Custom Guitar Quality: Looks & Feel

Why Looks & Feel Stands for Quality

In our previous article “Acoustic Guitar Quality, Detailed Discussion”, we have tried to explain the elements that determine the quality of custom guitar: sound, wood, playability.

However, we are still asked about if there is any easier way to figure out the quality. Since the answer is yes, we think it is better to talk more detailly. Let’s be clear firstly, the easy way is to find out the quality by looks and feel.

Looks of the acoustic guitar can reflect level of cutting, assembling and finishing, etc. That doesn’t only reflect the production level of the factory or luthier, but also reflect their attention on management and responsibility. Therefore, the looks of the guitar will give you a visual feeling of high quality.

Feel refers to the feeling when your hands touch the guitar, eyes on the appearance of guitar, feeling of the finishing, etc. Those can make you enjoy just when looking at the guitar. Besides, the feel also reflect playability.

Thus, looks and feel stands for the quality. When custom guitar, the quality can be easily inspected through looks and feel.

We will continue for some details in this article.

What Influences Looks of Acoustic Guitar?

There are elements that influences the looks: designation, production and finishing.

To custom guitar, the designation is frequently from the clients such as designers, wholesalers or factories. And it is an original design when ODM (the difference between OEM and ODM, the explanation is on ODM vs OEM Guitars). No matter what, only through production can realize the designation. So, the production level like cutting, assembling and finishing will determine if the guitar solid and comfortable enough for playing. We will talk about comfortability later. Here, on the first sight, through visually inspection, you can tell if the guitar is solid or not directly.

Because if the production is not correctly organized or not so skilled, there will be some difference between the guitar and its original designation. And some faultiness will occur like cracks, deformation, etc.

Finishing determines emotional enjoyment by the appearance. A good finishing does not only realize as required, but also should be smooth, clear and light (visually light weight). Especially, when a transparent finishing (SN, GN, etc.) which is required to see the natural grain of the wood, the finishing must be clear, glossy, smooth and thin. The finishing almost determines the final quality of the guitar without playing by hand. A good finishing always provides prof of good quality at the first sight.

What Feel Refers to?

Feel is an abstract word. And once we describe the quality by feeling, we always get suspected eyes. But feel is actually the feeling related a series of inspections.

When you touch the guitar with hands, your hands will tell you if the surface is smooth, if the guitar is solid, etc. And when you hold the guitar, your feeling will tell you if it is light or heavy. When you press the strings, your hands will tell you if it is easy and comfortable. And when you pluck the strings, your hands will tell you if it is hard or easy and your ears will tell you if the sound is beautiful or not.

Therefore, feel is firmly related with series of actions. Actually, feel firmly reflect the playability of the acoustic or classical guitar.

Which is More Important?

There is an argument about which one is important, looks or feel that lasts for a long time. In our opinion, both of the two aspects are important.

A guitar, especially when custom acoustic guitar, a good looking doesn’t mean sacrifice of feeling is essential. On the contrary, looks and feel should be emphasized at the same time. Because a good factory or luthier will focus on all of them at the same time.

Once you have to choose one of them, feel is always preferential.

Inspect the Our Custom Guitar Quality

We think now you have an idea of quality inspection when custom guitar with us.

In How To Customize Acoustic Guitar, we have explained how we do customization work. Follow the procedure, we do believe nothing will be missed.

And in the procedure, there is sample inspection before production. During sampling, everything can be inspected on your side, looks and feel as mentioned above.

Please keep in mind that looks and feel will bring you a good benefit of marketing. None of them should be ignored.