
3. Payment
Once a drawing has been approved, a 50% deposit is required to begin work with the balance due upon completion. We accept, cash, check, VISA and MasterCard. Regular customers can establish credit terms. RUSH orders will incur additional charges. Please let us know if your company/organization is tax-exempt.
4. Fabrication
We can complete most Custom flat sign projects within 2 weeks. If you have an important deadline, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. Depending upon the complexity of the job, hand carved signs or sculpted signs will require 4-6 weeks to complete.
5. Shipping / Delivery
We can ship or deliver your sign anywhere in the world, Rates vary depending upon the weight and size of the package and distance it needs to travel. Please let us know if you would prefer to use FedEx, UPS or USPS. We welcome you to pick up your sign in person.
6. Installation
We offer expert professional installation for all types of custom signs. We can help you with lighting options as well if you like. We even offer maintenance services, to help keep your signs looking as new as the day we installed them.
Drop a line or give us a call for inquiries or pricing
30 Lewis Street | Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 | greatamericansign@me.com| 908-630-9120
[ Click here for or Hours and Location ]
Our Story
Our first priority is making you look good. We produce quality, custom made signs that get noticed the world over with numerous awards and thousands of happy successful clients since our humble beginnings in a garage 30+ years ago. We specialize in using the most modern equipment and the best old world craftsmanship to produce signs that grab your attention. A sign should tell a story. Without reading a word, it should say, this business, office, agency, practice is successful, because they know what they are doing and deliver a service that is beyond compare to that of its competition. Quality is important, it's probably the most important factor in a sign, because a cheap sign can be spotted mile away. It separates those who walk through your door and those that just keep walking. Does this mean a quality sign is expensive, NO. A quality sign makes you money by drawing in the best customers, clients, volunteers and employees. Would you rather attract bargain hunters or quality seekers. A quality sign will last a long long time looking good as new with a minimum of maintenance and we have the portfolio and the satisfied customers to prove it including U.S. Senators and Congressmen, courthouses, churches, fire houses, universities, restaurants, offices, medical practices , private and public schools. Please call us to discuss your custom made sign, wood carved sign, custom metal sign, hand carved wood sign or any custom business or residential sign you desire.
Our Owner, Gary Johnson was born, grew up and attended college in New Jersey.
Gary is a hands-on manager, personally meeting with all clientele. If he is not personally working on your project, he is overseeing every detail. He enjoys the personal interaction and satisfaction of seeing a project through from start to finish.
"My goal is to give you a sign that is not only beautiful, but communicates. It should complement its surroundings and impress all who pass by. It should be a reflection of the quality and professionalism that you bring to your organization."
I look forward to working with you!
What our clients are saying...
"On behalf of our President Tom Kean and everyone at Drew University I want to express my appreciation to you for the outstanding job you did in making signs for our campus. The new signs are winning praise from students, faculty and administration alike>"
Sincerely
Tom Harris, Vice President for University Relations
"Hello Gary
I just wanted to let you know how happy we are with the sign. I lost track of how many compliments we got on it today. the best was: “your sign adds class to the entire downtown”. thanks for doing a great job, and thanks for making sure it was up on time."
Cam Witt, Ridge Family Dentistry, Basking Ridge
ps – "we are very happy with the signs on the back of the building as well – they look like they belong there. and the new sign on the front of the office takes a beautiful building and makes it look even better. thank you so much."
"I have been using Great American Sign for 7 years. It seems I always contact them with low budgets and tight deadlines. . I know I can count on them to come through."
Joe Caiola, Director of Athletics, NJ Institute of Technology
"I can’t thank you enough for encouraging us to take a few risks with our sign and for producing a truly unique showpiece. The natural weathering you applied to the steel structure is stunning and the clean and smooth lettering and logo really pop when contrasted against it. This sign is a real attention getter and is a true source of pride for our staff and for me."
Rob Quincy
Partner, CCO
Ridge Marketing
"Randolf Chemical Engine Company 3 would like to thank you for the crafting and installation of our new sign. The members of the association are greatly impressed with the level of detail and fine craftsmanship that was put into the making of this sign. This gives our firehouse a fresh new, updated look, and also allows the building to be easily identified.
In addition to the fine workmanship, we would also like to thank you for the free upgrade to the 3D sign that was installed. Being all volunteer, any donation we receive is is greatly appreciated as it is necessary to to keep the organization operational."
Scott Feldmar, RTFD Co. 3 President
Awards
2019
2nd Place
Best Original Design and Fabrication, Non Illuminated, Small Shop
Signs of the Times Annual International Sign Competition
2017
1st Place
Commercial Sign Category
SAi EnRoute CAD Software 1st Annual International Design Competition
2nd Place
Commercial Building Category
Signs of the Times Annual International Sign Competition
2013
1st Place
Commercial Freestanding Signs Category
Signs of the Times Magazine’s Annual International Sign Competition
1st Place
Non Illuminated Building Sign Category
United States Sign Council’s Annual Sign Design Competition
2nd Place
Commercial Building Category
Signs of the Times Magazine’s 1st Annual Readers Choice International Sign Competition
2012
Best of Show
United States Sign Council’s Annual Sign Design Competition
1st Place
Dimensional Sign Category (Wall Mount)
United States Sign Council’s Annual Sign Design Competition
1st Place
Dimensional Sign Category (Freestanding)
United States Sign Council’s Annual Sign Design Competition
2011
1st Place
Dimensional Sign Category
United States Sign Council’s Annual Sign Design Competition
3rd Place
Commercial Building Category
Signs of the Times Magazine’s Annual International Sign Competition
Honorable Mention
Sign and Digital Graphics Magazine’s Annual Portfolio Competition
Honorable Mention
Sign Builder Illustrated’s Annual Sign Making Innovation Awards
Articles
Click on magazine images to view full article.
Signs of the Times, Apr. 2013
Commercial Freestanding Signs
Sign Builder Illustrated, Nov. 2011
“Showcase: Tipsy Moose Tavern”
Sign Builder Illustrated, Nov. 2012
The “Best” Type of Warning
SignCraft, October 2012
Gary Johnson Profile
Signs of the Times, November 2016