A recent Custom Request letter came in.
Thought it was sharable.
From: “B L” <b*****8@gmail.com>
To: “Richard Mariner” <haywire@sccoast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 8:33:17 PM
Subject: Looking for a guitar builder who specializes in LIGHTWEIGHT
To: “Richard Mariner” <haywire@sccoast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 8:33:17 PM
Subject: Looking for a guitar builder who specializes in LIGHTWEIGHT
Hi, I’ve been looking at your site and I’m very interested in a lightweight guitar. I’ve almost bought some of the stock you have on Reverb, but I think I’d rather custom spec something.
I saw you have done SG’s before and I am interested in doing a P-90 SG. I have a few options I’m particular about, so I want to know the depth of customization available.
A few specific questions:
1. How exactly are you making the guitars more lightweight, getting strats to weigh in at 5.6 lbs for instance? Are the bodies thinner, made of lighter wood? Are you able to make necks lighter than other builders somehow?
2. How much does a custom build cost?
3. What are wait times for a custom build?
4. Are there a few tiers you offer, basic, semi-custom, custom? I saw some things listed as low as $900 dollars which seems like quite a steal for a custom instrument.
I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks
– B L
Good Morning B****,
Thanks for dropping by and taking time to write.
Yes, we have done many SG’s in the past and at the moment we are
concentrating our efforts on Strats and Teles. As well, our goals are not designed for making lots of money but for a successful build
giving players what they need. A custom request requires more attention.
Our specialty as well, is not necessarily “light-weight” instruments, but to satisfy the needs of guitarists world-wide in making their jobs easier. We do it all.
We are retired players and Luthiers. We don’t work because we need to work but rather it’s
a way to give back to a musical community which has served us so well in providing a great living in the area we love-music.
We can do a Custom Request for you depending on what parameters are required.
It can make some guitars more expensive.
As well wait time can be different depending on requirements, but usually 4- 5 weeks
from the time we receive a deposit to begin the project until completion.
The depth of customization is really depending on your requirements. We’re flexible.
The cost, as always depends on YOUR needs and what you need included.
Simply, let me know what you’d like, parts desired and your budget for the build and I’ll let you know if it’s feasible.
Our lightweight line of guitars were originally designed for older players and female guitarists who
couldn’t necessarily hold a lot of weight for hours on end while performing live.
We’re musicians working for musicians.
We are here to help pro players get what they need.
As a result we answered the need for lighter guitars by choosing woods carefully, using lighter hardware, air drying longer
and oven baking to remove excess moisture for lighter bodies. It’s not just “one thing” that we do
to attain a lighter guitar but a series of decisions made to get it in the “sweet spot” of weight handled easily.
In order to get it where it needs to be in some instances require following our suggestions on hardware choice for best outcome.
Being “musicians working for musicians”, one of my goals is not only to provide services to musicians they can’t get anywhere else, but to make the services affordable for the average musician playing and performing for a living. They need good tools just like everyone else.
Being a pro player for over 50 years I certainly understand that. So for example we offer-guitar neck shaving for players with small hands.
As well, on the flipside, we have neck widths that range from 1-5/8″ all the way up to 2-1/16″ for player that require more space
to play articulately with no unintentional muting of strings.
We have learned that successful builders are willing and able to do things
that unsuccessful builders are unwilling or unable to do. Success is our goal.
Warm Regards from the Shop!
Rick Mariner
Haywire Custom Guitars Inc.
“We are musicians working for musicians”.
Thanks for letting us work for you
Haywire Custom Guitars Nashville Thinline Telecaster-Tiger Stripe Green was a custom request.
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