Custom Guitar Design Options

Choose Left or Right Hand

A right handed guitar player uses his/her right hand to pick or strum the strings, while their left hand presses the strings against the neck. Left handed guitar players are the opposite.

 

Choose Number of Strings

Birt Custom Guitars come standard with 6 strings.  We do, however offer extended ranges on custom builds.

 

Choose Scale Length

There is not one standard guitar scale length, but the three most common are 24.625", 25.00" and 25.50", and they are known to be used by Gibson, PRS and Fender, respectively.  Birt Guitars come standard with a 25" scale length but any scale can be used on a custom build.

 

Choose Body Construction

Custom guitar bodies can be constructed in one of three ways.  These are:

 

  • Solid Body - A full, solid piece of wood

  • Chambered - Wood inside the body is removed for weight relief and resonance

  • Semi-Hollow Body - Large amounts of wood are removed and an F-hole is cut 

 

Choose Body Model

You can choose one of our existing models and fully customize it.  If you have your own custom design in mind you can send us a picture and we can build that as well.

 

Choose Body Core Wood

All our instruments are handcrafted from the highest quality of tonewoods.  Each wood will impart distinct sounds on the instrument and our consultants can help you decide what will be the best options for your custom guitar.

 

Choose Body Top

There are many options of body tops.  We like to utilize a figured maple top on all of our guitars both for its added tonal characteristics and the beautiful look it provides.  

 

Choose Your Top Color

Choose the color you want for the body top. This can be one solid color, an initial stain in the grain of the wood and another stain over the top, or a sunburst.  See our color options to choose yours or contact us to have a custom color made for you.

 

Choose the Color for Body Back and Sides

Choose the color you want for the sides and back of the body. This can be one solid color, an initial stain in the grain of the wood and another stain over the top, or a sunburst.  See our color options to choose yours or contact us to have a custom color made for you.

 

Choose the Color for the Neck

Choose the color you want for the neck.  This can be one solid color, an initial stain in the grain of the wood and another stain over the top, or a sunburst.  See our color options to choose yours or contact us to have a custom color made for you.

 

Choose the Kind of Finish

We offer two kinds of finish:

  • Lacquer

  • Oil

 

Lacquer offers better protection from dings, scratches, and the elements.  Oil is sometimes preferred for its ability to penetrate wood grain and accentuate it as well as the feel it provides on guitar necks.  If you're uncertain of which one to go with contact our team and we can help you decide.

 

Choose Neck Wood

The neck wood plays a large role in the attack that's heard when playing a string.  Stiffer wood will have a harder attack and sound brighter.  

 

Choose the Neck Profile

This will perhaps have the greatest impact on how your guitar will feel while you play.  We have a variety of Vintage and Modern neck designs and can help you determine what will suit your playing style the best.

 

Choose Fretboard Wood

The fretboard wood is used for the part where the frets are installed (front of the neck, where you press on the strings). All our fretboards are built from quality tonewoods. Different fretboard woods provide subtle differences to tone, but more of a difference of how the guitar feels in your hands.  Personal favorites at Birt Guitars are Cocobolo and Ebony.

 

Choose the Number of Frets

Birt Guitars come standard with 24 frets but for custom designs we can use 21,22 or24.  The extra frets provide higher notes for soloing and give a full 2 octaves per string.

 

Choose the Size of the Frets

Fret size doesn't make a difference in how the guitar sounds but does effect how it plays.  We typically use a Medium Jumbo fretwire but many other options are available.

 

Choose the Inlays

Many options area available with inlays.  Some pieces of wood speak for themselves so we prefer to leave the fretboard without inlays.  Some like to have dots like a Fender while others like blocks like a Gibson.  We're also big fans of a 12th fret decorative inlay.  If you would like a custom inlay designed for you send us a picture and we'll have our inlay team start making it.

 

Choose the Inlay Material

The most common material for inlays is mother-of-pearl however many different shell species can be used.

 

Choose the Color for the Headstock

The headstock can be a matching color or sunburst to your guitar body.  Some prefer to have a veneer over the headstock to compliment the fretboard.  Both options look phenomenal.

 

Choose the Tuning Machines

Tuning machines are a critical part of the guitar.  Because of their effect on tuning stability we use only the highest quality parts.  We have options for both locking and locking tuning machines so contact us for all of your options.

 

Choose the Guitar Bridge

One of the most crucial parts of a guitar is the bridge.  We have a variety of Tune-O-Matic, Wrap Around, and Tremelo bridges.  In most cases we recommend using a bridge that locks down to the body.  This ensures the best mechanical connection for all of the parts of guitar which leads to the best transfer of sound vibrations.

 

Choose the Pickup Configuration

The pickup configuration is a curcial part of how your guitar will sound.  Pickups can be in any of three positions, these are the Bridge, The Middle, and The Neck Position.  Guitars can be built with one, two or three of these options.  There are also three main types of pickups.  These are Single Coil, Humbuckers, and P-90s.  Our standard guitars have custom wound pickups however if you would like a specific pickup from a specific manufacturer we can provide them as well. 

 

Choose the Switching Configuration

Another segment that has a large effect on how your guitar will sounds is how the pickups are configured to be active.  We offer standard switching like you would see in a Stratocaster or a Les Paul or any custom switching you can think of.  We often use a Super Switch or FreeWay Switch for the most options including coil tapping an phase inversion.  To configure your own custom switch contact our team.

 

Additional Options

These are options that you can add to any guitar.

  • Body Binding

  • Headstock Binding

  • Fretboard Binding

  • Locking Tuners

  • Bone, Tusq, or ZerO Glide Nut

  • Hard, Soft, or Airplane Case

  • Wood or Plastic cavity cover

  • Knob color and style