How to Commission a Custom Electric Guitar

Commissioning a custom electric guitar means working directly with the maker to build an instrument around you — how you play, the sound you hear in your head, and the way a guitar should feel in your hands. Here is how the process works, and what to think about before you get in touch.

It starts with a conversation

Every bespoke build begins with a chat, not a spec sheet. What music do you play? Which guitars have you loved — and what never quite worked? Those answers shape everything that follows. There is no template to squeeze you into; the design is led by what you actually need.

Designing the guitar

Together we settle the things that decide how an instrument plays and sounds:

• Body and timber — the woods set weight, resonance and looks. I have built with korina, black limba, olive wood and 100-year-old pitch pine, among others.
• Neck feel — profile, depth and fretboard radius are what make a guitar feel “right”. These are worth getting exactly to your hands.
• Scale length — it changes both the feel under your fingers and how the pickups hear the strings.

Pickups and wiring

Pickups set the broad character of the tone; the wiring, switching and pot values decide how usable all the in-between sounds are. This is where a custom build really earns its keep — you are not stuck with a factory loom. If you want to see how different pickup layouts can be wired, I keep a full set of wiring and switching schemes in the resources section, from simple two-pickup guitars to HSH SuperStrats.

What to expect on timing

Good work cannot be rushed — timber selection, construction, finishing and setup all take the time they take. A bespoke guitar is an instrument you keep for decades, so patience is part of what you are investing in.

Ready to start?

If you are thinking about a one-off guitar — for yourself, or even as a build for a cause — get in touch and tell me what you have in mind. There is no obligation; the first step is simply a conversation.