Custom Acoustic Guitars: A History

Before the 1960s, most acoustics came from the factories of a few companies that included major players like Martin and Gibson. The hippie movement and revival of folk music popularized custom acoustic guitars, and the 1970s brought an increase in demand for them that coincided with the temporary decline in quality of factory-made guitars. Today the customized guitar industry is thriving with over 3,000 luthiers in North America crafting one-of-a-kind guitars. Luthier's Collection features custom hand made guitars from around the world, made by luthiers like Marc Maingard in Africa and Mario Beauregard in Quebec. Discover the talents of each of our partners by reading about and seeing photos of their craftsmanship.

Here are some tips for choosing the best customized guitar for you. With custom hand made guitars, you have the advantage of personalizing your guitar for maximum comfort and sound.

• Choose a fret wire size: Wide frets have longer wear than narrow frets, whereas low frets allow little room between your fingertips and the fingerboard.
• Choose the neck size, based on previous experience with the height that you prefer.
• Select the type of wood you prefer, based on look and sound: Some woods are more responsive to dynamics than others, and hard, dense wood will produce a duller sound than softer woods of lesser density.
• Familiarize yourself with the artisan: Read the bio posted on our site to learn about each craftsperson's experience and specialization.

Browse our broad selection of custom acoustic guitars made by respected luthiers such as Mark Blanchard, James Olson, and Kim Walker. Whichever guitar you choose, you can be sure that it is the only one of its kind with a completely original sound and feel for you and your audience to enjoy.