FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Do you paint your guitars solid colors?
A. No. I prefer the Natural beauty of the woods used in my guitars. I have used clear laquer, and will if requested. As customization is one of my goals, it is certainly some thing that can be discussed, but I would rather not. I use Tru-oil as my main type of finish, but if you want, I can substitute that with tung oil, or danish oil. Oil in itself is prone to damage, but is a LOT easier to fix than nitro. The oil I use, offers a level of protection above that of other oil finishes, yet is just as repairable. I can even achieve a semi glossy finish with it, to a point. The way it brings out the figure in the wood, the way it feels, (smooth) The safety and environmental factors, Not to mention the fact that the guitars tone is not trapped under a plastic finish! All of these reasons attribute to my decision to use oil as a finish.
Q. What do you mean by handmade?
A. By Handmade, I mean I build them by hand, from start to finish. as far as custom, I am more than willing to build the guitar that is right for you, the way you want it. I just ask that it is either one of my body styles, or something that is not a direct copy, or intentional reproduction of another builders work. I do this almost purely out of respect to the creative builders who deserve it. However, if you prefer more width at the nut, or a thicker neck, more upper fret access, set up for larger string gauge, certain wood preferences, or even certain things to personalize the guitar, or anything like that, No problem. If you want a Karlin with a tremelo, or a bolt on neck, or a device that tells you when your fly's unzipped onstage, you don't want a Karlin.
Q. Can you make a custom guitar, with my design?
A. Yes, I have done this, and am more than willing to. However, there is a design fee, and that is depending on the type of thing you want. Possibilities are certainly limitless, but please understand, some things are more attainable than others. generally speaking, a guitar built by me of a design that is not one of my fully thought out creations will typically be more expensive, than say, a Karlin with a few upgrades. Keep in mind that I have almost everything I need to build one of my own designs, but I will need to spend time and money to make a completely different style happen. Factors include.....Creating templates, designing to avoid flaws during completion, aquiring non standard parts, and many other factors that surface during production. This is not to scare you away from building your dream guitar, this is just me being honest with you. Anything is possible, as long as it hasn't been done yet. I DO NOT intentionaly copy others designs. If you want a guitar that is similar to an already existing design, I am willing to use some proven themes, but I will need to change things in a way that keeps things unique. (If you want a strat, go buy a strat!)
Q. Will you ever build an "affordable" line of guitars?
A. ALL of my guitars are affordable. Especially if you are in the market for a hand built instrument. The fact that I don't use computers and machines to spit out bodies, and that I wind every pickup, and shape every neck by hand prevent me from being able to put out "assembly line production instruments". That, and the fact I do this by myself, from beginning to end, make it almost impossible to make a living out of this. My base price of $1400 includes shipping within the U.S. . I fully understand If you already have a case, But if they must be shipped, they must have a case. Call me, and we can work something out i'm sure.
Q. What makes your guitars different than everything else on the market?
A. Of course the fact they are not assembly line instruments, but there are some other innovations as well. When holding the guitar against your body, you will find it quite comfortable, with nothing jabbing at your ribs. This is because not only do they have the traditional belly curve so many guitars have, there is also a carve from just below the center line of the back, all the way to the top, and to the upper bout, making the guitar lean into you while playing. Also, there are No sharp points on the guitar. Everything is rounded, giving the instrument a gracefull look, and comfortable feel. The inside of the control cavity is fully shielded, and star grounded, preventing interference from outside electrical signals, which greatly reduces hum, and other unwanted noises. There is NO logo, or any flashy advertising garbage on the headstock. Its not that I am not capable of doing this, Its actually quite easy. I just prefer my name on the back. Its YOUR guitar! Not mine. There is also a method I use on the frets, and the fretboard that enables the guitar to play cleanly with low action. I set the action at about 2.5 32nds at the 12th fret, on the low E, and about 2 32nds at the high E. With just a slight bit of relief, (JUST enough) this is optimal for my guitars. But with the way I plane the fret board and the frets, You could reasonably go a little lower. Believe me, these guitars play like butter.
Q. What's so much better about handwound pickups, and can I get other pickups in my guitar?
A. Aside from a few obvious exceptions, no one pickup is better than another. It all depends on you as a player, and your needs for the sound. Handwound pickups, in my opinion are superior for the fact that they are not spun on a machine, which imparts too much perfection. Sounds crazy, right? Well, think of it this way. If you want it to sound like a machine, wind it on a machine. If you want a pickup that lets you hear all of the natural nuances of the wood, and strings, and your technique as a player, I have found that handwound is the way to go. I actually guide the wire by hand, and feel the tension, and monitor the way it is wrapped, as well as insure quality, and dictate the dc resistance, within a reasonable accuracy. I use high quality, (and expensive!) wire, and I prefer 43 gauge, which is thinner than most traditional wire, which I believe is one of the things that give my pickups their smooth, and natural sound. But of course, I fully understand if there is a certain brand of pickup you prefer, and have no problem incorporating it into the build. Lets face it. If you play speed metal, or anything else that is meant to test the limits of your high wattage solid state amp, and pointy weapon of a guitar ,these pickups probably wont work the way you want them to. But, for what they are intended, they do MORE than good.
Q. Do you build basses?
A. Yes In fact I do build basses. Just have a look at the "K" series bass over in the models page! However, if you are interested in a very high quality, Short scale bass, I would suggest Birdsong guitars. These basses are incredibly comfortable, and easy to play. If you are a guitar player, thinking of switching to bass, this is the way to go. I have worked with Birdsong guitars for sometime now, and have had the priviledge of playing a few of these wonderful instruments. As a guitar player, basses with a normal bass scale are just too big for me to get used to. They have discovered the secret to making a smaller, short scale bass work. And they Nailed it. Not that I don't want to build you a bass, I do. If you want something in a regular scale, or done in my style, I will definately do it. My six string guitar price list applies to a 4 string bass, and from there, more strings, more cash. ( I'm fair.)
Q. How long do I have to wait before I get my guitar?
A. At this time, expect a two, to three month wait for Karlin, Karlin bass, and other models, with oil finish. Any one off, or Non-standard custom build will take longer, as design is part of the build. Most custom builders will tell you about six months, and with good reason. They want to take their time on your build and make sure it is done right. Also, there is usually a few guitars in line in front of yours. Not to mention, the curing time of most laquers and Nitrocelulose paints. Since I don't normally use laquer, and this is my job, Not a part time after work thing, I can give these relatively short build times. Depending on my workload and your guitars specifications, and If for some reason I am not too busy at that time, or have a good handle on things around here, it could even be a little quicker. On the other hand, however, If the due date comes and its not quite done yet, it is to be assumed that this is only an estimate. Everything will be done to correct the situation, but the fact is, we want your guitar to get to you, because that is how we get paid. But things happen, and I will NOT rush something out that I don't feel is right. This is in respect to you as a consumer. I would much rather you say "well, it took a little longer than I hoped, but DAMN! this is a beautiful guitar!" than "Wow! it got here really quick, but......... I'm not too impressed."
Q. How much do I have to put down to get started?
A. I ask for $500, plus material extras, (different pickups, fancy woods, different hardware, etc..) to start a basic Karlin model, unless certain woods and materials are not in stock, or readily available. Other models, and one-offs will typically be more, depending on what is needed. I can do this, because I keep many things in stock, and ready to use for your build. Typically builders ask for 50% of the final price. I would much rather you get excited about your guitar, and have the rest of the build time to secure the final payment. The guitar will be delivered only after final payment is recieve'd. Once recieve'd, you have 48 hours to return if not satisfied. But that should not be a problem. On a pleasant note, If you have any problems in the future with your guitar, due to normal wear and tear, I will be more than happy to fix it free of charge. You will of course need to pay shipping, and if needed, parts. (I am trying to run a buisness!)
Q. How do I get started?
A. First of all, I would rather not build a guitar completely on e-mail messages alone. I find that too impersonal. I ask that we contact each other by phone, and continue to do so throughout the build process. I will be more than happy to clue you in on how it is going, and maybe in the process I can get a feel for what kind of player you are. Then the build will be more YOUR guitar. The way I do things, is I mail or E-mail you a purchase agreement, (already signed by me) along with a basic work order sheet, for you to fill out. Then, sign the purchase agreement, send it, the work order, and a check or money order back to me, and I will begin your build. Of course, the work order is just a rough idea of your finished guitar. We will hash out all the details on the phone, or in person. Please feel free to contact me at any time during the build process with any questions you may have. I answer e-mails and phone calls very promptly, and I don't make promises I cant keep.
I hope all of this has been helpful, and I look forward to building your handmade JG Guitar. feel free to contact me with any questions, or to place an order, at..
830-822-0516
Thank you, and I look forward to working with you.