Classic "help me with a custom" post

[NightmareGoggles]

I'm looking at ordering (or making as I have made a guitar before) a custom 6 string (or 7 if it's not too much more expensive) headless multiscale guitar.

I tried a Strandberg in the past and absolutely loved the feel of it, but most of the ones I like are well above $2,800. I was looking at Halo but saw bad things about them here so I stopped looking there. Currently looking at Balaguer (and Aristides, but those are quite pricey), but being able to get the head and body custom and do the rest myself would be ideal as I have done that a custom which I got a Warmoth blank body and head and cut the shape and stained it myself and fit almost all the hardware, so if there's anything like that, that would be my preference.

TL;DR
I need suggestions on other builders that do custom multiscale headless guitars for preferably less than $2500. The ideal situation for me would be to get a headless neck and body from a place similar to Warmoth with the nut and frets already in and do the rest myself as I have done that before.

1. Multiscale and headless are a must.
2. Don't need anything fancy (5-way switch, more than 2 knobs, trem)

 

[sell2792]

I guess I'm not understanding what your question is? Are you asking about brands? What's your price range? What features do you want besides headless and maybe six or seven strings? What kind of music do you play? Do you want multiscale? Also, if you want your own body shape thats going to eliminate most brands like Kiesel, Balaguer, etc.

 

[NightmareGoggles]

Sorry probably should have put some bullet points or something, I'll update it.

I'm mostly just asking if anyone has other custom builder suggestions that aren't well over $2500, or ideally someone like Warmoth that does headless parts.

I'm pretty standard when it comes to other needs, I don't need a 5-way blade switch, nor do I need a ton of knobs (standard tone and volume, I never touch tone anyway), multiscale and headless are the only real essentials, I've found my fingers conform to multiscale better.

I said custom body shape because that's what I did on my fully custom build, I was simply saying if there were someone like Warmoth but with a headless blank I would make a custom body, as I've done that before, but the bodies from custom builders I've seen so far look great so I don't need a custom body shape.

I play a wide range of stuff, but mainly stay within Metal playing a ton of different sub-genres there (Gojira, Mudvayne, SOAD, Nightwish, Blind Guardian, etc)

 

[CanserDYI]

Custom never equals cheap, dude. And cheap customs are NEVER good, they just aren't. Just find a cheap Strandy and have it refinished or something. There are plenty to be had sub $1500.

 

[NightmareGoggles]

Custom never equals cheap, dude. And cheap customs are NEVER good, they just aren't. Just find a cheap Strandy and have it refinished or something. There are plenty to be had sub $1500.

When I say cheap I don't mean sub 1000 or even sub 2000, I understand a good custom will be well above 3000, but I'm hoping there's some middle ground between 2000 and 2500.

Really I'm hoping to find someone like Warmoth but with headless pieces, Halo does that but after what I've seen here I wouldn't buy from them. In the end it may come to finding a Strandberg on Reverb, buying that and putting the pickups I want in it (Lace or DiMarzio), but I'm holding out hope I can find options other than Balaguer as that's around my price range.

 

[chipchappy]

I'm hoping there's some middle ground between 2000 and 2500.

there's not.

at least not having a quality, experienced builder making you something unique to you. If you find one I'd be very cautious with them.

Like @CanserDYI said, refinish an existing model. Thats your most economical route, especially if you're willing to put in some of the work

 

[NightmareGoggles]

Seems to me like the best plan is just to get a used Strandberg, most likely one of the Metal NX series since I like the black and it uses Richlite which just feels amazing, sliding feels buttery smooth for me. If anyone has suggestions on another model I'd take a look, just not quite sure what the differences are, seems like they all have the exact same specs except for wood? Pretty stupid to have different "models" if the only difference is the wood.

If the used one I get is in good shape I may not even refinish it, just change the pickups (maybe if I feel up to it I may do some mods, like fill the knob and switch holes to put them where I would want, as I prefer in-line controls). I wouldn't get a stained one anyway as I have no idea how to refinish the solid color (does Strandberg use Poly, Nitro, or something else?), obviously if I did the controls mod I would need to learn how to refinish whatever Strandberg uses for the solid color, or refinish the entire thing at that point, but honestly the odds of me modding it on that level is pretty low.

I would love to try and figure out a red like this Aristides one, but it's totally a custom color so I doubt I could make a finish like that.

Really sucks there's no one like Warmoth with headless parts. Thanks for the input y'all.

 

[golem]

All I can say about Strandberg is that the rather expensive ones that have showed up at local shops in my area have QC issues. So I'd ask if you want to pay crazy money for a guitar that may have QC issues. Some sellers may let you do returns for issues like GC used does, so if you're going to go that route make sure they accept returns.

I picked up a Kiesel multiscale headless used in trade. I'm super impressed by them as a result.

 

[NightmareGoggles]

Kiesel certainly seems interesting, only major gripes are the logo which is just absolutely horrible that they FORCE you to have it on it, can't even select black logo with a black body to try and hide it or move it at the very least, and also the fact the multiscale can't be changed. It is cheap (as in less than $3,000, and in the $2,500 range I was hoping), but some artists I know and love (Trivium, Ice Nine Kills, and a few more) use their guitars/basses so I would say it seems reliable. All in all it seems promising, I designed a quick guitar, I wanna look at a few of the other bodies, but this one caught my eye since it's pretty similar to the Jackson Warrior and I have a Warrior and like the body shape. Looking around the forum I can't seem to find a clear consensus like with Halo, but to me it seems promising. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[JDB123]

Kiesel is most likely the safest bet. Multiscale, lots of finishes and I think(?) you can send in other pickups for install. If non-standard specs are super important to you, then you’ll have to find a builder that suits those needs.

Speaking from experience, try to pin down exactly what you like and want out of a build specs-wise, find a company or independent luthier that does those things, and save up your money. No use skimping on the price if you want something unique and tailored to you.

 

[rifftrauma]

Another voice in the Aristides camp here. I owned two Kiesel's and I sold them expeditiously for a variety of reasons, but the main was that I wasn't a fan of the hardware. Changing strings and keeping the damn things in tune was a nightmare, but they looked amazing. I would check reverb out to see if anyone's got an Aristides raw finish H/06 for sale at a reasonable price. I've got a full custom H/06 and it's my main headless. The Hantug hardware is miles ahead of the hipshot IMO. That being said a full custom H/06 would blow your budget.

 

[Ben Pinkus]

I love my aristides as well, but unless you save/wait or get lucky on a 2nd hand one it may not be the one.

GOC guitars may be worth looking at - they have a different approach to the strandberg neck and bar maybe a pickup swap, the ones I've encountered have been good. Just depends what run is out there atm.

I'd also ask what from other builders in the price range with off the shelf type stuff (Ormsby, Ibanez etc) aren't you getting on with? If there isn't a specific spec you're dying for then you may find something that's easier to grab in the budget you've listed

 

[ArtDecade]

This forum and people needing custom instruments has always made me chuckle. Steve Vai and John Petrucci are less demanding in their specs than Joe Nobody playing in his basement.

 

[NightmareGoggles]

This forum and people needing custom instruments has always made me chuckle. Steve Vai and John Petrucci are less demanding in their specs than Joe Nobody playing in his basement.

I don't NEED a custom instrument made for me, like I said in my original post, I would much prefer being able to get a custom neck and body, and do all the painting, mounting, cutting, etc. myself, and there's a joy in that, knowing you can do whatever you want and make it truly yours, and the satisfaction you made it (also I love making things). John Petrucci and Steve Vai technically have customs from the companies they partner with (Ernie Ball made a few for Petrucci, Ibanez made a ton for Vai). Getting a custom made may seem strange, but, for example, I really like this body, as it's similar to a Warrior and my Warrior is pretty comfortable, but there are no headless guitars I can find with that body, so, it needs to be custom.

Back on topic, I think I am maybe going to drop the headless limit I instilled on myself, headless seems a lot harder to find and more expensive (obviously) so I will expand my options MASSIVELY by not limiting myself to headless. (Also then I can put a TronicalTune on it, and before any guitar purists get on my ass about it, I have one on my custom and it rocks, I change tunings a ton and it has probably saved me hours upon hours of just tuning)

 

[JimF]

How would this suit your requirements?

Its a Legator Spectre

 

[NightmareGoggles]

I've been talking to the guys at String Pluckery and it seems like I may be able to do my ideal situation of getting a custom neck and a body blank from Warmoth and making it myself. I definitely think I am just going to forget headless, as much as I like it, it would not be good for me as a daily driver considering how much I change tunings (like I said the TronicalTune really helps and there's no headless version of that, I may make one in the future, but not right now). So it sounds like I'll be taking that route.

 

[DoctorStoner]

Kiesel certainly seems interesting, only major gripes are the logo which is just absolutely horrible that they FORCE you to have it on it, can't even select black logo with a black body to try and hide it or move it at the very least, and also the fact the multiscale can't be changed. It is cheap (as in less than $3,000, and in the $2,500 range I was hoping), but some artists I know and love (Trivium, Ice Nine Kills, and a few more) use their guitars/basses so I would say it seems reliable. All in all it seems promising, I designed a quick guitar, I wanna look at a few of the other bodies, but this one caught my eye since it's pretty similar to the Jackson Warrior and I have a Warrior and like the body shape. Looking around the forum I can't seem to find a clear consensus like with Halo, but to me it seems promising. Thanks for the suggestion.

You can definitely get a used Kiesel and do anything you want to it to customize it, and you'll get a $2500 guitar for $1500. Their non-trem headless guitars are as easy to change tunings on as any other guitar.

 

[CanserDYI]

Please don't throw that tronical tuner on your guitar, such a gimmick.