Hey Matt... How Much Does A Custom Guitar Cost?
I get a lot of emails about custom work, prices, turn-around time, etc. Actually, I get a lot of emails with open ended questions like "How much is a custom guitar?" These are questions that take a long time to answer and time is money. I started noticing that I was answering the same questions over and over again and in an effort, to make life a little bit easier, I have come up with this short list to give you an idea of just what you are getting into. I don’t know why it took me so long to do this but here we are. These prices are for November 2019 and are subject to change without notice... C'mon, you knew that. First, we are a true custom shop and are happy to help you with fabrication of your own designs or reproductions of your favorite instruments. We can build custom bodies, necks and do paint work for your project as well as finish off the entire guitar and ship it to you ready to play. Turn-around time ranges from a few days to several months depending on the job and the amount you are willing to pay to get it faster.
Assembly Charge Nut work, Fret work, Testing & Set-up, all materials sold separately $250.00
Custom Body Work Custom shape body to customer specifications. Includes one off design fee. New construction only, woods are sold separately. $200.00
Custom Body Work, Binding
Install binding to one edge of body. 25% discount for multiple edges or combinations, new construction only. $100.00
Custom Body Work, Carved Top
Bell carve, or German carve, new construction only. $250.00
Custom Body Work, Weight-relieving
Weight loss program for body with top, new construction only, all materials sold separately $100.00
Weight loss program for body without top (cut blank to look like one piece) new construction only, all materials sold separately $200.00
Custom Neck Work Custom shape guitar neck to customer specifications. Includes one off design fee. Woods and materials are sold separately $250.00
Custom Neck Work, Binding
Install binding on fretboard edges or headstock, new construction only. 25% discount for multiple edges or combinations. $100.00
Gibson style fret end binding $150
Custom Neck Work, Compound Radius 10-16-inch radius fretboard, materials sold separately, new construction only $100.00
Custom Neck Work, Inlay Fretboard inlay work, materials sold separately, new construction only, prices start at $200
Custom Neck Work, Stainless Steel Frets Install stainless steel frets, materials sold separately, new construction only $50.00
Limited Time Only Special Fender Style neck with standard woods, includes cryo-nickel steel frets, TTG 2 way truss rod $200
Custom Work, Template Includes design work, customer keeps template. $100.00
Finish work Standard finish work, materials sold separately, new construction only. Prices start at $400.00
Shipping Customer will be provided with a price for shipping based on dimensions of package, location and speed of delivery. Note: As of 10-15-2019 All guitars built by Texas Toast Guitars must be shipped with a hard case.
If you are doing the math in your head, you have come up with $1100.00 for the most basic of services. We never said that we could compete with companies like Warmoth. What we have said is that being cool costs money.
A few notes about materials… The price of hardwoods commonly used in guitar building can fluctuate greatly. This special lumber, often called tone wood, is a commodity and sold as such. Figured woods are graded and priced by the seller, not me. Thanks to the efforts of builders like Paul Reed Smith you can expect to pay as much as $450 for a highly figured maple top.
We finish guitars with modern urethane paints, we do not currently spray nitrocellulose or acrylic lacquer. The good news is that any color you have ever seen, opaque, candy, metallic, or metal flake is easily obtainable. The bad news is that, of course, the coolest colors are the most expensive.
I hope this information helps to answer some of the questions you have before you get started on your custom guitar project.
As soon as the feds give me money I’ll buy a guitar. Come on 1200 dollars
I’m willing to barter services for a discount. I’m totally handy and zero pride. I’d rather do things like clean the toilets, wash your cars, mow lawns or handyman remodeling tasks and such. But to help me afford a bonafide Texas Toast custom guitar, hand jobs aren’t beneath me. It’ll take better beer than coors light to get me in the mood and I’ve never provided such service, but I’ve rarely disappointed myself. Well just let me know. 50% off seem reasonable? Lmao!!!
Might wanna make it clear if that $50 to install SS frets include the fret finish work or not (if it does that's a steal) But to the point of your post - one hopes with the bevy of video "evidence" you guys have provided people have an appreciation that a custom guitar costs what it does because of what it takes to produce - materials, time, tolling - and mad skillz!!