At Ivory Lutherie I blend the use of classic steel and nylon string (classical) guitar body forms with modern day neck attachment schemes i.e. bolt on necks. For custom built guitars, I engage the customer via choice of body shape, tonewoods, binding\purfling styles, rosette style, pearl neck inlays, and finish. All guitar necks are hand carved with standard profiles available but these profiles can be adjusted to suit a customers needs.

Typical body styles include:

000-14: Small body guitar, neck 14 frets clear of the body, 15" wide lower bout, max 4" depth, 25.4" scale.

D-14: Dreadnaught medium body guitar, neck 14 frets clear of the body, 16" wide lower bout, max 5" depth, 25.4" scale.

D-12: Dreadnaught medium body guitar, neck 12 frets clear of the body, 16" wide lower bout, max 5" depth,25.4" scale.

J-14: Slope shoulder dreadnaught, medium body guitar, neck 14 frets clear of the body, max 5" depth, 25.4" scale.

Jumbo-14: Jumbo sized body guitar, neck 14 frets clear of the body, 17" inch wide lower bout, max 5" depth, 25.4" scale.

Classical-12: Small body nylon stringed guitar, 12 frets clear of the body. 15" lower bout, max 5" depth, 25.4" scale.

Bolt On Neck Design

     Most if not all acoustic guitars will experience changes to their geometry as a result of string tension and natural aging. The end result is that the string action rises from the fretboard and the neck angle has to be reset to restore a comfortable action. In the traditional style of guitar construction, the neck is glued to the body of the guitar and as such a neck reset will necessitate the deconstruction of these glued joints which will likely disturb the neck and body finish in proximity to the neck joint. Finish touch up near the neck\body joint and also some amount of fret dressing in addition to the actual neck reset is usually required to complete this work. This translates to a higher repair cost and a longer turnaround time.

      In my acoustic guitar design a neck reset is performed as follows: since the neck is bolted into  and it is simply a matter of loosening the neck bolts to remove the neck from the guitar, shaving the back of the neck heel and reattaching\bolting the neck back into place on the guitar.  This virtually eliminates the need for finish touchup. Since the fretboard extension is of a cantilever design and not in contact with the top, this feature eliminates the need to dress the upper frets. End result, quicker turnaround, usually same day, with a lower cost.

Available Tonewoods:

- For tops: Lutz, Englemann, Sitka, and Red Cedar are typically used. Other options may be available

For backs\sides: Indian Rosewood, Figured Maple (flamed, quilted), Honduran Mahogany, Zebra wood, Varigated Ziricote,  Pommelle figured Sapele, Macassar Ebony, Koa, Bubinga, Osage Orange are some of the many woods that I have employed.

- For Necks: Honduran Mahogany, Figured Maple, Red Cedar, Korina.

- Fretboards: Macassar Ebony, Indian Rosewood, Cocobolo