Custom Guitars

Guest blogger Chris Cioffi is “Part stained glass maker, part business development for CustomMade, part rock n’ roll musician, 100% about CustomMade.com.”  You can read his CustomMade profile to learn more.

As guitar music styles evolve, so do guitar-making methods.  Player preferences become more specific as time goes by and therefore continue to span a much wider range.  Whether you prefer the wide neck, nylon strings, and warm finish of an acoustic classical guitar, or the solid body, powerful sound, and sleek contours of an electric guitar, one thing is certain: every guitar player wants a guitar that feels the most natural and comfortable to them.  Because of this, more guitarists are seeking out the craftsmanship and finely tuned skill sets of custom guitars makers, regardless of where on the preference spectrum they find themselves.

1000-Year-Old Pepperwood Flamenco Guitar by guitarmasterworks at CustomMade.com

Structure and Sound

Some of the most important things to consider before having a guitar custom made are the structure and the sound.  These two factors work together, and the slightest change in the structure of the guitar can vastly affect the sound.  The specific structural styles of a custom-made guitar also cater to the specific needs of each individual guitar player.  Master luthiers have a superior understanding of how the wood selection, design process, and actual assembly all affect the feel and sound of a custom-made guitar.  This is what separates a master of the craft from an amateur.

Custom Curly Mahogany, Red Spruce Cutaway Guitar by Creative Wood Work at CustomMade.com

Appearance

In some cases, the best sounding custom-made guitars are also the best looking instruments you can find.  Aside from possessing a comprehensive understanding of sound and the methods for creating a functional instrument, the most skilled guitar builders are also incredible visual artists who can make an instrument pleasing to the eye as well as the ear.  Employing techniques such as mother-of-pearl inlay, hand carved accents, various painting and glossing methods, and other specialized skills, custom guitar builders can ensure that your new instrument is a work of art as well as a beautiful sounding musical instrument.

Custom Guitar by Tom's Cabinets & Design at CustomMade.com

You can find an assortment of custom-made guitars at CustomMade.com in our Custom Musical Instruments and Accessories gallery.  Check back frequently for newly subscribed artisans and their work!