Will the Real Luthier, Please Stand Up
 

Recently I received a call from a potential customer that was inquiring about our products. This person, which will remain nameless, went on to tell me that he bought all kinds of Strat guitar parts and his luthier friend put the guitar together for him. The question he fired off next - What makes your guitars different than buying parts and having a luthier put it together for me? A Strat is a Strat, right?

I can't tell you how many times I've been hit with this question but here I go again (I always answer back politely :).

I first wanted to clarify the definition of a Luthier. Websters Dictionary has it; Luthier - a craftsman who makes stringed instruments (simple enough). The keyword here is craftsman, not a person that puts together a string instrument on a workbench as if it was a hobby car model that came out of a box with instructions. I didn't want to offend him or his friend but I don't go around telling people I'm a doctor when I put a band aide on my son's knee every time he wipes-out on his bike. I didn't want to dwell on this too long but I have always felt the term luthier is far misunderstood. I look at a luthier as a master chef, I'm no cook nor do I try to be but I do like to eat, who doesn't, it's how we stay alive. It always taste better when someone that loves to cook all the time makes a great dish from scratch and knows the recipe blindfolded.

So onwards... We all know that you can buy just about any guitar body, neck, pickups, parts and make your own concoction. I mean, this is what eBay is for, right?

But what separates SPG Guitars in making a custom guitar is that we start from the piece of wood and actually build a one of a kind masterpiece. Our Luthiers are Masters; My definition of a Master Luthier - a craftsman who has been making string instruments for 20+ years (complete). Some can argue that a Master Luthier status is 10+ years but not here in SPG Land. Our Guitars are made by hand, not mass produced, not cookie cutter style - true craftsman. Each instrument is made by one person and one person only from start to finish. Even warranty work is covered by the same Master Luthier that built the guitar - True Custom Built Guitar Building. And always an important factor - we are reasonably priced. We've done our research and know that we beat all the competition hands down on price for a guitar of this quality and character. I could have gone on and on talking about our guitars, you can find more information about specifications for our custom built guitars here - http://www.spgguitars.com/spg_guitars.html

In summary, not just here at SPG but for all the Luthiers out there that make great guitars as they should be made, we solute you! It's what guitar making is all about...