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Effective January 1, 2008
As a custom maker, hardly any two guitars I make are alike, as I work closely with my clients to make each one a guitar that fits them as individually as possible. Even given the fact that I make seven sizes and models of guitars, as well as unique custom ones, my instruments are widely known as all having great presence and depth of tone and sensitivity of response.
If you commission a guitar from me, I'd like a tracing of your left hand and information about the average seasonal humidity in your area. I'd also like to know something about you, the kind of music you play, how you play it, what gauge strings you prefer, and also the indoors environment that the guitar is likely to live in.
My price for a guitar is currently $25,000, plus whatever customizing features or design elements you want, plus applicable tax and shipping. For a more complete quote, please read the "about my current pricing" section below.
This price includes any of the following features and options:
- Top: choice of best quality European spruce, or Sitka spruce, or cedar, or redwood. Full information on tonal implications can be provided on request
- Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Other options include choice of East Indian rosewood, figured maple, figured koa, figured mahogany or wenge
- Choice of either Cutaway or Non-cutaway
- Either 12-fret or 14-fret model with choice of slotted or non-slotted peghead
- Choice of modified dreadnought, jumbo, OM, 000, 00, flamenco or classic model
- Choice of neck width, shape, and string spacing. Ebony fingerboard with rosewood/ebony/maple binding
- Hard (18% nickel-silver) frets
- All wood bindings and purflings throughout; hand-sculpted bridge and peghead
- Fingerboard inlays: 'fancy' snowflake, or abalone linear position markers
- Clear pickguard (optional)
- Choice of gold or chrome Schaller, Gotoh, or Van Gent tuning machines
- Elegant handmade and original soundhole rosette
- Clear lacquer finish, with option of a French polished face.
- Calton travel case
- Full warrantee for as long as you have the guitar
About My Current Pricing
I build a modest number of instruments each year, and I have quite a backlog of guitar orders. As things stand at present, I would expect the current waiting period to start your instrument to be about 1-2 years. A $500 refundable deposit places your order on my list.
When luthiers have more work than they can handle in the near future, they opt to close their commission lists . . . and open them again when they have sufficiently caught up with their work loads so that they can take on more work.
In my case, I don't wish to close my order book even though the lag time between receipt of an order and its execution is lengthening. Instead, I'm reserving the option of quoting final prices at the time that I start work on a commission. This will take into account the fact that prices for scarce instrument materials are always rising, as are the general costs of living, and that design features are often re-thought and changes are made between the time of initial contact and when I start to build the instrument. In addition, in projects such as these, clients often want some customized or extraordinary feature that will make a particular guitar unique and which is decided on through discussions carried on over time; there are exchanges of preliminary design ideas, sending of jpegs, evolution of the design concept, final approval, etc. . . . and I do all the work myself, rather than subcontract it out. So I will quote you a final price when I begin construction on your personal instrument. This price will include the updated features and accessories, including whatever additional customizing options (as listed below) you will want or require.
In the absence of major art/inlay/design work I do not expect such final prices to be significantly above my posted price. And your deposit if fully refundable if you decide, for whatever reason, to not continue with the project at that time.
Your deposit becomes non-refundable if and when we agree on a final price and actual construction begins. The price does not include shipping and applicable taxes. If your order involves many special materials or custom options, I may ask for an additional deposit. Balance of the price will be due upon completion of the guitar.
Please come visit me, call or write, and I'll be pleased to answer any questions you might have about my guitars or my work. And many of my custom projects and specially commissioned design/art work are on view on this website.
Additional options at extra cost:
| Select Master Grade Brazilian rosewood back and sides | additional depending on availability |
| Special commission/carved/inlaid/artistic soundhole rosette | as negotiated |
| Twelve-string model | add | $350 |
| Special commission artistic fingerboard inlays | as negotiated |
| Back of neck inlay | add $300 or as negotiated |
| Custom-made tuning machines (Alessi, Rodgers, etc.) | as negotiated |
| Other woods or materials | as agreed on |
| Figured topwoods | | as available |
| French polished back | add | $400 |
| Ornamental carving/inlay work | as negotiated |
| Fossil ivory bridge pins/end pin | depending on availability |
| Fanned-frets [requires modified bridge, neck, fingerboard, bracing, and peghead] | add | $2000 |
| Ergonomically tapered body | add | $1000 |
| Other features embellishments, or materials | as agreed |
| On-board electronics | as agreed on |
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