Official Luthiers Forum!

I am looking for any suggestions from perhaps some of the more seasonsed veterans, or anyone for that matter, on a talented up coming builder who could work with a beer budget for a custom guitar. My need for a custom is really driven by my need for a wider string spacing than many factory guitars offer.

In an effort to make the budget go as far as possible, I really dont want alot if any "bling" but I am pretty particular in wanting really good tone and could even consider a satin finish.  This would be for a mid to small size fingerstyle guitar that would be used for celtic, and more contemporary solo acoustic fingerstyle playing. 

Thanks for your input.

Welcome to our forum
We are a group of luthiers. From beginners to masters.
Most of us build guitars because we have a passion for the instrument.
We are all on this forum to share in that passion. We share our
knowledge and our happiness in the world of guitars.
Most of us build one guitar at a time, by hand with our heart and soul
going into each instrument. Many of us build by commission so you can
get EXACTLY your dream guitar. You can choose body size, style, wood
selection, setup, spacing, neck shape. Anything you can imagine, one of
us can deliver for you. Some of us have some finished products ready for
a customer.   Personally I don't. I build to order.
I think you can certainly find what you are looking for here. Most custom
guitars take about 3-5 months from start of construction. But BOY is it
worth the wait.

I suggest you let us know what you are interested in. What style of music
you play. Fingerstye, pick, hard attack soft attack, need for pickups etc.
All of this can be tailored for you. Peruse the forum and you will see
some of the fine instruments that we build here.

As suggested, one advantage is to have one built by a luthier in your area
so you can meet personally who might build your guitar, pick out wood
personally etc.

Welcome and good luck
Andy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Now I don't think John meant cheap as in poor quality, but I will say the Michael Payne builds a student guitar for a good price.

As soon as you say custom, you still are over $1800 even with no bling etc. There is a lot of time which goes into building a guitar and most builders who charge $1800+/- are making less than minimum wage.

Now you may find some guys here who will build you your guitar for a low ball price but that may be because they want to gain more experience, basically giving you the labor at a greatly reduced price.

I do hope you find what you want but don't be expecting to pay any less than $1800 for any sort of guitar built by hand, it just won't happen and really, it shouldn't. I'm just being honest and wanting to support those (even the guys just starting out) who are trying to make a living at guitar making.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Its been said that when it comes to custom guitars, you can get 'em good, cheap and fast.....pick any two.

That's one of my favourite truisms for just about everything.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

[QUOTE=erikbojerik] Its been said that when it comes to custom guitars, you can get 'em good, cheap and fast.....pick any two.
[/QUOTE]

I like that!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=jonhfry]

check out michael payne, cheap but experienced

[/QUOTE]

I may be easy but I am not cheap


If interest look me over here and atmp-hand-crafted-guitars.com

Well, first we need to know the budget you are aiming for...
But most importantly you need to decide what quality you want your guitar to be. While many people here may build a nice guitar, their first instruments may not be the quality, fit and finish one would expect for a guitar...its called the learning curve. I know my first few guitars were nice but were not up to my standards for a custom guitar.
Just a suggestion from someone that have heard many stories from "cheaper" guitars that didn't quite meet the standards and a few owners that regreted their purchasing "adventures"....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I agree with the others about letting us know what you're looking for in
the guitar. I would be weary of anyone that leads you to believe a guitar
is a guitar if it's custom. Guys have different sounds they build for and
one isn't always the best fit.

Just to stay away from any politics ( ), I'll recommend a friend of mine
who is NOT on the board. Matt Mustapick is building fantastic, beautiful
instruments, that remind me a lot of the sound Goodalls tend to have.
mustapickguitars.com.

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions...and I can appreciate the
cheap, quick and good comments...as I understand and am quite willing to
make concessions to make it workable from the builders end. I am NOT
looking for someone to take a beating in building a guitar. I AM looking for
the proverbial win-win situation where I can find a really good instrument
for a high value price, but one that still represents a good deal for the
builder.....hence my comments about a satin finish versus the more costly
gloss finish.

Specifics would be mid to small sized, with either rosewood or walnut back
and sides and englemann top, voiced for a very light touch fingerstyle
playing.

Satin finish is no more expensive or less expensive than a high gloss of the same material. In fact if hand rubbed to a satin finish using steel wool and wax it is about the same time required. Finish is important but is not much of a factor in the relative cost of the guitar.

If you want to keep the cost down and still get a quality instrument then wood choices and appointments is where the money can be saved. The price difference in 2A wood and 3A and 4A can be quit a bit depending on the wood. But do not necessarily diminish the musical quality of the instrument. Avoiding the time to do side and back mitered joint purfling and inlaid abalone or pearl rosettes can cut down on the labor as well. Choosing a solid mahogany neck over a 3 or 5 piece laminated neck cuts a lot of labor.

These and others are all things that have been taken into consideration in my Student models guitar. I put as much craftsmanship into them as I do my Custom Deluxe models. I just limit what is used and do not allow any preference options or the ability to pick the individual tonewood sets. This allows me to control both labor and material very closely.

If you are looking to have a guitar built with specific tonewoods and or appointments then your looking at a Custom Deluxe model.

If on the other hand a quality guitar with great tone and playability, but no frills at all is what your after then you will be had pressed to bet my price and I know you will not bet my quality and playability at anywhere near this price.

If I can help drop me an email at michael@mp-hand-crafted-guitars.com or you can give me a call between 5pm and 10pm. My number is posted on my site.

There are a lot of great builders here. And most of us would be happy to help if we can.

Be aware that you may have a wait. most of use try not to keep a big back log but due to the time it takes to build a guitar most of us will have one or more commissions in front of you. Also be prepared to put up a deposit to reserve you spot in a build schedule.

Michael Payne
MP "One of a Kind " Hand Crafted Guitars

By the way the first available opening at present in my build schedule is the first week of January 2008

In my student model I only offer 2-3A Mahogany or Indian Rosewood with Engelmann tops, I pick the sets. No Walnut as Walnut is more expensive. I offer all 4 of my guitar sizes in the student model. If Mahogany back and sides then Indian Rosewood binding, if Rosewood back and sides then Curly Maple bindings. NO side or back purfling. Rosette is 3 rings of Black/White/Black purfling doubled at the middle ring the top purfling is thin line Black/White/Black. Fretboards are non-bound Indian Rosewood with MOP dot markers. Peghead veneer is non-bound to match back and sides. Tuners are Grover rotomatics bridge and pins are rosewood nut and saddle are bone.

I hope to be a up-and-comer someday....

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Don't worry John, you'll get there someday. Just keep working hard, and maybe you'll even get to do it for a living.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."