How much & how long?

Spruce Mountain Guitars is here to offer you the complete building experience.  You choose the top wood.  You choose the back and sides; the neck wood; the headstock veneer, size and style.  You decide if you're going to build a Dred, an OM or a mandolin; 6-string or 12; 14th fret body joint or 12th.  You pick the tuning machines, the binding and purfling.  This is your guitar, and you're gonna make it.

Spruce Mountain Guitars keeps a ready stock of top wood and back & side materials.  If you don't find what you like, we'll order it.  We do the milling in shop so when you're ready to start putting the pieces together, they're ready for you.

Building a guitar takes a substantial amount of time.  We'll take that time--as much or as little as you feel ready for--to craft your ideal instrument.  If you want to do the milling and drone-sanding work, we'll take all the time to make sure your hands are the ones that shaped every piece of wood.  And if you have obligations, and just want the joy of putting the pieces together, Spruce Mountain Guitars will have the pieces in place and ready when you arrive.

Luthier Karl Roscoe understands that every build and every builder is different.  Different focus, different goals, different ideals.  We'll take the time to talk--a lot!--about those goals and ideas and how to put them to work.  You'll be exposed to the 'why's' as well as the 'how's' of lutherie.  When we're done, you're gonna understand how your guitar works.

How much?  $2500 is the base price for a standard acoustic guitar.  If you want specific exotics for your back and sides, it'll cost more.  Flashy abalone bling to call attention to your masterpiece?  Also more.  That part is negotiated in the first get-together and revisited regularly.  High gloss water-based finish is extra.

How long?  As long as it takes.  I've had builds go three years.  Six months to a year is not a bad estimate.  We'll set up a schedule--based on your schedule--to get the job done.  Work usually happens in 3-4 hour periods. 

Payment schedule is $1000 on day-one (non-refundable).  At the approximate halfway point, you'll need another $1000.  Final payment of $500 (or the remaining balance) lets you take your finished instrument home.

If this sounds like your kind of project, you should call or e-mail right away and get on the schedule.

Looking forward to working with you!