Welcome!
Welcome to Good Tones Custom Guitars, where over 50 years of craftsmanship meets your musical vision. Each guitar is a masterpiece, hand-crafted with the finest woods and environmentally friendly finishes.
About Us
Discover a world of possibilities
Biography: “In 1961, Dave built his first neck for his bass and constructed his first bass piggyback (1/2 stack) speaker cabinet. Over the years, he has honed his skills, playing on and off, and in the last decade, he has dedicated himself to building guitars regularly. Based in Holly, Michigan, Dave combines a passion for music and woodworking to create custom, high-quality instruments. Each guitar is meticulously crafted using hand-picked woods and eco-friendly finishes.”
Craftsmanship: “All kits are modified to customer requests. Scratch-built guitars are made from a block of wood, with purchased necks refretted and shaped. Pegheads are shaped according to choice, and tuning machines, bodies, pickups, bridges, and controls are customized to the customer’s liking. It takes approximately 45 to 60 days after a 50% down payment to complete a guitar, with an additional 30 days for the water-based finishes to cure.”
Services
Custom Guitar Builds
- Fully customized guitars from scratch, including choice of body shapes, wood choice, finish, and electronics.
Neck Customization and Shaping
- Choice of neck profiles, fret sizes, and radius options, along with wood selection for tone and feel.
Fretwork and Refretting
- Precision fret leveling, crowning, and refretting with various fret wire options for optimal playability.
Pickup Winding and Installation
- Installation of premium pickups to match the desired tone and style.
Custom Finishes and Relics
- Custom paint, staining, and finishing options, including relic treatments for a vintage look.
Electronics Customization
- Wiring configurations, custom pots, switches, coil-splitting, and push-pull options.
Hardware Customization
- Upgraded bridges, tuners, knobs, and other hardware components tailored for performance and durability.
Setup and Intonation
- Comprehensive setup including string action, truss rod adjustments, and intonation for optimal playability.
Acoustic Guitar Customization
- Services specific to acoustic guitars, such as bracing patterns, soundhole design, and wood selection for sound and resonance.
Nut and Saddle Crafting
- Custom nut and saddle crafting for precise string spacing, action, and tuning stability.
Personalized Engraving and Branding
- Custom engraving on metal hardware or branded insignias on the guitar body or headstock.
String Choice and Installation
- Installation of specific string brands, gauges, or custom string setups for player preference.
Reviews
Pete Atkinson
Hard Luck Pete & The Wrong Way Streets
Honky-Tonk Heaven: My Custom Telecaster by Dave at Good Tones Guitars
This here Telecaster is the real deal for anyone who loves that raw, pure, honky-tonk sound. Dave at Good Tones Guitars put his heart into this build, and it shows. This isn’t just a guitar; it’s a partner in crime for every dive bar stage and every late-night jam.
The tone hits you right where it counts, with that classic Tele twang dialed up to 11. It’s got the grit to cut through the smoke and noise, but it’s also warm enough to roll with a ballad. The neck is as smooth as a bottle of Tennessee whiskey, making it a breeze to slide up and down for those quick pickin’ licks.
What I love most is how it holds up under some good ol’ honky-tonk wear and tear. This thing can take a beating and still sound like a dream. Dave’s craftsmanship makes it feel like an old friend right out of the case, and you can tell it was built by someone who knows what a honky-tonker needs. If you’re serious about country, outlaw, or rockabilly, this Telecaster will be your new best friend.
Sam D. Wheat
Lead Guitarist
Custom Stratocaster by Dave at Good Tones Guitars: Built for Rock
I bought a custom Strat from Dave at Good Tones Guitars and it is an absolute beast. If you’re looking for a guitar that can handle everything from searing solos to thunderous riffs, this one’s got you covered. Dave crafted this beauty with the soul of rock ‘n’ roll baked right in.
Right off the bat, the feel of this Strat is perfect. The neck is slick and fast, making it easy to shred up and down the fretboard, while the body sits comfortably for hours of riffing. The pickups have a monstrous tone with just the right mix of clarity and crunch. It can scream with high gain, but roll off the volume, and it cleans up into that classic Strat sparkle.
With Dave’s custom touches, this Strat looks as killer as it sounds. The finish has a rugged vibe, like it’s ready to go straight from the studio to the stage. It’s sturdy and rock-ready, built to handle whatever you throw at it—dive bombs, bends, you name it. If you’re looking to unleash some serious rock energy, Dave’s custom Strat is the weapon of choice.
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Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.
Location
Holly Michigan
Contact us
Dave @ Good Tones
Holly Michigan
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Good Tones Custom Guitars 