Choosing the Best Handmade Guitars

The best handmade guitars are ultimately those chosen by their prospective players. When all is said and done, the guitar that is most comfortable for the player and helps the musician create desired sounds is graduated to the level of excellence. Acoustic guitars, handmade or factory built, offer some distinct differences over the electric versions, most notably the more intimate relationship between player and instrument. If a guitar player has determined that they prefer the acoustic variation, then there are several considerations to choosing their instruments.

A factory built guitar will be one that fits many players and gives a uniform sound, as it is intended for distribution to the masses. A handmade guitar, of which the definition for has been in debate for year with the growth of tool technology, offers an instrument that has a personality all its own. The novice guitar maker can create instruments for novice players, while the best handmade guitars are made by the most skilled craftsmen, sometimes an art that has been handed down through generations.

One benefit to a handmade guitar is the ability to return to the dealer for repairs and maintenance. The guitar maker will have direct knowledge of the guitar and will be able to make adjustments specifically for the individual.

Acoustic Guitars, Handmade and Custom

Handmade and custom guitars have consistently held their place in music. Even as the technology has changed to breed a new factory built assembly line version of the same instrument, guitar enthusiasts still covet the handmade versions. Handmade currently can mean different things to different people, meaning that some purists insist that for a guitar to be considered handmade, it must be touched by human hands throughout 100% of the construction. Others will allow for a certain amount of handheld power tools or some machinery. With definition variances aside, there are many guitar players that choose acoustic guitars, handmade by definition.

Some advantages to choosing handmade acoustic guitars are:

Handmade guitars are made from materials and use finishes that are relatively easy to repair over the long-term life of the guitar.
A personal relationship can develop between player, dealer, and maker.
There are typically more features and options that can be utilized in a handmade guitar over a factory built.

It ultimately comes down to the guitar player’s preference and their personal opinions on the value of the piece. Talk to a professional at Luthier’s collection to see what options are available.