what if you had a custom guitar built.....

[Caleb]

....and you didnt like it?

was just wondering. i'd like to get a custom built one day, and i know i'd have a "sound" in my head that i'd be looking for....but what to do if the guitar you paid so much for....and waited so long for....just didn't cut the mustard?

anyone ever had this experience?

[poki]

the custom luthiers i remember had pretty much the same deal concerning their guitars.  once you receive the guitar you have a trail period to allow you to test drive the guitar.  if you decide the guitar just doesn't suit your desires you can return the guitar for a refund but you may take a loss on the down payment and or if the luthier has to undo some personalised options so he/she can resell the guitar.  i would imagine the lutheirs have wait times of varying lengths but the ones i remember were over a year or so but the one on one relationship with the luthier can make the wait worth it.

i was going to go the route of a custom luthier but decided on the safer risk, lowest cost, shortest wait time route by going through baffalo bros for my custom goodall parlor since i traded in my goodall 000 for the parlor and can still trade-in my custom parlor at a latter time but the parlor is by far the sweetest guitar i've ever played with absolutely perfect worksmanship and is mine for good.   i ordered my goodall in may 06 and got it in late aug.  the downside was i didn't have any one on one contact with goodall and the options available were more limited compared to a custom luthier. 

the APM forum has some fine custom luthiers that sponsor the site that you can check out.

[flaggerphil]

Actually, that did happen to me.  I had a custom SJ made by John Mayes and, though it was one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen, once I got it it quickly became apparent it just wasn't the right one.  I'd really picked the wrong size...to small for the way I play and the sound just didn't do it.

What I ended up doing is sending it back to him (he loved the guitar and really wanted it for himself) and worked a deal with him where he's giving me the credit for the guitar (not what I payed for it, of course...I had the guitar for over a year) and applying it towards a different type that he's going to make for me.  Hopefully, it'll work out ok.

[jimmyd]

Actually, that did happen to me.  I had a custom SJ made by John Mayes and, though it was one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen, once I got it it quickly became apparent it just wasn't the right one.  I'd really picked the wrong size...to small for the way I play and the sound just didn't do it.

What I ended up doing is sending it back to him (he loved the guitar and really wanted it for himself) and worked a deal with him where he's giving me the credit for the guitar (not what I payed for it, of course...I had the guitar for over a year) and applying it towards a different type that he's going to make for me.  Hopefully, it'll work out ok.

Wow. A direct trade in with the luthier after one year. That is impressive. He really went a long way to help you eventually get what pleases you most. I've read some of John's posts and would love to see his instructional DVDs.

[Ratishna]

Luthiers are generally understanding people, and they want their customers to be happy.  I think in most cases, buyers usually are.  And they know that happy customers often buy more guitars.

[Gemnoc]

I'd probably order from a luthier I could visit first, either at his shop or at a show, and try some of his guitars.

[Peter Cree]

I have a couple I love.  You have to chose a luthier that has a signiture sound and usually acheives it.