Electric guitar players can struggle with factory guitar shortcomings: buzzing, uncomfortable necks, inexpensive electronics, poor fret and nut work. They invest their time and money changing the neck, hardware, and pickups with mixed results. Continue reading
Tag Archives: bodies
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Ordering a Custom Guitar
You can help your custom guitar builder guide you to the guitar that is best suited for you, whether you want to show off a unique look, dial in your signature sound, or combine features not normally found on one guitar. Start dreaming about your fantasy guitar by asking yourself three important questions. Continue reading
Crook Guitars for Sale at Nashville Guitar Show
Here’s your chance to play and purchase a Crook guitar! Stop by my booth and say hello this weekend (March 8-9) at the 4 Amigos Nashville Guitar Show. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone, talking guitars and answering questions you may have. Continue reading
Brad Paisley’s Crook Guitars Gear: Rig Stories Part 3
Guest Post by Zac Childs —
Brad’s Salsa Paisley
2004 was a busy time of promoting the Mud on the Tires album with tour dates, television appearances and music videos. All the guitars, including the Buckocaster, were seeing much use, but Brad was interested in having Bill build a 60s vibe guitar with a rounder tone. They tossed around ideas and settled on a T-style with a rosewood fingerboard and a fiesta red and white paisley finish. The guitar was a real stunner, and Brad nicknamed it “Salsa.” Continue reading
Fat Humbucker Sound and T-Style Neck in Hybrid Guitar
Many Crook hybrid guitars start out the same way. Players aren’t sure what they want, they just know what they have isn’t quite cutting it. A hybrid isn’t just about focusing on one feature. The guitar comes about because a customer is looking for the right feel and a particular sound they haven’t been able to find in one guitar. Continue reading
New Hot Rod Pattern – Engine Turned Aluminum Guitar
If you love show cars and hot rods, you’ve seen engine turned aluminum used on everything from truck beds to tailgates. I found a paper that looks just like the swirled pattern so that you can get the engine turned look on your guitar while preserving the traditional wooden guitar tone. For my first experiment, I took the finish a step further by spraying a transparent candy apple red over the pattern to get a holographic look that really jumps. It ended up being my top attention-getter at the Nashville guitar show. Continue reading
Custom Short Scale Bass with Long Scale Bass Sound
Having been a mechanic for 25 years, Don was troubled with hand flexibility issues that made it hard to continue playing his 34” 4-string bass. He was looking for a short scale bass that would still sound like a long scale and would be comfortable and lightweight enough to play from his favorite chair. We talked about how to customize a bass that would fit his needs. Continue reading
CNC vs. Handmade Guitars
Having spent hours bent over jigs, routers and drill presses, I pray I never have to go back to doing body construction in-house. There’s nothing wrong with using templates and hand routing, but it is hard to maintain tight tolerances. Continue reading