"Handmade Guitars vs Factory Made
Yesterday I spent some time in a local guitar shop while looking for a new amp. As I looked at the dozens and dozens of guitars they had for sale, I couldn’t help but notice how perfect each instrument looked from a construction standpoint. It was obvious to me that none were handcrafted. How could I tell this? They were too perfect.
There's just something about a handmade guitar that inspires us to play at our best
When I make a guitar, I try to select the most unique wood to use. Aside from the tonal characteristics, I like my wood to have personality. All of the guitars I saw in this shop had wood grain so perfect they looked fake. In fact, some of the finishes were so smooth and precise, I had to question whether I was looking at real wood or a silkscreened photo of wood ( a process some guitar manufacturers actually resort to).
When I build a guitar, I try to achieve the highest level of craftsmanship possible. However, I am relying on my hands, eyes and my sense of touch to guide me as I shape material supplied by mother nature. In the end, my guitars have the occasional tool mark, grain texture and subtle finishing flaws that prove they were made by hand and not a computer guided machine.
When I first started building guitars, I would get frustrated in my attempts to mimic the perfection of the assembly line versions. But then I began to realize that trying to accomplish by hand what a machine can do is the wrong idea. These days, I want my guitars to have the same kind of character and personality that a piece of custom, handmade furniture has.
Now don’t get me wrong, I still strive to make the most playable instruments possible. However I want my choice of wood and finish to shout, “Hey, look at me! I was made by human hands and not a machine!”
