To be reviewed & approved before build begins
1. Client Information
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Primary Playing Style:
Primary Tunings:
Scale Length Preference:
Hand / Ergonomic Notes:
2. Tonal Goals & Musical Intent
(Opposing tonal traits placed on opposite ends for clarity)
Select all that apply and star your highest priorities.
Primary Tonal Axes
- Warm ←────────────→ Bright
- Fundamental‑focused ←────────────→ Overtone‑rich
- Dry / Immediate ←────────────→ Resonant / Lush
- Quick Response ←────────────→ High Headroom
- Strong Attack ←────────────→ Soft / Rounded Attack
- Tight Low End ←────────────→ Blooming Low End
- Controlled Sustain ←────────────→ Long / Expansive Sustain
Style Considerations
- Fingerstyle
- Light Strumming
- Heavy Strumming
- Flatpicking
- Percussive / Modern Fingerstyle
- Recording / Studio Focus
- Live Performance Focus
Additional Notes on Desired Voice
3. Model Selection
- ☐ Ukulele
- ☐ Parlor
- ☐ OM
- ☐ Grand Auditorium
- ☐ Dreadnought
- ☐ Jumbo
- ☐ Other ______________
4. Tonewoods
(All soundboards are AAAA/AAAAA/Master Grade and individually evaluated for stiffness‑to‑weight, tap‑tone, and deflection.)
4A. Soundboard (Master‑Grade Tops)
- ☐ Sitka Spruce – Bearclaw (balanced, clear, versatile)
- ☐ Port Orford Cedar (warm, quick response, articulate)
- ☐ Lutz Spruce (hybrid Sitka/Adi qualities, powerful)
- ☐ Red/Adirondack Spruce (high headroom, dynamic, premium)
- ☐ Engelmann Spruce (sensitive, overtone‑rich)
- ☐ Western Red Cedar (warm, dark, immediate)
- ☐ European/Alpine Spruce (refined, balanced overtones)
- ☐ Torrefied
- ☐ Other: _____________________________
4B. Back & Sides
Standard Domestic Hardwoods
- ☐ Figured Maple (bright, articulate, visually striking)
- ☐ Black Walnut (warm bass, crisp highs, balanced mids)
- ☐ Cherry (mid‑focused, sweet, lightweight)
- ☐ Birch (punchy, vintage Scandinavian character)
- ☐ Other Domestic: _______________________
Premium Exotic Woods
- ☐ Koa (shimmering mids, warm, visually stunning)
- ☐ Cocobolo (dense, powerful, rich overtones)
- ☐ Indian Rosewood (classic scooped mids, lush bass)
- ☐ Madagascar Rosewood (premium complexity + clarity)
- ☐ Brazilian Rosewood (legendary, rare, glassy highs)
- ☐ Ziricote (dark, piano‑like, dramatic figure)
- ☐ Other Exotic: __________________________
4C. Neck Wood
(Recommendations: Maple or Black Walnut for high stability)
- ☐ Black Walnut (balanced tone + aesthetics)
- ☐ Flame/Quilt/Curly Maple (stable, bright, beautiful)
- ☐ Cherry (warm, light)
- ☐ Mahogany (classic, stable)
- ☐ Spanish Cedar (lightweight, warm)
- ☐ Other: __________________________
4D. Fingerboard, Bridge & Headplate Materials
- ☐ Ebony (smooth, articulate, classic boutique choice)
- ☐ Rosewood (warm, traditional)
- ☐ Maple (bright look, modern aesthetic)
- ☐ Black Walnut (warm, matches walnut necks or bodies)
- ☐ Myrtle (unique figure)
- ☐ Other: __________________________
5. Neck Geometry & Construction
5A. Neck Shape
- ☐ C
- ☐ Soft V
- ☐ Modified Low Oval
- ☐ Modern C
- ☐ Custom: ____________________________
5B. Nut Width
- ☐ 1 11/16"
- ☐ 1 3/4"
- ☐ 1 13/16"
- ☐ Other: _____________
5C. Scale Length
Please select a preferred scale length or range.
Notes: Most guitars fall between 24.5"–25.5".
Shorter scales (23"–25") lower tension, creating a warmer, softer feel with a smoother attack but less overall volume and projection.
Longer scales (25.4"–25.5"+) increase tension, resulting in greater clarity, headroom, and volume, with a firmer, more energetic feel.
Standard Scale Length Options
- ☐ 23.0" (common for ukulele‑inspired, travel, or very short‑scale builds; very low tension, soft feel, also appropriate for parlor guitar)
- ☐ 23.5" (short, soft, sweet, warm)
- ☐ 24.0"
- ☐ 24.5" (short scale guitar; reduced tension, rounded attack)
- ☐ 24.75" (Gibson‑style; warm, pliable, easier fretting)
- ☐ 25.0" (comfortable midpoint; balanced tension and tone)
- ☐ 25.34"/25.35" (Martin OM style)
- ☐ 25.4" (traditional Martin long scale; added clarity and headroom)
- ☐ 25.5" (Fender/modern long scale; punchy, crisp, high definition)
Premium / Specialty Options
- ☐ Custom scale length: _______________________
5D. Neck Taper Notes
5E. Neck Depth Notes
5F. Fingerboard Radius
- ☐ 12"
- ☐ 13"
- ☐ 14"
- ☐ 15"
- ☐ 16"
- ☐ Compound (e.g., 12" → 16")
- ☐ Other: _____________
6. Structural & Build Details
(All standard unless noted)
Standard Features
✔ Scarf‑joint headstock
✔ Bolted mortise & tenon joint
✔ Heel‑access truss rod
✔ Carbon fiber reinforcement rods
✔ 14‑fret body join
✔ Solid laminated linings
✔ 28’ Spherical radius top
✔15’ Spherical radius back
✔ French Polish finish
✔ Custom acoustic voicing (brace shaping, plate tuning, material selection)
Frets
- Standard: Jescar 43080 stainless steel
- Optional wire: ____________________________
7. Dots, Inlays & Aesthetic Details
7A. Side Dots
- Standard: 2mm mother‑of‑pearl (white)
- Premium Options:
- ☐ Paua abalone
- ☐ Black MOP
- ☐ Luminlay (glow)
- ☐ Other: _____________
7B. Fret Markers (Face Dots)
- Standard: ¼" mother‑of‑pearl
- Premium Options:
- ☐ Paua abalone
- ☐ Mosaic pin (premium)
- ☐ Minimalist (side dots only)
- ☐ Custom inlay design
- ☐ Other: ________________
8. Binding, Purfling & Rosette
Binding & Purfling
- Standard: Shop‑made wooden binding + multilayer purfling
- BWB
- WBW
- Dyed _______________________________
- Other _______________________________
Style notes_____________________________________________________
- Options:
- ☐ Herringbone purfling
- ☐ Rope purfling
- ☐ Koa/Maple binding
- ☐ Custom theme: _______________________________________________
Rosette
- Standard: Shop‑made wooden rosette
- Options:
- ☐ Radial pattern
- ☐ Geometric pattern
- ☐ Shell/abalone (premium)
- ☐ Custom motif: _____________________
9. Hardware
Tuners
(Standard = Hipshot)
- ☐ Hipshot
- ☐ Gotoh 510
- ☐ Gotoh Open‑Gear
- ☐ Grover
- ☐ Waverly
- ☐ Schertler
- ☐ Other: __________________
Tuner Finish
- ☐ Chrome
- ☐ Nickel
- ☐ Black
- ☐ Gold
- ☐ Antique Bronze
- ☐ Other: ________________
Nut, Saddle, Pins
- Standard: Bone
- Premium Options:
- ☐ Mother of Pearl
- ☐ Fossilized Ivory
- ☐ Horn
- ☐ Tusq
- ☐ Other: _______________
10. Additional Options (Upgrades)
- ☐ Cutaway (Venetian / Florentine)
- ☐ Arm bevel
- ☐ Rib bevel
- ☐ Side soundport
- ☐ Multiscale / Fanned Frets
- ☐ Specialty scale length
- ☐ Pickup/electronics (specify): _______________
- ☐ Custom inlay package
- ☐ Custom binding/purfling/rosette set
- ☐ Burst / specialty finish
- ☐ Other: ___________________________
11. Setup Preferences
String Gauge: _________________________
Preferred Action (bass/treble): _________________________
Preferred Tuning(s): _________________________
Left/Right‑Handed: _________________________
Notes: ______________________________________
Final setup performed in person at delivery.
12. Delivery & Warranty
✔ In‑person delivery only
✔ Final setup at delivery
✔ Acceptance at time of handoff
✔ Warranty: defects in materials & craftsmanship
13. Approval
Client Signature: ________________________ Date: __________
Builder Signature: ________________________ Date: __________