need a quality builder...

Re: need a quality builder...

over the past year I have worked on several grosh guitars .. first off .. his fretting is above and beyond ... really .. one need not look any further than the fret-ends to realize this.

The finish's are always top-notch ... as are the appointments .. fralins w/ callaham bridges (not always) ... they've out-performed nearly every strat "in-da-house" and have really proven themselves to me as a QUALITY guitar .. over and over.

The strats are really nice thru and thru ... if I were to complain about anything it would be his use of the swimmingpool route ... not the biggest fan of this myself .. but his guitars dont seem to lack tone because of it ...

I recently had a hollow arch-top tele w/ mahogany 24.75 neck on the bench ... killer flamed top in black cherry w/ matching headstock .. and to my surprise it only sounded "ok" .. looking at it I expected sooon much more .. the neck was warm but didnt have the openess and 3d sound I would have thought ... and the B pup was thin and wimpy .. it was sad really ... so I swapped out the dimarzio Ver Vin. for some VooDoo's .. and POW! the guitar just sprang to life ... I was super shocked .. and stoked cuz my bro was gonna sell it due to its lack of performence ..... I dont think he'll be sellin it now .. or ever ..

melacon guitars are pretty sweet too .. but I'd prolly go grosh if it were me .. he seems really easy to work w/ ... just spendy
 
Re: need a quality builder...

the guy who invented said:
I did not know that he used swimming pool routes...I hate that...this makes a problem for me! I'm glad you mentioned that
Click to expand...

I'll admit I was shocked when I pulled the guard off the first one ... it sure makes it easy to use any p'up combo .. but at these prices .. I'd hope for more.

It's all part of the CNC revolution I suppose ..

I still say Grosh=Great guitars!
 
Re: need a quality builder...

orbiter said:
I'll admit I was shocked when I pulled the guard off the first one ... it sure makes it easy to use any p'up combo .. but at these prices .. I'd hope for more.

It's all part of the CNC revolution I suppose ..

I still say Grosh=Great guitars!
Click to expand...

His stuff is famtastic, and Don is a great guy...but I have a hard time seeing that ANY bolton neck guitar is worth more that $1500.00...unless it is a vintage Fender...but to pay that kind of money and get a swimming pool route...NO NO NO...This can't happen!
 
Re: need a quality builder...

well .. to be honest .. at those prices I'd prefer a non CNC'd guitar ... I'd like to think an old bearded guy with sawdust all over him painstakingly handshaped the body with skills he built up over years of practice .. like my surfboards

but his guitars are really great ... and I've yet to find better fret-work ... I've actually been thinking about buying just a neck from him ...
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Have you tried contacting Hamer? I don't know if they'd do what you want or not, but they do have an excellent custom shop, and all their guitars are 100% built by hand, no CNC routing. It might be worth calling or emailing them to find out.

Ryan
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I have a friend of mine who has Andersons and Suhrs - and he loves them both so it is a very tough call. Having played both of those makes I think the Suhrs are better. But I am going to suggest someone else who does not feature on your list - Sadowsky.

Roger Sadowksy makes beautiful Tele and Strat guitars and also basses. He is a fantastic builder and I think you need to sound him out. Most of the session guys use his guitars. He will make you whatever you want and will personally will go through with you all of the selection of woods, pups etc. He is not cheap but as cost is not a problem then I would e-mail him and talk to him about what you want. Go and check out his site:

http://www.sadowsky.com/
 
Re: need a quality builder...

just out of curiousity why wont blueline build you a strat? Didn't he make a tele that look pretty darn good and authentic not too long ago for someone on the forum?
 
Re: need a quality builder...

strat_master said:
just out of curiousity why wont blueline build you a strat? Didn't he make a tele that look pretty darn good and authentic not too long ago for someone on the forum?
Click to expand...
if you read through the thread, and Blueline's response, the guy who invented wants a regular strat, and Blueline doesn't want to invite legal action from Fender

(I don't blame him)
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I think your on the right track. But for others looking for a Fender alternative there is G&L. They have a custom shop but I'm not sure if you can order a one off guitar. It looks more like they make what they want and them call it custom :smack:

Take a look http://www.glguitars.com/frameset.htm

They make good guitars. A good option for buying off the rack or used.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

its a real shame i can't help exaclty as he wants
It seems like we'd be a good match
i don't do any cnc, i'm the only one who touches the guitars, and i'm usually covered in sawdust (and sweat)
but there is no way i can do a fender headstock
the body shape is dicey to begin with
i was only about to do the fender headstock for mrfjones becasue that was acutally a fender neck

truly, i prefer my own neck and neck joint - but mrfjones wanted a dead on vintage tele
believe me, if "the guy who invented fire" was down with my flat top doublecutaway design- i be rough cutting the body by now

cheers and good luck my friend
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I hate to say it but G and L is out...the tremolo will work the way I need it to...and new G and L guitars use swimming pool routes as well.

Shadowsky, said he would do it, and his price was not way too bad, but it was over a year wait...

Callaham was good to...but it is a 2 year wait

Blueline does not want to invite Fender in for a TM lawsuite (as Curly noted)

Hamer would not touch it...they told me what they would do, and it was so far off base that it really was a wasted phone call...

I promice you guys, I really have tried every possible guitar builder, and it came down to the 3 I mentioned...
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Blueline said:
i don't do any cnc, i'm the only one who touches the guitars, and i'm usually covered in sawdust (and sweat)
Click to expand...

here's a big ATTABOY! for that!! warms my heart to read posts like that..
 
Re: need a quality builder...

A local guy builds guitars, does not have the national repute of Grosh, Suhr, Anderson, etc. but, it looks like you're still after a builder. Here's one worth a look...

http://watkinsguitars.com

Not much of a website, but I've met him a number of times and he's very serious about quality. I know he used to have pics of his stuff and I'm sure he could email some to you.

Hope this helps.
Dave
 
Re: need a quality builder...

What the heck were you wanting anyway?


Impossible to find parts or combinations of things??
 
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