I don`t get it

Well, it took about 10 months for Ron Thorn to build my guitar. There are/were probably 100 other guitars going through his shop in various stages of completion. Plus, he has his inlay work to do, which is likely the real money maker for Ron.

I'm totally happy with the experience, Ron rocks!!!

 

Sometimes (but not always), good things come to those who wait.

 

Since my name was mentioned...........The wait for one of my guitars is only about 6 to 8 months depending on what you order.....Its still a long time but thats a far cry from 2 years.





www.heatleyguitars.com

 

I don't think waiting is the end of the world. I have a Heatley on order - been a little over a year, but that is due to a couple of factors. Leading the way is the fact that Scott had to find the wood for my neck. He did not have it in stock and it took a little while to get. He was very forthcoming that this would add time to my order, but it is what I wanted - no big deal. To me as long as the builder keeps you informed about the progress and any potential delays, then I am all for the wait. It is not like this will be my only guitar.

Yes' there are other really niced used guitars for sale, but when you have the opportunity to nail down every feature that you want - it is well worth the wait.

Bill

 

....personally, I don't think I would ever have a guitar custom built....unless there was some sort of guarartee that it met my expectations after it was built. IMO, used or new, running the racks gives you a better chance of finding "the one". When the right neck, meets the right body, meets the right pickups, meets the right player, magic can happen. But I think there are too many variables to plan "the one"....you just have to find it .

 

I don't know there is something about getting a guitar built that is jsut for you that is very cool and addictive. I'm a Hamer lover and have had the pleasure and goof fortune to have been able to sort through the wood pile and pick a top for a custom order.
It's a great feeling to see your guitar in raw form as a billet of wood and then see the finished product. I have yet to be let down by a custom ordered guitar. BTW the wait time was a reasonable 4 to 5 months.

 

McNaught took only about 6 months, reasonable.

Mike

 

Some builders like Anderson have their shops set up like mini factories with employees doing much of the work. Some builders do everything themself. EVERYTHING. So it takes longer. Some builders will customize a guitar to their customers specs. Other builders like Anderson have many options to choose from but they don't do custom work so they can keep their production numbers higher. I guess some builders are more business savvy and others see themself more as artists rather than businessmen. They enjoy the challenge of custom work.

There would be more people posting about Anderson guitars here if there wasn't already an Anderson forum. I know many Gear Page members hang out there too.

 

The way you describe Tom Anderson's shop is how I figured it was. I've never actually been there. I didn't mean it as a slam when I said it was like a mini-factory. I used him as an example because his name was mentioned in the original post. I happen to really like Anderson and Suhr guitars.

I have been to Don Grosh's place a few times though and it's pretty much the same way you guys do things. He seems to assemble them himself. Another guy does most of the painting. Another guys does the sanding. I've spent some time with Joe Driskill and Ron Thorn too. It is much different there. Driskill does absolutely everything himself. Thorn gets a hand from his Dad and another guy sometimes but it's mostly him. These guys will do an elaborate inlay if you want and that can really take some extra time. Inlay is an art form in itself.

 

Vaughn, I'm with you on this one.

 

I think theres a lot of truth in that... I've tried many times to not believe that but ultimately it comes down to playing a guitar first before you really know that its right for you... buying used or dealing with stores that have a liberal return policy can help prevent losing big $$ on a purchase that doesn't work out, but that can take alot of time... ultimately playing an instrument in the store before you buy is the best way to find a great instrument thats right for you

 

I hear what Vaughan is saying, but I don't think it takes one thing into account. And that is the special talent that some of these small builders have. At least, I know Joe Driskill does. Joe has the ability to understand the people he is dealing with very well. I sent him samples of me playing, We talked alot about the type of music I like to play and the sound I am looking for. I even met Joe pretty early in the building stage of my guitar. I really think all of that went a long weay into Joe delivering me the perfect guitar. I also had played a few Driskill prior to ordering one, and was very confident in it being what I wanted.

I cannot fathom me going to a store and pulling something off the racks and have it feel like this, and sound just like I want it too. And I am talking about being blind folded, so looks are out of the equation.

I really feel like my Driskill is a part of me, and was definitely built for me. And i waited 18 months for it, and much of what I talked about above is why I don't regret that wait at all, and would do it all over again if the bank account would let me.

 

I have no doubt that sometimes "custom built" does work. However, with wood being a naturally tonally inconsistent product, and the fact that a neck & body have to communicate with each other in just the right way, and that no two pickups can be made exactly the same, I think that a custom built guitar is a bit of a crap shoot. Great if custom built worked out for you but seeking out "the one" by running the racks can be fun too. I've played probably several hundred Strats in my life and only a handfull really spoke to me....and only one had it all. So I must be fussy in my old age ....

 

What kind of luthier work does the know it all guy do when he runs the shop? QA?

 

I could blindly order a Suhr or Anderson and know Im getting an excellent instrument. There certainly is a bit more at stake when you wait over a year for a guitar but Im sure the builders do what it takes to make sure their customers are completely happy.

Richard

 

While I agree somewhat with VaughnC's sentiments, nothing I have ever owned or played is as sweet as my Heatley.

I am a guy that looks through tons of guitars before buying one (I must have tried 70 teles before settling on my Mary Kaye) but there is nothing like playing a neck designed with your hands and style in mind.

The downside is the wait but some can easily reconcile this niggle.

 

I think you're due for a vacation.

Thanks for the insight.