Handmade Custom Guitars by Doubleday Guitars
Every guitar built by Doubleday Guitars is a fully handcrafted, made-to-order instrument. Built one at a time by hand, not mass produced and never cut by CNC machines.
A custom guitar means your instrument is designed around how you play, how you want it to feel, and the sound you hear in your head. From neck shape and fretboard radius to body wood, pickups, electronics, and finish, each detail is intentionally selected and shaped by hand using traditional luthiery methods.
Unlike factory guitars built from pre-programmed templates, every Doubleday guitar is hand-carved, hand-fit, hand-wired, and finished in thin nitrocellulose lacquer, allowing the wood to resonate naturally and age beautifully over time.
This page breaks down your available guitar options — so you can understand exactly how your custom instrument is built, and why handcrafted construction matters.
What is a custom guitar?
A custom guitar is an instrument built specifically for one player. Instead of choosing from pre-made factory specs, the guitarist selects the neck profile, fretboard radius, body wood, pickups, electronics, and finish — creating a guitar tailored to their playing style and tone preferences.
Are Doubleday guitars CNC cut?
No. All Doubleday guitars are built entirely by hand using traditional woodworking and luthiery techniques. No CNC machines or mass-production processes are used at any stage of construction.
How are Doubleday guitars made?
Each guitar is made one at a time using:
Hand-shaped necks
One-piece & hand selected tonewoods
Custom hand-wound pickups
Vintage-style wiring
Thin nitrocellulose lacquer finishes
Every component is fit, finished, and assembled by hand for maximum tone, feel, and longevity.
Custom Guitar Build Philosophy:
At Doubleday Guitars, craftsmanship comes before shortcuts. Each guitar is built using traditional hand tools, vintage-inspired construction methods, and modern playability standards — blending old-world technique with player-focused design.
NECK
Specs
One piece quarter sawn maple with choice of Madagascar or Indian Rosewood Fretboard
Plain maple - Figured maple - Roasted maple
Soft V or Chunky C profile
Heel adjust Truss Rod
Bone Nut
Straight Fretboard radius
7.25” - 9.5” - 12” - 16”
Vintage narrow or Jumbo fretwire in nickel silver or stainless steel
Gloss or Satin all Nitrocellulose finish, tinted or natural
Kluson Supreme 18:1 ratio
Neck specifications determine how a guitar feels in the player’s hands. Profile shape, radius, and fret size directly affect comfort, speed, and playing technique.
Key details:
• Neck profile influences grip comfort
• Radius affects chord feel and bending
• Fret size changes pressure and response
• Neck specs strongly impact playability
Necks
Doubleday Guitar neck’s are customizable from the type of construction, fretboard radius, to the thin all nitro gloss or satin finish. Each neck is made from a one piece quarter sawn hard maple or Madagascar rosewood fretboard.
BODY
Body wood and construction affect resonance, weight, and overall tonal balance. Material choice influences how the instrument responds acoustically and electrically.
Key details:
• Wood density affects sustain and attack
• Body weight influences comfort
• Construction impacts resonance
• Finish type affects feel and durability
Bodies
Each Doubleday Guitar is made from a one piece lightweight swamp ash or alder body. The bodies come in a variety of classic and modern color finishes. Complete with a lacquered black bakelite, tortoise, or parchment pickguard. Kluson bridges are standard, with a choice of compensated or barrel brass saddles.
Specs
One-piece light weight Swamp Ash or Alder body
String Through body or Top Loader design
Kluson hardware throughout
Custom hand wound Doubleday pickups
Lacquered Bakelite, Parchment, or Tortoise pick guard
All nitrocellulose Gloss or Satin finish with a variety of color options
Vintage Slothead style screws throughout
Electronics
Electronics determine how the guitar converts string vibration into signal. Component quality and wiring layout affect reliability and tonal consistency.
Key details:
• Pickup selection shapes tonal character
• Pot values influence brightness
• Capacitors affect roll-off behavior
• Wiring layout impacts functionality
Electronics
Doubleday Guitars wouldn’t be complete with out a custom sound. Each neck and bridge pickup are hand wound with your choice of AINICo 2,3,5,8 or Ceramic Magnets to either a low, classic, or hot wind. Carefully wired with vintage style cloth pushback wire.
Specs
CTS potentiometers and Mallory USA vintage style capacitors
Vintage style cloth pushback wire
Custom hand wound Doubleday Pickups wound to customers specs
Conductive shielding paint throughout cavities
Pure Tone output jack in vintage style jack cup
Doubleday Standard Series
Standard series specifications provide a consistent baseline design using proven materials and components. These builds maintain quality while offering predictable tone and feel.
Key details:
• Fixed core specifications
• Consistent playability
• Reliable components
• Professional-level setup
The Doubleday Guitars Standard Line delivers the same playability, feel, and attention to detail found in our custom builds, but in a more attainable option designed for the working, gigging musician.
Each Standard Line guitar is assembled and set up in our Austin, Texas workshop using premium components and top-shelf parts. While these instruments feature a more streamlined build process, all fretwork, wiring, and final setup are completed by the same hands that build our Custom Line guitars, ensuring consistency, reliability, and professional-level performance.
Built to handle long nights on stage and everyday playing, the Standard Line offers exceptional tone, comfort, and durability. Guitars that deliver premium feel and performance without the premium price tag.
Learn more about our custom guitar builder process in Austin, Texas.
The Doubleday guitars standard line
The Standard line offers the unparalleled playability and feel of the Custom line, while becoming more attainable for the gigging musician. These guitars are assembled in our Austin Texas workshop using top shelf components and parts. All fretwork is done by the same hands that create the Custom line, as well as the wiring and final set up. These guitars play like a million bucks but won’t break the bank!
SPECS
Premium quality woods
Polyurethane body finish
Maple neck with Rosewood or Maple fretboard
Oil neck finish
Bone 1.65” nut
High quality Gotoh tuners
Kluson bridge
Razor Pickups, designed in Texas
Cloth pushback wiring with CTS pots and Orange Drop capacitors