Advice on UK Luthiers?

[FELINEGUITARS]

Meanwhile, regarding custom guitars, how would I go ahead figuring out exactly what I need for neck widths/depths/etc... Would it just be a point of going to lots of guitar shops and trying out as many guitars as possible, and then using their dimensions? Or would I attend the cutting of the neck so it fits my hand?

Also can you recommend any guitars that have either a 42mm or 43mm nut, as I don't know which one to pick out of the 2 as of yet.

One last thing. I'm a Les Paul player (I do have other guitars, but i also have very small hands), so I've been using 24.75". I don't want to really let the frets at the bottom of the fretboard to become any further apart if I'm honest, and it's perfect for me in the upper registers - A little more space wouldn't go amiss though, just to not cramp my hand as much. So I wondered, do you think a 25" 24 fret scale would be ideal, as to jumping up to 25.5"?

Tough to answer, really.

If you're not already familiar with a variety of different neck shapes, I wouldn't advise rushing to try a load of guitars in a short space of time and then immediately investing 2 grand in a custom guitar.  Better to go with a neck based on a guitar you already know well, I'd say.... or spend a few months on the research process before ordering the new guitar.

Some people find things like nut width and scale length absolutely crucial, personally I'm much more interested in the actual shape of the neck, scale length doesn't bother me one way or the other.  For a 25" scale, try some PRS guitars - that's what they use on most models.

sound advice!

Regarding the Ran Cruiser, I just love the cutaway designs. I've more or less searched for every double cutaway design, and that is the nicest I've seen. I'm not a fan of the Soloist if I'm honest. I find the Cutaways are too curved at the heel, whereas the ran design is less round. I also find it sleeker.
I just hate having guitars that look like famous brands (except a Les Paul :P), that's the one reason why I've shyed away from Warmoth. I guess I've just fallen in love with the exact cruiser shape.

Yes - well pictures will help as we look into it a bit closer.
If you are having exotic timbers - flame or quilted maple etc - expect things to be in the £2500 area

[Attica!]

Yh will be after flamed maple. I'm just going to take this design process slow, only comitting once I'm 110% sure that the design is exactly what I want. That's why I'm giving myself a year. If in 6 months time I still want the same design, then I'll commit to it. Kind of like getting a tattoo.

[Alex]

The neck shape, width and radius are one thing. The material, especially the fretboard, and the frets themselves are another thing. I would especially not overlook the fret wire.

Lastly, all the numbers don't matter that much if the luthier doesn't do it right. There's a reason some charge more for their guitars and that is just the know-how and expertise in making the thing play and feel just right.

[dave_mc]

Tough to answer, really.

If you're not already familiar with a variety of different neck shapes, I wouldn't advise rushing to try a load of guitars in a short space of time and then immediately investing 2 grand in a custom guitar.  Better to go with a neck based on a guitar you already know well, I'd say.... or spend a few months on the research process before ordering the new guitar.

Some people find things like nut width and scale length absolutely crucial, personally I'm much more interested in the actual shape of the neck, scale length doesn't bother me one way or the other.  For a 25" scale, try some PRS guitars - that's what they use on most models.

+1

i really like 43mm (or wider). i can play on 42mm or 41, and if a particular guitar i really want is only available in a smaller size, i wouldn't let it put me off, but if i have a free choice, it's 43mm.

as philly says, though, it's very personal. some people barely even notice. others can barely play on even the slightest deviation from their preferred size.

fwiw i have a legra and it's great. also have a stormshadow and it's great, too. From all i've heard, feline and wez are great, too.

that's a lot of help :lol:

[Attica!]

Cheers for all your advice. My girlfriends going to kill me in a couple weeks. Going to London for our anniversary, and all I'm doing is playing guitars and drinking in pubs mwahaha