Skipper Custom Instruments

Frequently asked questions

Why don't you post a price list? I rarely have stock instruments for sale -- nearly all of my instruments are custom built to a particular customer's desires -- so there's no realistic way to blindly price an instrument that hasn't yet been conceived.

Also, items that from other builders come with a hefty upcharge, such as all-hide-glue construction and Adirondack (red) spruce tops, are standard on Skipper instruments. I don't have a "low-end" or "stripped-down" model that offers an attractive up-front price that grows quickly as options are explored.

That said, I can give you some ballpark figures. A top quality custom guitar will begin in the mid-$2,000 range, while an F-model mandolin enters the market at around $3,500. Prices can go up or down from those, depending on wood choices and level of trim. Tell us what you're interested in, and I'll quickly give you a price that holds no surprises.

Why isn't your business phone number on the website? I work alone, and I want to build instruments, not talk on the telephone. When the phone rings while I'm in the midst of a hot-hide-glue application or while a power tool is running, it goes unanswered. That's not good business. Gerry, my partner and the artist behind my best designs, is available both by e-mail and by phone (see the "Contact Us" page for his information) to answer your questions and to help with the design. Once I begin building an instrument for you, I'm much more accessible. I'll be in almost constant e-mail contact with you, and will send photos of your progress at least weekly.

How long does it take you to build an instrument? This is, without a doubt, my most frequently asked question. And my stock answer: All doggoned day. Most of the time, I don't know exactly how many hours I have invested; I'm working on several instruments at a time, and I forget to look at my watch as I switch back and forth. Truthfully, I'm more interested in how well the job is done than in how long it takes. For the last several years I've averaged 12 instruments per year, or one a month.

How many instruments have you built? As of November 2010, I'm working on my 90th instrument. If nothing happens, I'll reach number 100 in 2011. I intend for that one to be special; if you're interested, get your bid in early.

If I give you an order, when can you start on mine? I manage my order file so that it totals months, not years; if an order pushes it beyond that, I'll take it later. In most cases, I'll get started sooner than you think. If you're a picker, you move ahead of collectors.

What's the secret to the "Skipper" sound? In as few words as possible, I pay attention. I've worked with wood my entire life, and I've learned that every piece of wood has a unique personality. As I work the wood, I listen to what it tells me: how stiff it is, both with and across the grain; how resonant; how dense; how tough or brittle. When I've learned these things, I'll know both which other woods to match it with and also how to shape it -- another area that requires attention. Graduated tops should do just that, and not get thin and then thick again. The structural and acoustic properties of a top with a thickness of .110" is vastly different than one .120", and either could be correct for a particular guitar. The finish is not just a part of the aesthetic value of an instrument, but also has structural and acoustic properties that have to be factored into the equation. The constant evaluation and management of these and other factors results in a superior, consistent sound.

What's your shop like? Unlike most shops, mine's plenty big enough for what I want to do. Like most woodshops, it's normally dusty and cluttered. My larger outer shop contains my stationary tools, while the inner shop is a temperature-and-humidity controlled environment where my instrument wood is stored before and during construction, and where most of the work takes place. Finishing takes place in a separate spray booth, also climate controlled and with uv-drying equipment for varnish finishes.

Who owns Skipper instruments? To date: war heroes; pipefitters; laborers; college professors; counselors; carpenters; mutual fund managers; FBI agents; engineers; musicians of all degree, amateur to professional; truck drivers; road inspectors; lawyers; wildlife biologists; rednecks; definitely non-rednecks; retail store owners; metal fabricators; symphony contra-basoonists; symphony violinists; HVAC contractors; music teachers; fighter pilots; real estate agents; plumbers; judges; collectors; machinists; housing managers; golf course superintendents; college music students; doctors; writers; ________ (I'd love to put your occupation here)

Do you have repeat customers? A number of folks own multiple Skipper instruments: two, three, six, even -- wait for it -- twenty-three! My instruments are currently in at least fifteen states and on two continents.