In order for us to fulfill a custom order, information is of the utmost importance - the more detailed, the better. If you already have an idea in mind about your dream guitar or bass and you are quite clear on what you would like it to be equipped with, simply send me a message with a detailed description. You can use sketches, examples of pictures/photos, hand drawings, etc. Use the list below to note the specifications and parameters, to make it easier to configure your instrument. If your desired specifications or parameters are not listed, you may add them yourself. After you have completed your order, please send it to me. It will be looked at in detail and you will then receive a response with confirmation regarding when your order should be ready.

Basic specification information:

• Body shape, color, finish and wood material
• Binding – natural, plastic, color
• Top - color and material
• Neck- shapes, construction (bolt-on, neck through, set-in) and material
• Nut width
• Number of strings
• Scale Lengths
• Fret numbers Size
• Fingerboard – radius, material
• Tuning Keys – brand, model, type
• Headstock style
• Pickups – brand and type and model
• Pickup configuration – H,HH, HS, HSH, HSS, SSS
• Electronics configuration – number of controls and their position
• Bridge – type and model
• Finish – type of lacquer and color

The projected time for completion of a guitar or bass is three months, regardless if it is custom or a model from our site. Depending on the model itself or the complexity of a given design, the projected completion time could be prolonged. Other reasons for prolonging the completion of an order are as follows:

• Late delivery of hardware, electronic parts or wood materials
• If the design of the model is complex and requires additional labour and diligence
• If the materials used require additional processing, such as stabilising wood, for example

Because each guitar is hand-crafted to order, standard pricing is not available. Keep in mind, though, that the starting price is 2000 Euros. You may also see prices posted here https://reverb.com/shop/kd in my Reverb shop online for my ‘In stock’ guitars, or feel free to email or phone me with any questions.

In rare situations it is possible to negotiate a project below the minimum price, but this is only done with advance planning and specific choice of materials, hardware and electronics.

In the even that you choose a guitar or bass from our site, just send me a message and I will quote you a price.

If you would like a custom-made guitar or bass, send me a message including the type of wood you would like to use and detailed specs of the desired instrument – please see my FAQs first – and I will send you a quote. Everything from the choice of wood to inlay to tuners and the case you choose will have an impact on the final price. Because of this we ask you to be as specific and detailed as possible when asking for a quote.

Each KD guitar or bass comes with a LIMITED LIFETIME warranty. For more information regarding the warranty, click here: http://www.kdbasses.com/warranty

Yes! Each KD guitar and bass model can be made in a left-handed version.

Yes! For shipping within Europe we rely on the company DPD - a door-to-door service - whom we have worked with for many years. The delivery time is 5 working days. For deliveries worldwide, depending on the destination we use the international service EMS, or BG Post. The delivery time varies between 5 and 21 days.

Yes! We have great experience in building guitars according to the design and specification of the client. We have fulfilled many non-traditional and extravagent orders. Simply send us the ideas you have for your desired guitar or bass and we will come up with a variety of options for creating your desired instrument.

Woodworking is a delicate matter, mainly because it is a living material. If you want to have control over it, you have to delve deeper into its temper and learn and understand how it behaves and why it reacts in different ways at different times. Building necks for a bass or an acoustic is the most important part of the process. If the neck is compromised in any way, the entire instrument is compromised.

The major problems you can encounter with the neck is twisting, warping and dead tone spots. I have dedicated much time and have carried out many experiments to try to find a solution that would eliminate or at least reduce these issues. I tried different wood combinations, different neck lamination, different materials and styles of reinforcement and several different neck constructions. The only thing I found to work is Cone Core construction.

The basic method of selecting proper wood for the neck is finding a straight line in the wood grain itself – as straight as possible. Symmetrical wood grain lines do not fit in the trapeze shaped neck at all. The weakest and most unstable part of the neck is found on the sides where the 1st and 6th strings lie. It is here that the wood grain is cut and certainly causes neck instability. See drawing below:

The only logical solution is to stabilize the sides of the neck by applying a construction which allows me to make the 1st and 6th string lie on a solid piece of wood without interrupted grain lines. This is how Cone Core construction was born. See drawing below:

This Cone Core construction does not solve all the previously mentioned issues completely, but it definitely reduces neck failure by 70%, which in my opinion as a luthier is a great achievement.

Wood stabilisation is a process whereby materials are filled with resins to help make them more durable. The resins, commonly used in treating wood, stabilise it, making it water-resistant and more dense. It will also prevent cracking, twisting, expanding, contracting and warping. Stabilisation releases the tension in the wood, minimizing the risk of deformation caused by ambient conditions.

Depending on the variety, some woods will double their weight.

Musical instruments, regardless of whether they are electric or acoustic, are constantly at the mercy of their surroundings: high/low temperatures, high/low humidity. Humidity has the strongest influence on the immediate behaviour of the instrument. Because wood is a porous material, it has the ability to absorb moisture which leads to an increase in its volume. Each change in the volume of the guitar’s wood leads to a shift in its geometrical structure, a drastic change in set-up, potential problems with the frets, displacement within the glue points or a warping of the neck.
In order to dramatically reduce the above problems to a minimum or to a zero, I use stabilised wood. Once wood is stabilised, humidity and moisture can no longer affect it. The wood retains its original form and volume, allowing the possibility for original set-up - regardless of the impact of its external environment.
Many instruments have had problems with their fret ends sticking out. This happens when the guitar is in a very dry environment, which causes the wood to release moisture and in turn, shrink. Due to this, the fret ends start to scratch the edge of the fingerboard. Stabilising the wood prevents this from happening because it does not allow shrinkage.
In addition to being water-proof, stabilised wood is an extremely hard wood. This type of hardness is preferred on the fingerboard. Guitar parts subjected to intense mechanical effects, like friction and wear, can be protected for a very long period of time, which prolongs the life of the instrument.
Wood stabilising process allows the wood to be dyed with a wide range of colours, as well as a variety of colour combinations.

Here is an example of a bass made out of stabilised wood: Picasso

My decision to use polyester lacquer did not happen by chance. I have used almost every type of lacquer available in my twenty years of experience, but only polyester meets my requirements for quality. They are:

• Lack of wear & tear
• Perfect adhesion to most wood types
• Repairable
• Does not dramatically change its color over time, rather it becomes a slightly amber color
• Can be translucent
• Does not crack over time
• Never loses adhesion
• Does not age
• Protects the wood fully

Working with Polyester is quite specific. The application of the varnish requires extreme care. A certain temperature and technological process must be observed in order to achieve the desired quality. In addition to applying the varnish, polishing is especially difficult and time-consuming. The extreme hardness of the varnish requires various polishing materials and technologies, which make the polishing time 4 times longer compared to polyurethane, hence the higher price of this lacquer coating.

The modern chemical industry, especially in the field of varnish production, does offer other quality varnishes, which I do use when necessary or when a customer specifically requests the use of a certain type of varnish. I also use polyurethane, acrylic - and in rare cases, nitro lacquers.