Sipe Custom Guitar PrograM
A guitar built to your specifications.
Starting at $6,800 USD
Each year I take on a few custom projects which include builds of historic reproductions and steel string guitars. This also includes the guitars with unique and one-off rosettes and inlay work. Inlay work is charged at hourly rate for the design and construction time that is in addition to the normal price of a guitar. Making custom rosettes can be especially time consuming and so there can also be additional charges for elaborate designs that require lots of veneer to be purchased and processed as well.
Previous projects have included Romantic era guitars, early American guitars, steel string guitars of many sizes, ukuleles, modern multi-scale instruments, custom arm and back bevels, as well as specific inlays that can either be cut in house or jobbed out to specialized inlay artists.
Ideas that previous customers have come to me with are things like:
An all North American wood guitar
An all Oregon woods guitar,
Lacote inspired Romantic guitar,
An 8 string Ukulele,
Long multi-scale guitars meant for altered tunings
Pre War Martin Guitar Copies
Washburn inspired Parlor Guitars
Banner Era Gibson inspired guitars
Rosette designs inspired by “dynamic symmetry”
Rosette of Black Mother of Pearl and crenellations
Torres, Hauser, and other specific copies of instruments
That’s just a few of the things I’ve done and a small example of the possible custom work available.
I previously worked in a shop where we worked a great deal on vintage acoustic flat top instruments so that era and style of steel string guitar is something that I feel comfortable working on. I already have a variety of molds made for various size steel string guitars.
I’ve also been able to examine quite a few Romantic era guitars and that is another area of interest for me. I haven’t been making strict historical copies but more so, instruments that modern players feel comfortable playing.
The neck dimensions on some of the Romantic era guitars is quite small and many players who are used to a standard classical guitar neck find some of those smaller dimensions to be a large recalibration and so I’ve made some of those changes. Also, the Romantic era guitars I’ve built have had geared mechanisms as opposed to friction pegs with either the use of faux pegs with planetary gears imbedded in them, planetary banjo style machines, or actual classical guitar style machines on plates.
The Custom Guitar program requires a non-refundable deposit of 50%. Payment in full (plus the cost of shipping) shall be required in advance of receiving your guitar. Your guitar is guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and workmanship up to 5 years after your purchase. If in those 5 years your guitar develops a problem that is not due to neglect, trauma, or considered reasonable wear I will repair it at no cost. I cannot warranty against damage caused by extremes in temperature or humidity or natural disaster.
Sipe Custom Romantic Classical Guitar
Let’s Get Started
The first step in the process is to submit your idea in this form. After I have a look at it I will email or call you and let you know if I think this project is a good match with my skills and schedule. Next, I will schedule a time to talk about your ideas and come up with a quote and time frame. After you make a deposit of 50% of the quote I will get started and make your vision come to life.
FAQs About The Custom Guitar Program
What Kind of Guitars Do you Build?
1
In the Custom Program I have built a wide range of guitars– mainly steel string and historic reproductions. Other instruments I have built include ukuleles (4 and 8 string), an electric acoustic classical guitar, and a number of parlor guitars.
Can I order a Custom Classical Guitar?
2
All of my classical builds are done through the models I offer. They are highly customizable in both aesthetics and construction details and are proven starting point for getting the classical guitar that best matches the player. The Custom Program is for steel string guitars, ukuleles, specialized guitars, and historic interpretations.
How Long Does it Take?
3
Depending on the project and my schedule lead times start at 12 weeks. Once I have an idea of what your project entails I will let you know the time frame when I send you a quote.
If you can’t Build My Guitar Do you have any RECOMMENDATIONS for Luthiers?
4
Of course, I have a network of skilled luthiers that I can recommend from if we aren’t a good fit.