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Frequently asked questions
Q. 'I've just bought one of your guitars second hand, it' a 'such and such type and colour' , can you give me as much information as possible about the guitar...?'

A. Since I've been building guitars fully professionally for over seven years now, there's quite a few of my guitars out there, and therefore they change hands now and again, as time goes on the above question is getting more common. Please understand, when one of my guitars is sold second hand...I don't see a penny extra as a result of the sale, therefore I really cannot spend my time answering questions about the guitar to the new owner. In this circumstance please ask the (previous) owner of the guitar about it's history, thanks.

Q. 'How do I make a one piece maple neck...?'

     'How much curvature should there be on a truss rod...?'

     'How do you cut the control and pickup cavities in a guitar body...?'

     'I'm starting my own guitar building business...can I come and look at your workshop and ask your advice...?'

     'How do you 'relic' a guitar so convincingly...?'

     'How do you make a curved join rosewood fingerboard type neck...?'

     .......and all sorts of other questions about guitar building......

A. Whilst it is flattering in many ways to be asked, my time is at a premium, if you're not spending money with me then I really cannot devote the time to such questions, many of these enquiries would require a fairly lengthy answer. I am not a free guitar building advisory service. There are numourous books on the subject available very easily from internet sources.

Q. 'do you ever offer left hand guitars...?

A. Due to the fact that an important part of setting up a guitar or bass is actually playing the thing, I don't feel I can properly evaluate an instrument that I cannot play.....and I cannot play left handedly, so I'm afraid not.

Q. 'why are you no longer taking orders...?'

A. Click here for info regarding future guitars builds

Q. 'Can you make me a paisley T type...?'

A. Sorry, not a finish I offer

Q. 'When will my guitar be ready, can you send some photos...?'

A. as soon as I build it!....., but seriously, I appreciate the waiting game can be difficult when you're waiting for your guitar's completion but I would ask customers to be patient and to refrain from contacting me regularly to ask for updates, the more time I have to spend answering phone calls and emails the less workshop time I have available to actually build guitars...which slows down the building process for everyone...

I do my best to keep you updated but time is at a premium and I don't always get a chance to do so...


Q. 'I really like your aged pickguards, I would like to buy one for my guitar, how much are they...?'

A. The aged pickguards I produce for my guitars can take several hours of work to make/age, I haven't really got the time to produce aged pickguards to sell as separate items. In addition I like to keep somethings unique to my guitars...


Q. 'Do you offer aged guitar cases...?'

A. I've got enough work on with the guitars, let alone cases too! My own personal view is that it's the guitar that you perform with...not the case the guitar came to the gig in.


Q. 'What's the difference between a 7.25" radius and say...a 12" radius...?'

A. The radius refers to the 'curve' of the fingerboard, effectively how 'flat' it is. A 12" radius is a little flatter than something like a 7.25" radius, the advantage with a flatter radius is that you can get the strings lower to the fingerboard without the 'choking' out at the end of the neck particularly when string bending. Conversely, some people prefer a more curved fingerboard as it fits the shape of the hand better. It's one of those things that's down to personal taste.
I quite like a 9.5" radius myself, still feels vintage like but a tad flatter to assist in 'choke free' string bending.


Q. 'Do you age the frets on the guitars you build...?'

A. No, the frets will be like on a new guitar, not too many guitarists like playing on worn and gunky frets so that's one area I don't distress!


Q. 'If I order a guitar how long will it take to get it...?'

A. I am no longer accepting specific orders for guitars, I will build from inspiration and offer them for sale via the site on a first come, first served basis


Q. 'Can I buy some nitro-cellulose paint from you...?'

A. Sorry, I am a guitar builder, not a paint supplier, nor do I supply paint formulas.


Q. 'If I order a guitar, will it be ready for a special gig I've got on 'such and such' date...?'

A. See above about guitar orders...


Q. 'I really like the way you get your guitars to look old, I'm just a hobbyist doing a 'relic' project.....can you tell me all your techniques and methods, where you buy your materials and how to do it...?'

A. Sorry, it's not the sort of information I hand out. Emails asking for this kind of information are generally ignored.


Q. 'Can you 'relic' my existing guitar?'

A. Sorry,I do not offer a 'guitar relicing' service.


Q. 'I have an 'enter any brand' guitar, I'd like it refinished, can you do it...?'

A. The only refinishing work I take on is genuine vintage Fender restoration work. My definition of vintage is 1969 and older, in my opinion it all went to pot in the '70's!, I am not currently taking on any guitar restorations


Q. 'I have a vintage Gibson Les Paul, will you restore it...?'

A. Due to my current workload I am no longer undertaking any guitar restorations


Q. 'Can you age my guitar parts for me...?'

A. Sorry, I do not offer an ageing service for guitar parts


Q. 'Can you build a Les Paul replica for me...?'

A. Although I possess the ability, I would lack the enthusiasm.....sorry, no.


Q. 'can I buy a separate body/neck from you...?'

A. Due to my current workload I have discontinued the supply of separate bodies and necks to concentrate on complete guitar orders.