Question. How long does it take to make a guitar?

Answer. The time varies depending on many factors. An average guitar takes me approximately 40 to 60 hours. The French polishing itslef can take up to 4 weeks, but this is only a hour or so each day.

Question. What timbers are the best?

Answer. This will vary depending on the sound required and the personal preferences of the customer. I really love Spruce tops, but many players love Cedar. As for the back and sides, well again it depends on what you are after. Brazilian Rosewood is excellent, but has many problems, one of which is the added cost. It is also prone to cracking far more than other guitar timbers.

East Indian Rosewood is another excellent timber, as are the beautiful Figured Tasmanian Blackwood. Another excellent timber is Walnut. I use both Peruvian Walnut and American Walnut. For a complete list of available timbers please take a look at the timbers page.

Question. How often do I change strings?

Answer. This depends on many factors - how often the guitar is played, how long it is played for, the condition of your hands and nails, the brand of the strings, the condition of the fretboard and the frets etc. Something that you should be aware of is that the guitar takes on its own character according to how it is played and the sounds it produces. If the guitar is played for a long time (months to years) with the same set of worn out strings, then eventually the guitar will only produce those sounds. This is like when a guitar is not played for a long time, it "goes to sleep". This can be reversed by playing and using new strings. Many of the new high tech treble strings last for great periods, and it is only necessary to change them when they have obviously worn out. Just change the bass strings.

Question. What precautions should I take when I travel with my guitar?

Answer. See the Travel with my guitar page.

Question. How do I clean my guitar?

Answer. See the How to care for my guitar page.

Question. Where can I find other guitar related information?

Answer. See my Links page.