Custom Orders

Standard Instruments

All custom instruments are GUARANTEED FOR LIFE against defects in workmanship or materials. Electronic options feature high quality K&K Sound, Shadow, and Mi-Si pickups and preamps. I have "standard" instruments I can build for you as follows:

Instrument/Model No.	Description	Base Price
Dreadnought SS-RW	AAA grade Sitka Spruce top, AAA grade Indian Rosewood sides and back, Mahogany neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Paua rosette.	$1,800
Dreadnought SM	AAA grade Spruce top, AAA grade Mahogany sides and back, Mahogany neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Paua rosette.	$1,300
1952 Fender "Telecaster" style electric solid-body FTS Current project completed. Natural finish, gloss. Click for larger image...	Base model: Hand-picked Southern swamp ash laminated body, maple neck with choice of walnut, rosewood, or maple fretboard. Your choice of body and pick guard color. Other body woods available (see below). Kluson style vintage tuners (reproduced by Gotoh) are standard, other tuner options are available on request. Genuine Fender parts (knobs, bridge, switches, pots, pickguards, pickups, etc.). Modern Wilkinson bridge is also available. Vintage bridge options have three brass, un-plated, un-grooved saddles, several other saddle configurations available. Fender Mod Shop Samarium Cobalt Noiseless (SCN) pickups, other pickup choices (i.e. Fender original vintage non-hum cancelling, Seymour Duncan, etc.) on request. Pickups and controls are hand-wired. Body cavities are lined with grounded copper foil to help reduce any 60-cycle hum from vintage pickups. Hard side tweed case with plush liner included. Great alternative to an American Fender "Vintage Telecaster" that sells for well over $1,800. Looks and plays like a Fender, but sports the J.W. Bosworth signature logo on the headstock - your guarantee of quality and incredible attention to detail. Body is hand-cut and routed based on Fender's original Tele blueprints. Dimensions will be similar but not exact. And I can experiment... Other solid body designs are available - tell me your ideas... How about an all Indian Rosewood Tele like George Harrison's? Base cost is $2,500 (click to enlarge photo).	$1,650
4 or 5 String Semi-hollow Bass Ukulele	AAAA grade Hawaiian big island Koa body, sides, and back, Koa neck, Rosewood fingerboard (fretted) and bridge. Shadow SH-064 or 065 piezo bridge pickup, Mi-Si Align batteryless preamp and EQ. Hipshot Ultralite tuners, Pahoehoe poly strings. 23.5" scale length. Carbon fiber "T" -shaped truss rod (see below). No rear access plate required since the Align preamp uses a "Supercap" to store energy. You never need to replace a battery. This uke is based on the Road Toad semi-hollow bass pictured here. I am currently building two 5 string bass ukes for customers that are significant design departures from the RT model. One will look similar to this one with a koa and Gabon ebony laminated neck but the other will be made of waterfall Bubinga, Jatoba, and Cocobolo with a "Bullfrog" theme to the body design and amenities. As soon as I have pictures of these works in progress I will put them up here. Note: The 5-string will be about $250 higher. Other woods can be used to build this ukulele and may increase the price. Ask for the wood you want. I use only AAA or AAAA Luthier grade tonewoods in my customs as there is no point in putting the time and money into these instruments and use lower quality wood. My suppliers hand-pick the woods I cannot pick myself to my exacting specifications. These instruments are intended to last a lifetime and, as we all know, usually you get what you pay for. I won't compromise on the quality of them.   Channels routed into Jatoba neck to accommodate my exclusive "T" carbon fiber truss rod under the fretboard. (Click on images for a larger view) Carbon fiber rods installed in channels. Since the carbon fiber is laid in different directions stiffness and straightness of the neck is maintained.	$2,200
Tenor Ukulele UT-S	AAA grade Englemann Spruce top, AAA grade Sapele sides and back, Sapele neck, Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 17" scale length. Paua rosette. Premium Gotoh geared tuners, gold w/amber knobs). Your choice of headstock veneer. Hard side case included. Tweed case available. Add a K&K Sound Twin Spot active bridge pickup with a PrePhase preamp for just $250.	$850
Tenor Ukulele UT-OM	AAA grade Englemann Spruce top, AAA grade Oregon Myrtle sides and back, Sapele neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 17" scale length. Paua rosette. Premium Gotoh geared tuners, gold w/amber knobs). Your choice of headstock veneer. Hard side case included. Tweed case available. Add a K&K Sound Twin Spot active bridge pickup with a PrePhase preamp for just $250.	$950
Tenor Ukulele UT-PF	AAA grade Englemann Spruce top, AAAA grade Pau Ferro sides and back, Sapele neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 17" scale length. Paua rosette. Premium Gotoh geared tuners, gold w/amber knobs). Your choice of headstock veneer. Hard side case included. Tweed case available. Add a K&K Sound Twin Spot active bridge pickup with a PrePhase preamp for just $250.	$1,000
Tenor Ukulele UT-SW	AAA grade Englemann Spruce top, AAAA grade Sri Lankan Satinwood sides and back, Sapele neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 17" scale length. Paua rosette. Premium Gotoh geared tuners, gold w/amber knobs). Your choice of headstock veneer. Hard side case included. Tweed case available. Add a K&K Sound Twin Spot active bridge pickup with a PrePhase preamp for just $250.	$1,100
"Gray Squirrel" Hourglass Mountain Dulcimer DULC-H	AAA grade solid northern cherry or black walnut (specify). Standard scale length. Ask about special customizations on all dulcimers, such as headstock designs and binding/inlay. Add $30 for black walnut. Add a K&K Sound Pure Classic passive soundboard pickup for just $200.	$600
"Gray Squirrel" Teardrop Mountain Dulcimer DULC-T	AAA grade solid northern cherry or black walnut (specify). Standard scale length. Add $30 for black walnut. Add a K&K Sound Pure Classic passive soundboard pickup for just $200.	$550
"Gray Squirrel" 6 String Hourglass Mountain Dulcimer DULC-H6	AAA grade solid northern cherry or black walnut (specify). Standard scale length. Add $30 for black walnut. Add a K&K Sound Pure Classic passive soundboard pickup for just $200.	$750
"Gray Squirrel" 6 String Teardrop Mountain Dulcimer DULC-T6	AAA grade solid northern cherry or black walnut (specify). Standard scale length. Add $30 for black walnut. Add a K&K Sound Pure Classic passive soundboard pickup for just $200.	$700
K&K Sound Electronics:

Custom Instruments

Custom instruments can be ordered via email or phone (email first). I have access to a very wide variety of tonewoods, some of which I have in my own personal inventory, others I can order. All tonewoods are minimum AAA grade. As a sampling, I currently have several beautiful dreadnought-size, bookmatched sets of German Spruce tops that are over 50 years old. I also have some 1950's Koa laminates that have some exquisite figure.  These would be best suited to the construction of a tenor ukulele. The laminate base is maple, so the tonal qualities are almost exactly the same as solid Koa, but without the cost. On-hand stock also includes high-grade, nicely aged Oregon Myrtle, Pau Ferro, Satinwood, Jatoba, Bubinga, and Sapele (see pictures below).

Wood choices (other woods on request):

Contact me for more information or to customize specific features. For example, see the Rosettes page...

The Process

My desire is to build instruments one at a time and to the highest possible standards. The most satisfying part of the work is to bring out each instrument's individual character. Building this way takes a tremendous amount of time, but the results are worth it. I do NOT use assembly line production methods. Everything is made or fitted by me, exactly as you order it.

To Place an Order

I require a refundable (see note below) deposit of $500 at the time an order is placed. This locks in your price and locks in your place in the schedule. All target dates are approximate and subject to unforeseen delays. Typical wait times based on my current schedule are 6 to 8 months. The deposit is for purchase of a spot on the build list (see Right of Refusal below). The deposit must be made with PayPal, cashier's check, or cash.

In some instances I will require substantially more for a deposit. Some exotic or rare woods or custom inlay will require an additional up-front deposit. It usually works out to approximately 20% of the full price of the guitar/ukulele/dulcimer.

Since building instruments one at time can create cash flow issues, I reserve the right to ask for up to half of the balance due at the time the finish work begins.

Note: Refunds are based on how far I am into your project. Allow up to 30 days to receive the refund. The following table explains the refund scale:

To receive your instrument: I will accept payment in full by PayPal, cashier's check, or cash before shipping.

Right of Refusal: If the instrument you ordered is not satisfactory, you have two business days in which to contact me and return it for refund. Upon my receipt of the instrument in the same condition as it left my shop, the purchase price will be credited to you and will be refunded in full upon sale of the instrument to another customer. As with all rules, this one does have some no-brainer exceptions: Special orders (inlay, unusual combinations, odd neck shapes and/or scale lengths) will be NOT be returnable.

Recently Acquired Tone Wood (click picture for larger image):

Jatoba (South American/ Brazilian Cherry)	Waterfall Bubinga	Sapele Mahogany
Jatoba is an exceptionally hard and dense wood. It dulls steel tools rapidly. This wood will be used as a substitute for now scarce Koa since its grain and color is very similar. The hardness allows for a slightly more ringing tone than Koa. Jatoba is an exclusive to my instruments - not found elsewhere.	Bubinga has qualities very similar to both Rosewood and Mahogany. It is popularly used for backs and sides as well as necks and bridges. The figure in this piece is quite beautiful up close and the color is a rich, dark rose. Lexus uses this wood for interior trim in its high-end luxury cars.	Sapele, from Africa, is also frequently used for backs and sides as well as necks and bridges. It is an affordable substitute for Honduran mahogany. This piece has very distinctive grain and color. Cadillac uses this wood in their STS model. Note: These images are of the raw wood. No finish has been applied. Imagine what they will look like with a few coats of lacquer...