Commonly Asked Questions

Q: How long will it take to get my custom instrument after ordering?

A: Our construction time can vary depending on the complexity of the

project or if we have to order custom pickups or hardware. Our current
build time is 9 to 12 months. For more complex custom instruments and
parts the time frame could be from 12 to 18 months.

Q: How is the 7 string bass tuned? While you're on the subject; How
about the 8 and 9 string bass?

A: Our standard tuning for the 7 string bass is Low B, E, A, D, G, C and

High F (all in fourths). It can also be tuned from Low F# (a fourth below B)
to High C. Another tuning is from E to High A#. Finally, some players with
treble clef in their blood tune their 7's Low B, E, A, D, G, B, E.
With that in mind, the 8 string bass is usually tuned Low F#, B, E, A, D, G,
C and High F or Low B, E, A, D, G. C, F and High A#. Finally, the monster
9 is tuned Low F#, B, E, A, D, G, C, F and High A#.

Q: Where can I find strings for all of these one-of-a-kind

instruments?

A: We stock most of the strings you will need for any of our unusual
instruments including 8 string guitars and 7, 8, and 9 string basses. We
also have the special silked upright bass strings for our M.E.U. bass. See
“Accessories”

Q: Concerning the scale of the bass, what is "Multi-scale"?

A: This is the same thing as fanned frets...basically you have a shorter

scale on the treble side fanning out to a longer scale on the bass side
which means that there is less tension on the treble side allowing you to
tune standard gauge strings to higher pitches. The longer scale length on
the bass side allows standard gauge strings to be tuned to lower than
normal pitches while retaining the desired tension.
Q: What are the effects of different woods on necks and bodies?

A: As a general rule, the harder, heavier woods are invariably brighter,

while the softer, lighter woods are usually warmer.

Q: Which types of woods are best for various guitar-making

applications?

A: Hard, stable woods are best for necks and fingerboards. Light, resonant
woods are generally best for bodies. This does not take into account that
many of the most sought after exotics used for guitar tops or our exclusive
"Melted Tops" are often times very dense, hard and relatively heavy. This
is why we usually recommend a lightweight core wood for the back of the
guitar or bass topped with a heavier exotic. The end result is an
instrument with a wide and versatile tonal range.

Q: Which wood is most durable?

A: Purpleheart.

Q: Which wood is the lightest?

A: Dragonwood.

Q: Which is better, a single piece neck or a multi-laminate such as a

3-piece, 5-piece, or 7-piece?

A: The multi-laminate construction creates a superior neck because, just

like plywood, multi-laminations make things physically stronger, stiffer and
more stable.

Q: What happens when you add a different wood for the top? Does it
affect the sound? What's the best type of wood for different styles
(ex. funk, rock, jazz)?

A: Various tops can add different textures to the tone. As we stated

before, the harder and denser tops will most likely be brighter while the
lighter, porous woods will add a warmer and more resonant overtone.
Q: What are Piezos?

A: Piezo elements have been used for years under the saddles of acoustic
guitars, but when manufacturers started making them available as
individual pickups for each saddle of electric instruments, things started to
get interesting...

By installing piezo pickups under each saddle you give each string its
own separate signal. These individual signals can be used for splitting the
treble and bass strings into separate outputs for two-hand tapping
techniques without cross-talk.

Piezo crystals operate on string pressure instead of vibration meaning

the response is virtually instantaneous which makes them the perfect
candidate for yet another challenging task; triggering MIDI systems...

Q: What is MIDI?

A: MIDI allows your guitar or bass to digitally interface, or communicate

with other MIDI equipped devices such as computers, controllers and
converters so that you can write, record and edit your music via your
computer or create the sounds of virtually any other instrument or
synthesized effect live or in the studio right from your instrument.

Our MIDI electronics are made by RMC and are installed within the
control cavity of the instrument and triggered by a piezo imbedded under
each saddle in your guitar or bass bridge. By using piezos as opposed to
the old hex pickup mounted on the face of the instrument, the system
tracks virtually instantaneously and is much more accurate. Piezos also
allow us to incorporate MIDI on our multi-string instruments such as 7 and
8 string guitars and basses. There are only 6 channels for MIDI available
on any converter available on the market to date. This means that while
we can install MIDI on any of our instruments you will only have up to 6
strings that can trigger MIDI independently. You can however have piezos
on all the strings.

This system is compatible with any 13-pin COSM-Modeling or Pitch-to-

MIDI digital converters such as any of the Axon, Roland, Yamaha and
others. The MIDI, Piezo and Magnetic signals can be used in many
different ways together depending on how you have us wire everything up,
which there are several optional schemes we can do.

You can order MIDI electronics on any of our Custom Shop instruments.
When ordering MIDI you have to order both the individual piezo saddles
and the MIDI internal system. They are separate options.
Q: Which types of pickups are best for which styles of playing?

A: We recommend visiting the individual pickup manufacturer's websites

as there are simply too many variables for us to generalize here. Our main
suppliers are Lundgren for guitar and Delano for bass. Both of these
companies work very well with us on our custom needs. Seymour Duncan
is another company that works well with us in the custom realm. We also
use Dimarzio, EMG and just about any other brand that is readily available
on the market for standard model pickups.

Q: What does a "Coil Tap Switch" do on a humbucker pickup?

A: It grounds one of the coils in a humbucker pickup leaving only one coil
giving signal, which basically makes your humbucker into a single coil
pickup. The Pros to this is you get that clearer, crisper single coil tone.
The Cons to this is your pickup will no longer be hum-cancelling so you
will get noise and hum especially with overdrive and distortion and also
about ¾ to ½ the volume compared to the humbucker setting. Coil Taps
can be done one for each pickup or you can tap both pickups on a single
switch or push/pull pot

Q: What does a "Series / Parallel Switch" do?

A: It allows you to switch from “Series” (hotter, more bass and midrange)
to “Parallel” (slightly less output, more treble with less bass and
midrange). The pickup must have the 4-conductor wire to use this feature.
The Parallel setting gives you a very close tone to a single coil without
losing the hum-cancelling of a humbucker and not as much volume loss
as a coil tap.

Q: What does a "Series / Single / Parallel Switch" do?

A: It allows you to switch from Series, Single Coil and Parallel all on one
mini 3-way switch. The pickup must have the 4-conductor wire to use this
feature.
Q: What does the “5-way Megaswitch” do?

A: It is for use on guitars with two humbucker pickups with 4-conductor

wiring on both pickups. It is a 5-way blade style switch which gives you 5
very useful tones from the following selection options.
Positions:
1 Bridge pickup, series
2 Inner pickup coils, parallel
3 Outer coils, series
4 Outer coils, parallel
5 Neck pickup, series

Q: What is "Full EQ" and what does it do?

A: Full EQ or 3-band EQ allows you to boost and cut your separate bass,
mid and treble signals from the preamp.

Q: What is "Fret Size"?

A: Although the actual fretwire is categorized by a number system, frets

are generally referred to as small, medium or jumbo. Some players are
very opinionated about which fret size is best, but in the last decade or so,
most manufacturers have made the jumbo fret wire a standard and most
players agree that it is the most comfortable and practical fret size.

Q: What's a "Hipshot" tuner?

A: Hipshot is a particular brand name, but the company makes a

lightweight aluminum tuner that is becoming very popular. Hipshot is also
known for their "D-Tuner" which uses a lever to drop the pitch of an open
string.

Q: What is the effect of an "Exotic Wood Neck Binding"?

A: We use exotic wood binding as a contrasting visual effect mainly.

Q: What is the effect of a "Carved Top"?

A: A carved top on an electric guitar makes the instrument look more

sleekly detailed, beautiful and customized.
Q: What do you get when you order "Custom carving (3-D relief
carving"?

A: We can carve graphics into the guitar such as a wolf head or an eagle...
whatever. Keep in mind that we are creating a one-of-kind piece of
sculpted artwork and this tedious work can be very expensive. Quotes are
available upon request.

Q: What is your standard nut material?

A: We use a type of plastic called Delrin which lends itself perfectly to a

guitar nut. The material is quite "slippery" and prevents the strings from
becoming bound in the slots.

Q: What type of reinforcement is in the neck?

A: Our multi-laminate neck construction and separate fingerboard are

naturally strong and stable. We also use Purpleheart wood in our multi-
string guitars and basses (guitars with more than 6 strings; basses with
more than 4 strings). We call Purpleheart "nature's graphite" because it is
so strong and stable. Of course we also install a two-way adjustable truss
rod in our necks to correct for a concave or convex condition due to
seasonal humidity and temperature changes. We also offer carbon fiber
reinforcement rods at an additional upcharge. In general we don't feel they
are necessary but for those who like to be overly cautious, we now offer
them.