How to Order a Custom Made Guitar or Bass :: Halo Custom Guitar - Baritone Guitar - Custom Bass - 8 String Guitar

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Halo Guitars » How to Order a Custom Made Guitar or Bass

How to Order a Custom Made Guitar or Bass

Our mission is to provide you the ultimate experience in ordering a custom guitar or custom bass by offering more custom options, faster delivery times, and lower prices than most of our competitors. We have established sales from customers worldwide and have quickly become the musician’s trusted source for professional instruments at affordable factory-direct pricing.

Basic Process for Ordering a Custom Made Guitar or Bass

1. Browse our collection of existing Body Styles. Click on the body style you like to start customizing it. (If you don't see one you like, then send us an e-mail with the body style you want - you can even send us a sketch of your own body design.)

2. Select the Headstock Shape of your choice. The headstock shape does not make a significant impact on the final instrument's playability or tone. (If you don't see one you like, then send us an e-mail with the body style you want - you can even send us a sketch of your own body design.)

3. Select "Right Hand" if you want a right handed instrument. Select "Left Hand" if you want a left handed instrument.

4. Decide on if you want a Guitar or Bass. Then, decide how many Strings you want for your guitar or bass.

5. Choose the "Scale Length" for your custom made instrument. The scale length is distance from the guitar's nut to the guitar's string saddles. For guitar, the standard scale lengths are in the range of 24.75" => 25.50" (Common scale lengths are 24.75", 25.00" and 25.50" for Gibson, PRS and Fender 6-string guitars, respectively). For bass, the standard scale length is 34.00". Most 4-string basses are 34.00", while most 5 and 6-string basses are 35.00".

6. Choose the "Construction" method you want. The construction method refers to how the neck and body are joined together. "Bolt-on" construction consists of a neck piece and a separate body piece that are bolted together with four screws. "Set Neck" construction consists of a neck piece and a separate body piece that are glued together. "Neck Through" construction is an advanced guitar building method in which the body and neck are constructed from the same piece (or pieces) of wood. Many people favor Neck Through construction for its sustain, stability, and comfortable neck heel.

7. Choose the Body Wood you want. Halo Custom Shop offers all varieties of tone woods ranging from common to exotic species. Each tone wood has a specific tone characteristic and appearance (natural grain pattern). Electric instrument tone is less affected by the choice of wood compared to acoustic instruments. The tone of electric instruments are affected more significantly by the choice of pickups. (Common examples of body woods are Alder, Ash, Mahogany, and Basswood for Fender, Fender, Gibson, and Ibanez guitars, respectively).

8. Choose Body Top (optional). The body top refers to a thin layer of wood that is glued on top of the core body wood. There are two main benefits to adding a body top: (1) Enhancing the appearance of your custom guitar by showing off the natural grain pattern of a figured, or exotic wood, and (2) Altering the tone of your custom guitar. * You may choose a "Veneer" or a "Cap" for the body top. A veneer (approximately 0.50mm thick) will only enhance the appearance, but will not alter the tone; A cap (at least 10.00mm thick) will enhance and alter the tone.

9. Choose Pickups. The pickups are a major determinant of the overall tone for electric instruments. For that reason, it is very important for you to choose the type of pickup that produces the type of tone you want. We are happy to install any brand and model pickup of your choice.

10. Choose the Neck Wood you want. Halo Custom Shop offers all varieties of tone woods ranging from common to exotic species. Each tone wood has a specific tone characteristic and appearance (natural grain pattern). Electric instrument tone is less affected by the choice of wood compared to acoustic instruments. The tone of electric instruments are affected more significantly by the choice of pickups. (Common examples of neck woods are maple and mahogany).

11. Choose the Fingerboard Wood you want. Halo Custom Shop offers all varieties of tone woods ranging from common to exotic species. Each tone wood has a specific tone characteristic and appearance (natural grain pattern). Electric instrument tone is less affected by the choice of wood compared to acoustic instruments. The tone of electric instruments are affected more significantly by the choice of pickups. (Common examples of fingerboard woods are rosewood, maple, and ebony).

12. Choose the Number of Frets you want. At the same time, choose the type of material you want the fret wires to be made of. Most electric guitars have at least 21 frets, while most electric bass guitars have at least 20 frets. More frets equals more range (high notes). Two common types of material for fret wire are (1) Nickel-Silver, and (2) Stainless Steel. The majority of instruments are made with Nickel-Silver wire, as it is a less expensive material and it produces less wear-and-tear on the machines and tools used in instrument manufacturing. Nickel-Silver will wear down and possibly corrode faster than stainless steel over time, but many people prefer the "feel" of nickel silver, stating that stainless steel feels too "slippery". On the other hand, may high end instruments and professional musicians consider stainless steel frets a "must-have".

13. Choose the Fret Size you want. Frets come in several different widths and heights. Each fret size has a different feel and will make a noticeable difference in your custom guitar or bass. Shorter fret wire is ideal for those who like to be able to feel the fretboard underneath their fingertips when fretting a note. Taller fret wire is ideal for those who like a "scalloped" feel, where the friction between the fingertips and fretboard are reduced or eliminated.

14. Choose Scalloped Frets (optional). Conventional fret boards are made with a consistent surface. Scalloped fret boards are made with a dip, or "soft U shape", between two fret wires. This is a feature most commonly desired by "shredders", or those who love to play a gajillion notes per second. Famous guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore are known to use scalloped fret boards.

15. Choose the style and material of Inlays you want on your fretboard. Inlays are most commonly installed on frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 21 to help players identify where specific notes are located across the length of the fret board. If you don't like any of our inlay choices, then we encourage you to tell us what style you like, or even send us an e-mail with a sketch of your own design.

16. Choose the style of Nut you want for your custom instrument. Generally, there are two types: (1) Hand slotted, or (2) Locking. We recommend locking nuts for all instruments equipped with a tremolo bridge with fine tuners. We will not install a locking nut on an instrument with a tremolo bridge without fine tuners.

17. Choose the Hardware Color you want. Generally, chrome hardware is the least expensive; black and gold hardware is more expensive. We recommend choosing the hardware color that complements the color of your custom instrument.

18. Choose the Bridge System that optimizes your ability to play what you want to play. For the biggest dive bomb and whammy bar flutter effects, we recommend the Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo System. For a more simple and stable system that allows for easy string changes and alternate tunings, we recommend a fixed bridge, like a Tune-o-Matic style bridge.

19. Choose Tuning Keys. There are two basic options: (1) Non-Locking, and (2) Locking. Non-locking tuners are very common, affordable, and they get the job done well. We recommend Non-locking tuners to reduce the overall price of your custom instrument. Locking tuners are usually more expensive, but they do improve tuning stability, simplify string installation, and increase mass on the headstock. If within your budget, then we always recommend locking tuners.

20. Choose your layout for Volume controls, Tone controls, and Pickup Selector Switch. For instruments with only one pickup, we recommend at least one volume control; instruments with two pickups, we recommend at least one volume control and a three-way pickup selector switch; instruments with three pickups, we recommend at least one volume and a five-way pickup selector switch. * You may also choose tone controls, kill switches or buttons, and various coil-split, coil-tap, phase, series, and parallel wiring options.

21. Choose your favorite Color and Finish Type. We are proud to offer you a virtually limitless selection of colors and finish types. You may choose any color in solid or transparent, then decide whether you want the finish to be gloss, satin, or oil. We can also print custom graphics on your instrument, or paint one-of-a-kind artwork by hand.

22. Choose the Origin of where the custom instrument is made. The vast majority of our customers choose Import Halo Custom Shop instruments because of the huge price savings, excellent build accuracy, and professional playability. USA Halo Custom Shop instruments also maintain excellent build accuracy, professional playability, but the prices are higher because the costs of labor, materials and components are higher. * All Halo Custom Shop instruments are setup in USA by our professional guitar technicians.

23. Tell us any Special Instructions for your custom instrument. Our goal is to build and deliver the perfect instrument for your needs. If that means setting up the instrument to a specific string gauge and tuning, having a builder autograph the headstock, or taking progress photos, then we'll do it!

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