Purchasing and Returns

When your turn is reached on the waiting list, I require a pre-construction fee of 25%. Once the guitar is complete, I need full payment of the remaining balance plus shipping costs and insurance before sending the guitar to you.

Once you receive the guitar, you have two weeks to decide if it's to your liking. You may return the instrument for a conditional refund: If the instruments can be resold to another party within 60 days, you will be refunded the full purchase price minus the waiting list fee, shipping and insurance. If a resale cannot be completed, a 15% fee shall be deducted from full purchase price minus the waiting list fee, shipping and insurance to cover sales efforts and marketing. I apologize for this, but the reason is that it’s almost always more difficult to sell a custom guitar uniquely built for a specific individual. People often want an instrument built with them in mind, even if an identically-spec’d instrument is available.

Expenses from damage to the guitar while out of my hands have to be covered by you, the buyer, and may jeopardize the return if seriously damaged. All of these conditions apply to a guitar that fits "normal" specifications (which make it less difficult to resell). If the order is unusual or very specialized, there may be no return allowed. What falls into this category I have to determine on a case-by-case basis.

Warranty and Exclusions

In building an instrument, I take great care ensuring that it will be structurally sound. This ranges from using properly dried wood, usually seasoned well over 5 years, to going through different phases of construction only when the temperature and, more importantly, the humidity are correct for long-term stability. As such, my warranty covers defects in workmanship for a period of two years. After this period, any repair issue will be at my discretion. My goal is always to do what is fair and to retain good business relationships and friendships.

Proper care and maintenance is the responsibility of the owner. Damage from abuse or neglect, including exposing the instrument to incompatible extremes in temperature and humidity, normal wear and tear, weather, or acts of God are not covered by my warranty. I suggest you get personal instrument insurance for these issues, such as that offered by Heritage Insurance Service, Inc. Cracks occasionally develop in a wide variety of musical instruments made from wood, and the guitar is no exception. Although the utmost is done to reduce the chance of hairline or regular cracks, no luthier can control these natural materials and cracks are generally not covered.

Repairs or modifications performed by any person, private or qualified to work on stringed instruments, may void my warranty. Please consult with me before having anything done to the instrument, including finish work or cleaning.

If an inspection or repair work needs to be performed, shipping and/or travel expenses are the responsibility of the owner.