This Blog post is a continuation of my previous post, "What's Custom Order Made"?
In my previous post I described a bit more about Combat's company policy to custom order make each guitar, and briefly went into why "Hand Made" is better. In this post I would like to expand more on my explanation of what makes a Hand Made instrument better by breaking down every step in Combat's order made procedure.
Below are the 10 Steps in this Custom Order Made process, with explanations of what happens at each step along the way. Starting with your initial contact with us, right down to the completion and shipping of your custom order made guitar or bass.
-Step 1: The Free Estimate Form
First and foremost; Contact us! Please start by visiting our Official WebSite and check out the FREE Estimate Form. Filling out the Estimate form is very easy. Just simply select items which closely reflect the image you have for your custom guitar from each drop down menu, add any special remarks in the space provided, and you're done! We will get back to you with your FREE estimate and of course, our professional advice is always free as well.
The form is set up in 3 easy steps. You can choose to fill out Step 1 for a bare basic quote and simple advice. Filling out Step 1 and 2 will provide us with more info so we will be able to give you more detailed advice and a more accurate quote. Filling out all 3 Steps will give you a complete quote.
At the time of contact we will do our best to provide as accurate an estimate as possible. Of course, the more detailed information you provide, the more accurate the estimate will be.
That in mind, don't be discouraged if you are not sure about any details! By filling out the form even just as far as just Step 1 can help us get the ball rolling towards your own custom guitar or bass. Something so vague as telling us your favorite artists, or favorite sounds, what shapes you like or what style of playing you are most interested in can help us generate an idea and advice to suit your exact and specific tastes and needs.
That said, your first contact with is not exclusive to just the Estimate form. Feel free to just send us a simple Email with your questions. Either method of contact is entirely up to you.
As I stated in my previous post;
"We love what we do, and we appreciate all our customers, so we are more than happy and willing to answer all your questions and help you along every step of the estimation process, with your needs and desires in mind, to ensure your complete satisfaction."
But, getting back to the Estimate form, let's assume you can't make it past Step 1.
You know that you want a quality and hand-made instrument, but you don't know much beyond that. Again, this first step on the Estimate form can help us immensely in getting an idea of what kind of image it is you have in mind. After a simple correspondence and we have established what the playing characteristic it is you want for your guitar, we can start by choosing the building materials.
-Step 2: The Building Materials
Though seasonal year-round temperature and humidity is a factor which is sometimes considered, we have a wide array of stock available at all times to be chosen from. Each material has it's own distinct sound, tonal, and even aesthetic characteristics, and sometimes a combination of materials is needed in obtaining the precise sound you are after. We can help you choose the best materials for the image you have created for your guitar.
This basic step of establishing what we will construct the base of the guitar from really is the birthing process, as it truly is the stage where the total balance and sound characteristic of the instrument is decided!
Continuing, we consider again the image you have in mind for the guitar, along with the wood materials we will be building on, and decide on the hardware.
-Step 3: The Hardware
Just like the timber used for your guitar's body and neck, our stock of hardware is virtually limitless! Even the most rarest of parts or specialty pickups, etc, can be ordered. Again, if you are unsure of what it is you want specifically, we can help you decide on the best possible options for outfitting your guitar, as many things can effect change at this step. We will keep in mind factors such as the hardness of the materials, the sound characteristics of the body and neck, overall tension, and things that effect sound directly, such as the pickups.
When simply looking at the specs of various hardware items in a catalogue, it is extremely difficult to know how these things will actually perform when combined with your guitar's material. Other factors, like tuning stability and various other advantages/ disadvantages are sometimes difficult to understand. These are all things we are able to help with as we begin to design your guitar with you.
This completes the main specifications of your guitar, and we are able to give you an official quote. After the main specs and official calculation have been agreed upon, we will move onto the official order and begin the construction of your guitar!
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
-Step 4: Construction Of The Neck
The first thing we will do is actually the most important and delicate step in the entire building process. This is the laying of the neck's truss rod. What we will do here is basically "neck training".
By carefully inserting the truss rod into the neck, the first step of this process lays down the neck securely and trains the neck so the wood will in-turn conform naturally to the truss rod. This is extremely important for neck stability, strength and correctness. If this is not done carefully and properly, future problems can occur.
We spend long and meticulous hours working on this extremely important step to ensure your guitar brings you continued enjoyment and satisfaction for a long, long time.
-Step 5: Construction Of The Body
Prior to the completion of the "neck training" we will begin work on your guitar's body. We want both components to be ready for paint and finish at the same time. Not so much for convenience sake, but for a much more important reason. If there is too long a time-lag between neck and body completion, a natural wood problem will occur.
Simply put, if the wood sits too long before finish preservation, moisture can absorb into the grains causing it to flex or change form and, in bolt-on neck types for example, resulting in a possible gap in the neck pocket.
Even the tiniest gap can be detrimental to the preservation of the guitar's natural vibration of sound. Gaps do not transmit vibration, and it is important that we make the neck pocket as tight as possible. Thus, the moment both components are ready to be bonded together, wood work is completed promptly, yet carefully, and are immediately presented to paint and finish.
-Step 6: The Frets
While completing the body work, we then apply the frets to the neck and create the neck's grip. We meticulously steady and lock each fret in, one at a time, giving the same care and effort to each one.
The mistake of many guitar builders is to do this seemingly simple step quickly, carelessly and haphazardly. If not done correctly and precisely, the frets will eventually float, become at an uneven height, or come loose, resulting in expensive re-fretting.
We take pride in our work, so we therefore welcome all customer's visits to our company to check-in on the process of their guitar's construction. (Obviously, most of these visits are by our local customers) Whether to verify and approve the grip of the neck or just to satisfy simple curiosity!
-Step 7: Polishing Of The Wood Work
After all wood-working has been completed, we prepare the guitar for paint and finish by first polishing the entire framework of the instrument. This is an important and delicate step that needs to be done thoroughly and skillfully.
If not done properly, when the instrument is introduced to paint and finish even the smallest blemishes will be quite noticeable, particularly in the outer edges of the body. The blemishes will be completely noticeable through-out when the instrument is coated with very thin layers of paint.
This is the reason why so many ready-made instruments are coated with such thick layers of paint. Simply, so that much time is not needed to be spent on the construction. A thick coat of paint will hide everything without a trace.
But this method hides much more than just blemishes, it covers up more of that precious natural vibration. Detrimental again, to the SOUND of the instrument. The thicker the paint is applied to the wood, the more muffled the sound will be. Therefore, paint influences much more than simple aesthetic qualities, it can also have a direct influence on the sound of your instrument.
So, in order for paint to be applied as thinly as possible, without visible blemish, we take care in ensuring the entire instrument is polished carefully and thoroughly.
-Step 8: Paint & Finish
Finally, after all wood-work and polishing has been completed on the entire instrument, neck and body, it is now ready to be introduced to paint and finish.
There are numerous variations of paint and finish we can do to satisfy the exact image you have for your guitar. But basically, there are 3 main types. They are;
Urethane paint plus top coat. Lacquer paint with top coat/ light sanding and buffing. Ultra-thin lacquer paint with light top coat/ no sanding or undercoat. (Creating the rough effect so all the wood's natural grain can be visible and felt.)
As previously mentioned, how thick paint is applied to the instrument does influence the sound of the instrument. A thick coat of paint will indeed act as a "coating" to your guitar's natural sound and vibration.
A thin layer is all that is needed. This not only looks so much better, especially in see-through or burst-type finishes, but also the thinner the paint is; the more we preserve that natural vibration of sound.
-Step 9: Introducing The Hardware
After paint and finish has been completed, the final stage of the instrument construction begins. The setting of the hardware.
What is very important here is; the final setting/ adjusting of the neck and truss rod, installation/ adjustment of the bridge and the final fret work.
The way the frets lay on the finger-board not only influence performance characteristics, but also the way the guitar sounds. Harmonic overtones, highs and lows, the way sound is carried by the pickups to the output, etc etc. All aspects of sound
Positioning of the bridge is also important. Even the way screws and bolts are placed can influence sound.
We take great pride in ensuring that all aspects of the guitar building process are handled with skill, care, and professionalism.
-Step 10: Completion And Shipping Preparation
After all hardware has been properly set, pickups have been installed and all electronic wiring has been carefully and securely fastened, your guitar is complete, right!
Almost!
We will leave the instrument to sit and settle for a few days with strings attached. The reason for this is because the neck may still not have yet settled into form. The tension on a newly built guitar can change dramatically once the strings are applied. We check daily on the newly set-up guitar. Re-adjusting the neck and truss rod when needed, as the neck will take some time to settle into it's final and proper position.
When the neck has finally settled, we do a thorough and final tune-up of the guitar. Ensuring there is no fret-buzz, all harmonics are heard naturally, the bridge is properly intonated and that the tuning remains true.
Your new, hand-made, and completely original guitar is now ready to be sent to you! Your Guitar will be placed in a Combat Hard Case, securely and thoughtfully packed with care and prepared for a safe and reliable delivery service of your choice.
In a nut-shell, that is the basics of guitar making here at Combat Guitars.
Hand-made, truley is better than ready-made. Not only can you see the difference, and feel the difference. But you will surely, and much more importantly, HEAR the difference!
As always, we look forward to hearing from you and helping you build your own Custom Ordered guitar or bass!
Combat Colin.
