Custom Acoustic Guitars

Guitars

Most innovations in the manufacturing world are made for the sake of speed and efficiency (i.e. maximizing profit), not for the sake of quality. More

About Monkman Guitars

My approach to building acoustic guitars is very traditional. I have studied a lot of great builders and techniques to develop my approach.

For me the key is "warmth". Both in tone and feel. Too often for me new guitars feel cold and soulless. Each one of my handmade guitars has it's own identity. Built to inspire right out of the box.

Cosmetically I favor an organic approach. Wooden bindings are standard unless requested otherwise. Wood or shell inlays are optional.

Currently For Sale

Cocobolo Rosewood Binding / Walnut
Torrefied Adirondack Top
Sipo Dread
Black Locust Bridge / Fretboard
American Hickory
Lutz Guitar Top
00-18

Torrefied Sitka Top

--About using torrefied spruce for the top soundboard and/or braces:

Acoustic guitars were made differently in the past. Buying a vintage guitar can be expensive and at times unrewarding.

Old acoustic guitars, though well made, are often un-cared for or have had so many repairs that have sucked the life out of them. They often sound dull or "tired".

With the advent of torrefied woods, its possible to build new guitars that have a more "broken-in" sound and feel. Structurally fresh and vibrant with a long life ahead of them.

Torrefied spruce tops are also more resistant to humidity damage. Less prone to cracking etc...

Hot hide glue is used on all bracing. The radius of the top, back and side contours are true to vintage specs.

I pay close attention to the thickness of the bridge plate, bridge wings.

I use a graduated top thickness. Thicker in the upper bout for strength. The sound board area is "tuned" for each specific top using a combination of "flex tests" and tap tone.

The X-braces on my guitars have a compound width. Meaning they are wider 5/16" in front of the bridge plate. Then thinner 1/4" from the bridge plate back. This allows for a stronger top in the soundhole area. Which should help to prevent the need for a neck reset in the future. While still allowing the soundboard area to be lightly braced.

The woods that I choose for my guitars are properly cut and aged.

Due to new Cites restrictions on most varieties of rosewood, I'm trying to avoid using rosewood for head plates, bindings etc... Traveling outside the U.S. with this wood requires a permit. I will still build rosewood guitars for U.S. only clients.

Available Wood Sets for Guitar

This video compares three of my 14 fret 00 guitars.

Each with a different type of spruce top.

This is a 14 fret 00 with some really nice black walnut for the back and sides. Cocobolo rosewood bindings and heel-cap.

This guitar features a Western Red Cedar top, braced for nylon strings. Also has a side sound-port.

Black Walnut acoustic guitar back and sides

This is a short scale 00. Martin style. With Macacauba back and sides and chechen bindings. Very very nice sounding wood. Looks almost like Teak wood when finished. Not quite the tap tone of Brazilian rosewood but it's a step closer than Indian rosewood. I have many small sets of this wood.