Frequently asked questions
How much does a custom guitar cost?
This is a tricky one. Any custom guitar has a whole arm-length of features and choices associated with it, loads of which will influence the price.
As an extremely rough price guide, if you were to ask me to build you a fairly basic t-type guitar, that would cost you in the region of £1600 - £1800.
If you wanted something more, maybe something more like an LP style, that will cost more due to the more complex construction, features and hardware - more like £2400 - £2600.
How long will my guitar build take?
Unfortunately build time is tied directly to what the build is and how much I have on my plate, and it's all very changeable. After locking in an order, you will be placed in a queue based on my ongoing builds. Once you get to the top of the queue, I aim to get most builds out the door 8-12 weeks after starting the build itself. In the ordering process, I should be able to give you an estimated timeframe and I always try to under-promise and over-deliver!
Can I cancel an order?
You can cancel an order without issue before anything is ordered or cut. Once work has started on the build, including ordering of parts, the deposit you paid can no longer be refunded, unfortunately. However, this deposit can be transferred onto another build or used as credit for other things in my store.
What's up with fanned frets?
I'm so glad you asked!
So basically, on a 'normal' guitar the frets are straight and that is because all strings have the same scale length. This has many benefits, not least of which are ease of manufacture. On a fanned fret instrument, each string has a difference scale length - we call this a "multi-scale instrument". Generally 2 scale lengths are chosen and the outer strings will assume these (the thicker strings generally get the longer scale length). The other strings end up with a scale length in between the outer ones, getting longer towards the thicker strings.
One of the big advantages of this is tension. Personally, when playing a 25.5" guitar (Fender Strat) I like the tension on the thicker strings, but the thinner ones just feel a bit tight to me. When I play a 24.75" guitar (LP) I love the thinner strings tension, but find the thicker strings just a little loose and flubby. A 25.5" - 24.75" multi-scale instrument therefore gives me the best of both worlds - the thicker strings have the longer scale length and don't feel flubby and the thinner strings have the shorter scale length negating that tight feel. Perfection!
A fanned fret instruement also has the added advantage of putting your wrist at a more natural and therefore comfortable position as you play up the neck, which is nice.
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And no, it doesn't take long to get used to it. Especially with a small fan like 25.5" - 24.75" you will most likely not even notice it all that much and you'll love it after 10 minutes.
What are your favourite guitars to build?
This is a pretty easy one. I really like traditional stylings and using nice woods, either stained or natural. I also really like multi-scale instruments and offset guitars. So basically, I want to build multi-scale "Boomer Guitars". I love to take something like an LP and warp it just a bit to work as a fanned-fret guitar but still retain the vibe and intention of the original thing.
At the moment if you look up fanned fret or multi-scale guitars, everything you'll get is black and pointy, or headless or a super strat. It's all metal-focussed guitars, but I love the straight ahead rock guitar and I want to get more people trying out fanned frets!