charic Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Just wondering really (I'm no guitarist ) but are there any guitar builders who offer the same kind of value for money as ACG and Shuker? (I know ACG do guitars, do Shuker?) I'm trying to induce GAS in my guitarist as he was talking about getting a new guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Just working on several new guitar designs a few now at the prototype stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks Alan I look forward to seeing the new shapes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 John Diggins (Jaydee) does guitars; no idea about prices but wouldn't harm to ask. A guide figure might help. (I'm assuming from your post that you have around £1500 in mind?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) I was speaking with John Diggins just the other day; as usual he's up to his eyeballs in work & now has both of his sons working for him. The waiting time for a new build is still around 18 months. A couple of names are among the list; didn't ask about prices but a guy I know had a bass built about 6 years ago and it cost around £1400. There's one of his on Ebay just now, which could be modded............ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaydee-Hooligan-Vintage-Strat-Guitar-/110961996926?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19d5d9b47e Edited October 9, 2012 by Big_Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Probably around about the £1k mark, he likes the simple things in life so although it's a custom build it would probably be a fairly basic one. As a good custom bass can be had at around £725 from Shuker [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/bospec.htm"]http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/bospec.htm[/url] I would expect to find something similar from a guitar builder, especially as it uses less materials Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 At that price I can foresee a possible issue, in that £1000 will buy a very decent off-the-shelf model. I'm not trying to put you (or him) off, but I have a feeling you may struggle to get what you want at that figure (I'm not so sure the market is there for sub-£1k custom guitars in quite the same way as it is for basses). I'd love to be proved wrong though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 This is why I'm asking they usually seem more pricey which is funny because guitars are generally cheaper than their bass counterparts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I'd expect a custom guitar to start around the £700-£800 mark and climb (very) rapidly as you start adding desirable features. £1500 might be a better expected starting price, especially if the customer wanted a set neck, some carving on the body and anything other than simple dot inlay on the fingerboard. I'd like to recommend Bailey guitars: http://news.baileyguitars.co.uk/index.php/custom/ I tried one of their instruments at Music Live a few years back, and would have taken it home over any of the PRS guitars that seemed to dominate that particular show, and to which it bore a passing resemblance. No idea on pricing, but he was very friendly there, and one can ask. A question one should ask is 'why custom?' because, as pointed out, £1000 can buy an excellent standard guitar, especially from a smaller name. In his situation I'd take a long look at Gordon Smith http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/ and JJ Guitars http://www.jjguitars.com I have a JJ Goldtop Special, and it is the only instrument I've ever owned that was set up perfectly from the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Indeed! Speaking as a guitarist about to spend nearly 3 times that figure on what I fondly hope will be the best guitar I'll ever own, I tend to think that a custom guitar has to be something a bit special (and hence more expensive). I'm sure younger members will see that as a bit blinkered, but I am what I am. Modern bass design is incredibly rich and varied. I'll be following this thread with interest to see how well that design flair has filtered through to the world of the reasonably-priced guitar. Best of luck in your search! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 TBH I'm wondering if there's a point where he'll reach the same decision as me: IE. I was about to spend my first full time jobs paycheck and decided to buy a bass as a reward for my hard work. The choices were between a warwick and a musicman, I liked both but then on a whim I mailed ACG and lo and behold it worked out cheaper aswell as being MY bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 There are plenty of great custom guitar makers in the UK. Before your guitarist picks one he should probably have a good think about what he wants from a custom guitar and then select appropriately (or pick something off the shelf if that turns out to be more suitable). I have 2 custom guitars that were made especially for me - a Fretking and a Gus - so I've been through the process. However there are so many interesting guitar makers around these days that there are plenty of "stock" instruments that I'd want to try first before having something else custom made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardjmorgan Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Being more of a guitarist than a bassist, if I had the cash, I'd totally get something built by Feline (felineguitars.com) - played a few and they're lovely. Not all that cheap, mind… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1349781989' post='1830354'] Just working on several new guitar designs a few now at the prototype stage. [/quote] Because this is such a friendly forum, I'd like to offer my services as a tester of those prototypes. No charge either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Jon Shuker can build stunning guitars as well as EUBs and all manner of wonderful basses too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1350326573' post='1837404'] Because this is such a friendly forum, I'd like to offer my services as a tester of those prototypes. No charge either [/quote] I will keep that in mind. Cheers alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 [quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1350323779' post='1837334'] Being more of a guitarist than a bassist, if I had the cash, I'd totally get something built by Feline (felineguitars.com) - played a few and they're lovely. Not all that cheap, mind… [/quote] I have a good friend who still lives in Croydon. He had a custom guitar built a couple of years back, and when I asked him why he didn't use Feline he told me it's because he wanted the guitar actually delivered, and without getting grief over it. His past bad experience may be unique, but maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 One of the most gorgeous custom guitars I ever saw was a Strat made by a guy called Joe Wolf who used to be the tech for Edinburgh Sound Control in the early 90s before Rod Vaughan. It had a thru neck, can't remember the wood but it was dyed black throughout with the most amazing book-matched body grain and flamed neck, I remember it had a carved wolf's paw-print as a logo. I believe he left to live in the Western Isles building guitars but I've never heard of any being made. He was a brilliant guitar tech too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Rob Williams guitars is another option for custom guitar builders. He's in Wales http://www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk/Robwilliamsguitars/Welcome.html Jazzyvee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1350509800' post='1839998'] Rob Williams guitars is another option for custom guitar builders. He's in Wales [url="http://www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk/Robwilliamsguitars/Welcome.html"]http://www.robwillia...rs/Welcome.html[/url] Jazzyvee [/quote] I would have mentioned him myself as he's building one for me at the mo - see the separate thread in this section. However mine is costing £2800, and AFAIK the cheapest he will do is around £2000 Pretty much scuppers the OP's intentions I fear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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