Frequently Asked Questions
"Can you build me a custom guitar to my exact specs?"
Probably not... But it might be close. There are always variances associated with working by hand and it is impossible to be exact… I don't care what anyone says to the contrary. If you want "exact" then you will have to get someone else to do it with a CNC Machine. Also, I am in the process of moving into a different shop and my backlog is taking me well into next year. Once things are settled down, and a couple orders have been completed I will only be taking one or two custom orders at a time. I have a lot of parts in stock that I want to use up and I have some ideas floating around in my head for some unique instruments. I want to see a few of these come to life. If at some point I get a request for a custom order that really intrigues me, I might take it on right away, so don't be afraid to ask.
"Can you put me on a waiting list for when you are taking new orders?"
Sorry, but until it gets closer to the time that I can take on further orders there is no waiting list.
"How can you sell a hand built guitar for such a reasonable price?"
Well, this is just a hobby. I enjoy doing it and I have a day job that pays the bills. So when I build a guitar I keep track of the cost of all of my parts and materials and add in a reasonable fee for my time. Whatever that adds up to is the price of the guitar.
"What kind of pickups and hardware do you use?"
I buy pickups from a number of sources and it all boils down to the customer’s budget. I can source locally made custom wound pickups or economical but decent off-shore pickups. I buy hardware from many sources and generally look for specials on bulk purchases. I will only use chrome or nickel hardware. I do not like gold hardware and will never use it. So please don't even ask... ;)
"What methods of payment to you accept?"
I accept cash, certified cheque, bank draft, and money order. I can even take credit card payments through PayPal, however, you will have to add an extra 4% to the total price of the guitar (including the shipping) to cover their fees. Since I am not making any profit here, I can't afford to eat it. Sorry 'bout that.
"Who do you use for shipping?"
I have used UPS, Fedex and Canada Post in the past. Their rates are pretty much the same, but when you get right down to it the Postal Service seems to give the best service and they seem to take more care in handling delicate packages. The choice is really yours though, and I can provide you pricing for all options. Foreign customers are responsible for any duty, taxes or customs fees that may be applied when the package enters their country. I have absolutely no control over this.
"What sort of warranty do you offer?"
In order to build such reasonably priced instruments I have to try and buy my parts as inexpensively as possible. This means buying parts on eBay and other places that generally do not offer me a warranty on their parts. However, I want my customers to be happy and satisfied with their guitars and if something goes wrong within 12 months of purchase I will do whatever I reasonably can to rectify the problem. This does not include damage due to abuse. If you have a problem, please let me know and we will work towards a solution that suits us both. All shipping charges are the customer's responsibility.
"Can you build me a custom guitar to my exact specs?"
Probably not... But it might be close. There are always variances associated with working by hand and it is impossible to be exact… I don't care what anyone says to the contrary. If you want "exact" then you will have to get someone else to do it with a CNC Machine. Also, I am in the process of moving into a different shop and my backlog is taking me well into next year. Once things are settled down, and a couple orders have been completed I will only be taking one or two custom orders at a time. I have a lot of parts in stock that I want to use up and I have some ideas floating around in my head for some unique instruments. I want to see a few of these come to life. If at some point I get a request for a custom order that really intrigues me, I might take it on right away, so don't be afraid to ask.
"Can you put me on a waiting list for when you are taking new orders?"
Sorry, but until it gets closer to the time that I can take on further orders there is no waiting list.
"How can you sell a hand built guitar for such a reasonable price?"
Well, this is just a hobby. I enjoy doing it and I have a day job that pays the bills. So when I build a guitar I keep track of the cost of all of my parts and materials and add in a reasonable fee for my time. Whatever that adds up to is the price of the guitar.
"What kind of pickups and hardware do you use?"
I buy pickups from a number of sources and it all boils down to the customer’s budget. I can source locally made custom wound pickups or economical but decent off-shore pickups. I buy hardware from many sources and generally look for specials on bulk purchases. I will only use chrome or nickel hardware. I do not like gold hardware and will never use it. So please don't even ask... ;)
"What methods of payment to you accept?"
I accept cash, certified cheque, bank draft, and money order. I can even take credit card payments through PayPal, however, you will have to add an extra 4% to the total price of the guitar (including the shipping) to cover their fees. Since I am not making any profit here, I can't afford to eat it. Sorry 'bout that.
"Who do you use for shipping?"
I have used UPS, Fedex and Canada Post in the past. Their rates are pretty much the same, but when you get right down to it the Postal Service seems to give the best service and they seem to take more care in handling delicate packages. The choice is really yours though, and I can provide you pricing for all options. Foreign customers are responsible for any duty, taxes or customs fees that may be applied when the package enters their country. I have absolutely no control over this.
"What sort of warranty do you offer?"
In order to build such reasonably priced instruments I have to try and buy my parts as inexpensively as possible. This means buying parts on eBay and other places that generally do not offer me a warranty on their parts. However, I want my customers to be happy and satisfied with their guitars and if something goes wrong within 12 months of purchase I will do whatever I reasonably can to rectify the problem. This does not include damage due to abuse. If you have a problem, please let me know and we will work towards a solution that suits us both. All shipping charges are the customer's responsibility.