Is getting a guitar custom made worth it?

[sfla]

I tried a local luthiers instrument in a music shop near me and it was great, in all honesty I preferred it to the Lowdens I compared it to.
I also tried another model he made and it was great as well.

I emailed about pricing and I was told base price is €2400, and customisations go as far as tonewoods, binding woods, inlay, neck radius, nut width and hard wear + some little tweaks.

Is it worth it?
Not this specific luthier but having a guitar built?
I mean I’d imagine an off the shelf Martin would be easier to resell if I ever wanted to down the line.

I also don’t know exactly what it is I want I just know he makes great guitars

[fregly]

Unless you need rather particular specs just get the one you tried and liked. No wait, no risk.

[SoCalSurf]

You will likely get diverse opinions on this topic, which is a good thing. The more you know, as they say...

Is it worth it financially? I don't think so. Custom options tend to be much more pricey compared to finding a limited edition with those same features on a standard model. You will almost always eat the cost of a custom if you try to sell it used.

Is it worth it for other reasons? I suppose if there is something you need in a guitar that you cannot get otherwise, then a custom may be worth it. I have had two custom guitars built; the first ended up not being what I had hoped it would be and I sold it with lots of disappointment, in both the outcome and how little I could recoup from it. The second custom I had built by Preston Thompson, and it has been everything I could have asked for in every way. It is a lifetime guitar, and is pictured below for some context.

Best of luck with your decision!

[RP]

Is getting a guitar custom made worth it?

The definitive answer is one of the following:

A) Yes
B) No
C) Perhaps....

Any question that queries worth or value is going to require a subjective answer....

Originally Posted by sfla

...I also don’t know exactly what it is I want I just know he makes great guitars

However, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if you don't know what you want then a custom guitar is probably not worth it...

[Goodallboy]

To some people, absolutely it's worth it.

What you're trying to decide is whether or not it's worth it to you. So I'll add my personal opinion.

It's not something I'd entertain at all. There's far too much risk involved that I'll hit the first chord and be spectacularly disappointed. Then, I'd be trying to convince myself I'll bond with it over time.

I think it's a personal mark of status in commissioning a custom guitar and that's perfectly understandable. That's just not a factor I value in selecting an acoustic guitar, especially when there are so many I can hold and play before making the investment.

[zmf]

I have a small number of excellent guitars that I bought from various shops around the country. I played each of these guitars extensively before buying, and passed up many guitars that I thought would suit me. I need to play guitars first before making a decision.

I've never felt the need to commission a build, and wouldn't unless I had a chance to play a few examples of a luthier's work that were representative of exactly what I was after.

There are so many choices out there that I'd need a darn good reason to commission a build.

But if you know that the luthier's guitars have the tone and aesthetics you want, and you're comfortable with what you're going to end up with, I bet it'd be a great experience.

[bufflehead]

I attended the La Conner Guitar Festival this past summer, where pretty much all the guitars were custom, boutique, handmade-by-luthier instruments that you'd have to order and then wait at least six months to receive. Most of the guitars were beautiful, and they were all expensive.

Every evening, after a day of interviewing guitars and attending small concerts performed by incredible guitarists, I'd ride my bike home, pick up my Martin 000-15m, play a few cowboy chords and realize that this was the sound I was looking for.

That said, I recommend the La Conner Guitar Festival highly. It will help you realize either that you're one of those players who needs one of those guitars, or you're not.

[L20A]

I will let you know in June when my custom build is completed.

[Pitar]

I don't think so. Perhaps 50 years ago the limited availability of tonal choices might have been a time for commissioning a build, but there was also a lack of capable private builders to service that demand. In today's market if a player can't find something off the shelf that satisfies his (ever-changing) ear then he isn't in the market for his ear alone.

[BoneDigger]

In my opinion, if the build you want (design and woods) is available commercially through one of the main builders, then go that route. Selling it later will be easier. However. If you want something special and like no others, have one made.

[dreamsinger]

It's been worth it to me because of the size of my hands and fingers. Getting the dimensional challenges out of the way really set my playing free. Add in spec'ing features from various guitars into one instrument and you have an instrument that plays *with* you instead of *against* you. If you're comfortable on a standard production guitar it may not be worth it.

[lweb10]

I have four luthier built guitars: one I won in a contest, one I ordered and two I bought from the builder after they were finished. They have all been worth it. I understand the concern about spending a lot of money and then being disappointed. The one I ordered and waited for has been a love-hate relationship for 40 years. However, right now it’s what I usually play, both at home and for solo gigging. I think it took that long to find its best use. All four have spoiled me for guitar shopping - I seldom find something as interesting as what’s at home. Could I sell them for what I have in them? Yes, no, maybe - not my foremost concern.

Resale can be a longer journey than with something like a Martin simply because of brand recognition. It occurs to me that Martin, I assume unintentionally, kind of helps with their warranty policy - only first owners are covered, which might equal the playing field a bit upon resale when compared to a lesser known builder.

I really enjoy having a relationship with the person who built the instrument I’m playing. It’s something you don’t have with the big companies in the market place. Very few things in our modern life allow us this opportunity. For me, this adds another kind of value.

[jmat]

You bet, for ergonomics alone in my case. The ability to dial in the neck, nut, saddle, body depth, wedge. And what guys like Sexauer, Brondel and John Slobod are bringing is awesome. I own a Collings I won’t sell and have played many Martins I would love to own. Ok, but are the custom guitars still worth it? Sure thing...

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by fregly

Unless you need rather particular specs just get the one you tried and liked. No wait, no risk.

Originally Posted by RP

...I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if you don't know what you want then a custom guitar is probably not worth it...

Excellent advice both and, as suggested above, if you're not an experienced, long-time player who knows exactly what to ask for in a new build (unless of course a particular luthier's standard models check all your boxes) you could be out a ton of money on something you don't like and can't sell; similarly if you're patient, once in a while your "ideal" guitar will appear as part of a manufacturer's/luthier's regular lineup. FWIW I had approached a now well-known boutique bass-guitar specialist back in the early-80's, with a guitar design that eventually materialized (with only minor changes) as the Gretsch 3-PU/cats'-eye 5622T-CB - admittedly a long wait, but I also saved a load of cash in the bargain (I was quoted $2300-2500 in 1983 dollars - about $6K+ today - versus the $900 I paid for the Gretsch in 2016); by the same token I have a design for an acoustic custom-build that, while it doesn't stray from the conventional in terms of general specs (other than an early-90's Taylor "fine electric" neck profile), incorporates an otherwise tried-and-proven wood combination that TMK has never been used in this specific application - just looking for the right luthier to take on the job...

[dreamsinger]

Originally Posted by lweb10

I have four luthier built guitars: one I won in a contest, one I ordered and two I bought from the builder after they were finished. They have all been worth it. I understand the concern about spending a lot of money and then being disappointed. The one I ordered and waited for has been a love-hate relationship for 40 years. However, right now it’s what I usually play, both at home and for solo gigging. I think it took that long to find its best use. All four have spoiled me for guitar shopping - I seldom find something as interesting as what’s at home. Could I sell them for what I have in them? Yes, no, maybe - not my foremost concern.

Resale can be a longer journey than with something like a Martin simply because of brand recognition. It occurs to me that Martin, I assume unintentionally, kind of helps with their warranty policy - only first owners are covered, which might equal the playing field a bit upon resale when compared to a lesser known builder.

I really enjoy having a relationship with the person who built the instrument I’m playing. It’s something you don’t have with the big companies in the market place. Very few things in our modern life allow us this opportunity. For me, this adds another kind of value.

I understand the resale issue, I have an exquisite 12 fret OO cutaway slothead for sale for a lot less than spending thousands more and an indeterminate waiting period. As for having a relationship with the luthier it can pay off in unexpected ways. Some luthiers build you *their* guitar but a few rare ones seem to have a sense of what it takes to build a guitar that works best for you. Such is my McAlister OO.