Custom Instruments
Great musical instruments are magical. A luthier will spend weeks and months carefully selecting dozens of individual pieces of wood, forming them into bodies and necks, poring over every detail — some of which no one else will ever notice. When a new instrument accepts the tension of its first strings, all these pieces of wood begin to stretch and move together as one dynamic entity, rather than lying dormant as several inert components.
The real magic happens in the months and years to come, after hundreds or thousands of hours of playing. A well-built instrument absorbs its player’s personality over time, echoing their favorite chords, notes, and songs. I build my instruments with each player in mind; from the way the neck cradles in your hand to the aesthetics of wood binding and inlay, each part reflects its player’s personality, physicality, and musical dreams.
I view my instruments as living, breathing beings. They’re meant to be played, shared, loved. I build them to last for generations, and if cared for, your children and grandchildren will pick up the same instruments to play the same songs you taught them.
Pricing
Guitars: starting at $6,500
Ukuleles: starting at $2,500
All custom instruments are priced on an individual basis.
Prices include a hardshell case but not shipping or local sales tax.
Deposit
I require a deposit equal to 1/3 of the instrument’s total price to get started on a custom order.
Materials
I use solid wood for all components, and everything (except components such as tuning machines, fretwire, raw inlay material, and truss rods) is made-in house. Below is a sample list of typical guitar materials:
Top: Sitka spruce or coastal redwood (sequoia sempervirens)
Sides & back: Honduras rosewood, Honduras mahogany, Claro walnut, or western maple
Neck: Honduras mahogany
Fingerboard, bridge, and peghead overlay: Indian ebony
Binding: Indian ebony, Honduras rosewood, western maple, or koa
Tuners: Gotoh 510
Truss rod: FlexStrong Dual Action
Fingerboard inlay: abalone, mother-of-pearl, copper, brass, or stainless steel
Fretwire: nickel
Other tonewoods available upon request.
Options & upgrades
What’s a custom guitar without a few upgrades?
Specialty tonewood: TBD
Cutaway: $1,000
Multiscale fingerboard & bridge: $800
Slotted peghead: $500
Sound port: no extra charge
K&K Pure Mini pickup: $250
Custom inlay: starting at $250
Strap locks: $100
Other pickups: TBD
Tuners: TBD
Alternate fretwire: TBD