Below, you will find lots of information about prices, options, how to commission a custom instrument, and bring your concept of your perfect guitar into tangible reality, and into your hands! Let the Music begin!

First, the base prices:

Note:  These prices in effect from 6/2013 to present. Prices are in US dollars.

The difference in price between the Florentine (pointy) cutaway and the Venetian (rounded) cutaway reflects the fact that the Florentine takes more work to produce; There is an extra internal support block to join the cutaway ridge, plus the careful mitered fitting of the cutaway bindings.

EF 75 Falcon (with Florentine cutaway):  $4200

ES 75 Siren (Standard, non-cutaway):  $4000

EZ-S Zephyr 00 Standard:  $4200

EZ-V Zephyr 00, Venetian Cutaway:  $4350

EZ-F Zephyr 00, Florentine Cutaway:  $4450

EC-S Consort Standard:  $4400

EC-V Consort, Venetian Cutaway:  $4550

EC-F Consort, Florentine Cutaway:  $4650

EP-S Performance Standard:  $4400

EP-V Performance, Venetian Cutaway:  $4550

EP-F Performance, Florentine Cutaway:  $4650

FAQ:  What features are included in the base price?

   A base-priced Edwinson guitar is a fully dressed instrument. I use the same total bracing, engineering,  and architecture design on all my guitars. In that respect, the base price guitar equals the most expensive one I can make. I give tone production my most lavish attention. I want a magical, captivating sound. After that, it’s all freedom and adventure, as we design the guitar of your dreams.

   As an artisan’s prerogative, I am not interested in making a stripped-down instrument. I consider a fine guitar to be not only a tool for making music, but a piece of Art as well. I will not cut corners on the appointments or aesthetic treatment on my guitars. I always strive for a tasteful, elegant decorative theme, whether it’s spare and basic, or fully decked-out. The fine woods and functional design tell the story.

   Some of the things I consider essential standard features to the Edwinson brand identity are:

1. *Your custom specifications for scale length, fingerboard width/ taper/ radius, custom neck shape,   
   

  hand-carved to your specs.

1. *All premium grade tone woods; no second-grade stuff. There are many choices of excellent sounding, beautiful looking woods that are still reasonably priced and abundant. For example, a guitar with AAA grade East Indian Rosewood back and sides, and a AAA grade Western Red Cedar top fits this category. Many other great choices available-- please inquire.
   

1. *AAA grade Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, or AA Engelmann Spruce top.
   

1. *All wood bindings and purflings--never plastic. Back and side bindings usually include wood   
   

  veneer purfling lines. I often make my own decorative purflings, using exotic   

  woods, end grain, and unique patterns. All bindings and purflings are mitered, not butted. Ebony,     

  Rosewood,  Maple, or other select hardwood bindings are standard.

1. *Bound fingerboard and headstock, often with wood veneer lines or shop-made purflings included.
   

*Sound holes are also bound in ebony or rosewood, to protect the softwood end grain from the    

  onslaught of picks and fingernails, and for a stylish, finished look.

1. *Copper-encircled shell dot fretboard position inlay. Copper, brass, or silver inlayed side position dots.
   

1. *Fully bound and purfled Delta style solid headstock; Bookmatched OR one-piece exotic figure front and back headstock plates, to complement back/ side woods or other design features on the guitar.
   

1. *Double-side construction, for extreme stability and best tonal response.
   

1. *Every rosette is unique; no two the same.
   

1. *Three- or five-piece laminated neck construction for best strength, stability, and style points. I use the finest quality two-way adjustable truss rod, the LMI TRST rod, and if needed, I will add internal               
   

  carbon fiber rods in the neck shaft.

1. *Premium quality Gotoh 510  or Grover Sta-Tite Vintage style open gear tuning machines, nickel finish. Or equivalent.
   

1. *Polished bone nut and saddle; the saddle is accurately intonated. Inlaid or plain ebony or rosewood bridge pins.
   

1. *Seagrave Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish, done in-house.
   

1. *Guardian brand, vintage style, five-ply hardshell case with black Tolex cover, brass hardware, and padded, green crushed velvet interior-- or equivalent. Custom fitted cases also available. See below.
   

1. *All my guitars include my full warranty. See below for the full text.
   

Options and Upgrades

  

   And that is exactly why I am here: To build you THAT guitar.

   Below is a (partial) list of custom options and upgrades, some of which you may want to incorporate into your dream guitar.

   This is by no means a complete list. The wood prices are approximate, and may go higher or lower, since market prices frequently fluctuate. And sometimes I find something rare and special, or I get an exceptionally good deal on some lust-worthy lumber, which I process into guitar sets myself. When we are planning your guitar, we can discuss all these exciting possibilities.

    First, here are some available custom design features:

Pogoda style slotted headstock:  $300

High-end Alessi, Waverly, Schertler, Robson, or other tuning machines: Please inquire.

Ryan-style arm bevel, trimmed in exotic wood:  $400

Beveled rib rest, trimmed in exotic wood:  $400

Arm bevel and rib rest, package:  $650

Beveled Florentine Cutaway, trimmed in exotic wood:  $300

Open, bound, oval sound port, upper bout driver’s side:  $75

Lower bout “hip”, veneer-accented Tri-port:  $175

Upper bout or lower bout sound port with slider:  $400

Sound port, custom shape: please inquire

Abalone, Black MOP, or other shell purfling on guitar top:  $300

Add same shell purfling to fingerboard and front headstock:  $250

Tapered center seam inlay on back, with mitered purflings:  $125

Custom design end graft inlay:  $50 and up

Fossil ivory or other exotic nut, saddle, bridge pins, etc. please inquire.

Baritone, 27.5” scale length, Performance model only: $200

Seven-string:  $350

Multi-scale (fanned-fret), your choice of scale spread:  $500

Custom inlay: Please inquire. We may collaborate with an Inlay specialist, in which case,

their fees apply as well. I know some good people in the biz.

Electronic pickup system installed:  Many types and brands available, please inquire.

Custom fitted Ameritage Gold Series Case with humidity control system:  $425

...and some special Top-shelf Wood upgrades:

I am posting many of my wood sets online on Photobucket, so you can select from

specific sets of wood.

I will try to keep this page currently updated, and post photos of new sets as I acquire them.

Click here to go to my Photobucket “Available Tonewoods” page.

Soundboards:

Master grade Sinker Redwood (very limited supply):  $300

AAA grade Sinker Redwood:  $200

Reclaimed, 115-year-old church roof beam Redwood:  $70

High-flame figured Redwood: $200

Adirondack Red Spruce, AAA grade:  $250

Carpathian Spruce, AAAA grade:  $225

Carpathian Spruce, AAA:  $175

Other Euro Spruce varieties, please inquire

AAA high-figure Alaskan Bearclaw Sitka spruce: $150

AAA Lutz Spruce:  $150

AAA Engelmann Spruce from Canada:  $100

Other special reserve top woods may be available; please inquire.

Back and Sides:

Master Grade East Indian Rosewood:  $150

Rare, quartersawn, marbled, iridescent Padouk:  $300

Indonesian Palisander (a Dalbergia rosewood)  $450

Malaysian Blackwood (Asian Ebony), Master grade:  $450

Ziricote, special quality, two sets @ $650 ea.

Jet black Gabon Ebony, quarter sawn. Two sets, 00 or smaller:  $500

High-flame and figure Hawaiian Koa:  $400 and up.

Highly figured Oregon Myrtle:  $250- $350

Dramatic landscape-figure Black Limba:  $150

High-color, straight-grain Brazilian Canary wood (A great rosewood alternative):  $200

High flame African Movingui aka African Satinwood:  $100

Flamed or high-figure Claro Walnut: $250- $350

Special quality Waterfall Bubinga: $250- $450

Special grade Cocobolo rosewood:  $300- $500

Brazilian and Madagascar Rosewoods--please inquire for availability

Neck woods, Bindings and Trim, Special Fingerboards, etc.

I build necks with three- or five-layer laminated construction,

using contrasting colors, figures, and veneer lines for both strength and style points.

Standard neck woods are Honduran or African Mahogany, Limba, American Cherry, Maple,

Black Walnut, Peruvian Walnut, Claro Walnut, and others. You may even opt for a rosewood neck.

Some of these neck woods are special quality, and will incur additional markup.

Please inquire.

All neck timbers are selected for vertical or rift cut through the heel,

for maximum stability and strength,

and best visual interplay with the guitar’s other tonewoods and appointments.

Standard Binding and Trim, Bridge, and Fingerboard woods are Ebony, Rosewood (various species)

and figured Maple. Other exotic varieties are also available, including

High-flame Maple, Koa, or Pyinma;  Brazilian rosewood, Cocobolo,

Bloodwood or Padouk, Ziricote, Malaysian Blackwood,

Indonesian Palisander rosewood, and Snakewood.

Some of these woods are rare and expensive, and will incur a markup.

We can discuss choices and prices while we are designing your guitar.

Commissioning a Custom Guitar

   When you have the initial concept together, ring me up or send an email. We can then spend some quality time discussing specific details, timing, and terms. We can talk about woods, options, special features, and your budget. This is where the design process begins.

   When you decide that you’re all in for a custom build, I will request a placeholder deposit of $750 USD. This will reserve your spot on my build list, and guarantee your pricing at current level. The deposit is non-refundable, but is applied in full to your build. At this time, if you are ready, you may select wood sets from my stash, and they will be put aside for you. In the event that you opt for some very rare or special woods that I must source out from my tonewood suppliers, I may ask for a higher deposit to cover costs.

   Then, about a month before your build is due to commence, we will reconvene, work out a solid, detailed plan, including a firm price for your guitar.  At the inception of the build, I request another payment of 50% of the remaining balance. The final payment, plus shipping costs, will be due at the completion of the project.

   If you require more flexible payment terms, I will be happy to work out a mutually agreeable schedule.

   It is my personal mission to make the entire process of building your guitar a thrilling and enjoyable experience. If you wish, I will photographically document the entire build, so you have a detailed, inside view of the whole process. We can also run a build thread on the Acoustic Guitar Forum, and show the rest of the world what we’re creating. In any case, I will keep you closely apprised of progress, all along the way.

   I know how big a step it is to have a custom guitar built. For many people, it represents a considerable investment, and requires a leap of faith, that everything is going to work out brilliantly. It is very much in my own personal interest to provide the best product and most comprehensive service possible. I take this work very personally. My continuity and growth in this business depend entirely upon your satisfaction. I will do whatever it takes to be SURE you are delighted with your entire Edwinson guitar experience. A growing number of my previous clients have been coming back around for a second instrument. I would definitely like to see that trend continue!

   I want to make note also: I often have already-built guitars available for sale, either privately or through dealers. Check the Available Now page of this site. You may find the exact guitar you want, NOW, TODAY! Wouldn’t THAT be a thrill!

Payment Terms

I will accept payments via PayPal (adding 2.5% service charge), Wire Transfer, Bank Check,

or your personal check, allowing time for funds to clear.

When You Receive Your New Guitar

   It is in your best interest (and mine) that I keep your newly completed guitar in my shop for at least ten days after the first set of strings go on, so that it has some time to settle in under string pull, and I can make sure that the setup is fully dialed in and stable. During this time I will also continue to “detail” the guitar, so that when you get it, it will be as pretty as can be. I’m sorry to make you wait a few days longer, but trust me, it’s well worth it. An acoustic guitar is a dynamic system, with a lot of interdependent factors working on its functionality. A new guitar is not done until it’s DONE. I want to be sure that it’s fully ready for prime time before I deliver it to you.

   Otherwise, it would be good for you to establish a relationship with a qualified, trustworthy guitar repair technician in your area, who you can rely upon for periodic tune-ups, and to keep your guitar in top playing condition.

   Some things you can expect to see in your new guitar as it settles in to its new life: The lacquer finish will continue to harden and shrink for about six months or even longer. As this happens, you will notice two things: The guitar’s sound will gradually mature, and become more complex and expressive; and you may see the texture of the woods underneath showing a little more at reflective angles. I use a very thin thin finish, for best tone production; so there will likely be some “telegraphing” of the wood grain over time.

   As the guitar’s top settles in under string pull, you may see a little “telegraphing” of the internal bracing structure when the guitar is turned at certain reflective angles. This is entirely natural, and it’s a GOOD thing. It means that the guitar was built lightly for best response and tone. Most factory-made guitars are built more heavily than custom-shop guitars, so that the manufacturer can avoid having to do a lot of warranty repair work. Custom guitars should always be built to a finer degree of personal optimization for the discerning player.

   And finally, it is important to note that, when I send your new Edwinson guitar to you, it is not yet a fully fledged instrument. It will become complete only when you have invested your personality, your playing style, and your unique musicality into it. Guitars really do respond and develop in accordance with how they are played and handled. As with any important relationship, there will be some give-and-take, some respect and devotion required, and if all goes well, hopefully a deep and abiding love will develop between you and your guitar.

  

the Edwinson Guitar Warranty

LIMITED WARRANTY: Your Edwinson Guitar is warranted against defects in materials

and workmanship for the life of the original owner, or until such time as I am incapable

of providing service because of old age, decrepitude, senility, or abduction by aliens from outer space.

If a problem arises through fault borne solely by me, the builder, I will render the

necessary repair, modification, or replacement of the defective part(s) at no charge,

minus shipping costs.

   Not covered under this warranty are: Damage caused by exposure to extremes of

heat or cold, moisture or dryness; Accidents, intentional or otherwise; Improper

handling, maintenance, or care of the instrument; Use as a weapon in a bar fight;

Damage caused by improper stringing, or otherwise forcing the instrument beyond its

natural capability; Normal aging, and wear through appropriate use; Hot-rodding or

modification by anyone not myself; Service or repair by anyone not myself; and acts of

God or Nature that I cannot control.

   Pickup systems, truss rods, tuners, and any other part not manufactured by me are

covered only under the manufacturer’s warranty, if any.

MY CONTACT INFORMATION:

Stephen J. Sheriff, Luthier

Phone: (206) 271 8743

email: s.sheriff.luthier@gmail.com

            edwinsonguitar@yahoo.com

web: http://edwinsonguitar.com

Edwinson Guitars

5018 Cameron Rd.

Birmingham AL 35242

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