Parts
These are the ingredients from which the chef creates the dish!
Bodies are available in a choice of shapes, and with several pickups configurations. Figured Maple and binding are available if you really want to make a statement. Semi-hollow bodies allow for decreased weight and a lively tone. The choice of body wood has a significant impact on the tone.
The body can be finished in a wide choice of solid, dyed, burst, and transparent colours. Some body woods allow for a raw, unfinished, natural look.
There are a lot of neck options! Width at the nut, thickness, back shape, board radius and fret size contribute most to the overall feel. If you have a guitar with a neck you like the feel of, this can be closely matched on you bespoke guitar.
Neck woods also have a considerable impact on tone and sustain. One piece maple necks and two piece necks in many wood combinations are available. Two piece necks are available with a very special double truss rod, which allows for greater stability with regard to temperature changes. I recommend quarter sawn grain orientation for better stiffness. Side dots and fretboard inlays are generally chosen to contrast with the fingerboard wood, but can also be deleted if you like! Some woods (e.g. roasted maple) can be used without a finish, giving an ultra smooth, slick feel.
The customer can choose from pretty much any bridge, pickups, tuners, electric parts etc. However, some are better than others, particularly when combined in certain ways. It is best to choose these parts on quality and compatibility, and to avoid cutting corners in order to reduce the cost.
May I suggest… Super Vee Bladerunner, Floyd Rose Original, Graphtech Ratio tuners, Bare Knuckle and Seymour Duncan pickups, Stainless steel screws, Dunlop Super pots, Switchcraft sockets, Sprague caps, CRL switches, Schaller strap-locks, Tusq XL nuts, roasted quarter-sawn maple (for the neck), Hiscox cases.