Materials

The types of woods that I use vary due to the aesthetics, acoustics, final cost and of course the choice of the customer.

Soundboard

European, Alaskan, Engelmann spruce.
Western red cedar.
The choice of these woods has an effect on the brightness and the time it takes for the sound of the guitar to mature.

Necks

Made from Honduras mahogany, Spanish cedar or Maple.

Back and Ribs

There is a large choice of timber for the back and the ribs.
Brazilian, Indian, Madagascar, Mexican or African Rosewood.
Koa
Cypress
Pau Ferro
Bubinga
Macassar Ebony
The selection of the species and grade will have bearing on the final price of the guitar, as some of the woods are difficult to resource locally in the UK and may have to be imported.

Fret Boards

Made from Ebony as standard but can be changed to Rosewood or Maple at the choice of the customer.

Bridge

Can be made from either Rosewood or Ebony.

Inlay Woods

These decoration are Ebony, Rosewood, Maple, Mahogany or colour dyed veneers.

Abalone and MOP

Both Abalone and Ablam as well as MOP are used for the special inlay work on fret board and head and around the perimeter of the body.

Finish

The standard finish on the guitars I make is Lacquer polished to a High Gloss or an optional Mat finish. I offer a French polish of de-waxed blonde shellac and a mat finish on the lacquer at an additional cost.

Machine tuners

Below is a small sample of the range of machine tuners that are available. Waverly, Gilbert, Grover, Gotoh and Schaller to mention a few.

The Brazilian rosewood and the Honduras mahogany that I use are all sourced from suppliers that adhere to the CITES convention on endangered species.

Find out more about adhesives >

Step-by-Step Guitar Making by Alex Willis

All stages fully illustrated with colour photographs, clear drawings and detailed plans for each part of the instrument.

Find out more >

Copies of my book are also available at all the shows I attend. Please check the news section to find out where I will be next.