Finally! An Affordable Custom Made 'Burst

[LoveLPs]

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How would you like a Les Paul style guitar built to the following specifications?

- One-piece Honduran mahogany back;

- One-piece Honduran mahogany neck (17 degree headstock angle) with any headstock style you want;

- Two piece, tastefully flamed, solid maple top;

- Thin Nitro finish;

- Rosewood fingerboard;

- Neck carved to your own personal specifications; and

- Super-long neck tenon.

I always believed it would cost at least $3,000 to $4,000 to get a guitar made like this. I was wrong. The good people at Nova Scotia Custom Shop (Nova Scotia Custom Shop) built the pictured guitar to the specifications described above for about $1,600. (All of the finishing touches are not yet on the guitar as it is pictured. For example, the knob pointers were not installed when these photos were taken.)

The guitar was assembled in South Korea and the final finish work was done in Canada. I know some people are turned off to guitars built anywhere in the Far East other than Japan, but I can say without reservation that the workmanship is first-rate. I've played guitar for more than 30 years and I've owned many Gibsons. (Currently, I have three Gibson Les Paul Customs.) The guitar Nova Scotia Custom Shop built for me sounds great and plays better than any guitar I own.

Nova Scotia Custom Shop is a true custom shop. They'll build whatever you want, from whatever materials you want, to whatever specifications you want. They'll also keep you updated throughout the build process. They sent me photos of my guitar just about every week from the point they got the raw wood through the final assembly. They also couldn't have been more pleasant or accommodating.

I have no connection with Nova Scotia Custom Shop other than being a very happy customer. My experience with them was so good, I had to share it with like-minded LP fanatics. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

[dennistruckdriver]

How about a 'Hello, I'm....and I'm new here and would like to say hello!" before you start spamming us?

[LoveLPs]

Sorry. I'm not up on the Forum's etiquette yet.

Please forgive me for being excited about this guitar, but it's great.

[Atomic]

its a good lookin guitar.

personally i would like to see the price be a little lower considering it IS built overseas, and you can get an entirely USA made guitar (Gibson, Carvin, etc) of roughly the same quality at the same price point.
are there some other features that would make it entirely different from a fully USA made instrument that would push an import up over the 1k mark? if there are, point them out.. that might help get the name out a bit better.

[tonebone]

BUT WAIT!

THERE'S MORE!

I dunno, I feel like I just got drive-by'd.

Does look like a nice one. But it looks like I've got better inlays in my Ed 90-LTS than what that comes with.

Pretty nice for the other specs you listed, if this is legit. I gotta agree with Atomic, should be a little cheaper.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by LoveLPs

Sorry. I'm not up on the Forum's etiquette yet.....

We get a lot of such 'first posts' here. We'll see how it turns out.
Welcome, in the meantime.

[River]

Very professionally written and presented post. Ergo, I'm not buying any of it. And the inlays don't look very good at all.

If I owned Nova Scotia Custom Shop and did not put you up to this, I would slap you.

Just being frank.

[LoveLPs]

Good question. I wanted a very playable guitar with super-low action that could create the classic LP tones. These guys nailed it.

I've played the new V.O.S. Gibsons and the new Standard, both of which obviously cost a lot more than $1,600. At least the ones I found did not play very well. (Of course, that's just my opinion.) I've also owned a bunch of Gibsons and a number of LP copies also. Right now, for example, I have a very nice Tokai Reborn Old. It's beautiful and well made, but from a playability perspective, this new guitar is hands-down better.

All the guitars I have now are vintage, but I've never found "the one" that combines great playability and great sound. I've drooled over posts about Guitar Clinic LPs and others that aren't in my current price range because I kind of broke the bank buying expensive Gibsons that, while worth a fair amount of money, don't give me what I need. The Nova Scotia Custom Shop guys were the first people I found who could build a great playing and sounding guitar at a reasonable price.

I'm VERY happy with the guitar and I think the price was very fair, but I'm not trying to talk anyone into buying one. If people don't clog them up with orders, they'll have more time to build me my next one and next one. . . .

[Atomic]

every standard ive seen lately is streeting anywhere between 1600 and 2000. although 2000 is obviously more expensive than the guitar youre talking about, for a lot of people the resale value of the Gibson name is worth the jump. realistically if im paying more than $600 for a guitar that i know i may not keep forever and ever, i want some kind of ROI when it comes time to cash it in.

im not arguing with you. i have personally never played a Nova Scotia guitar. im sure they are fine instruments.. but the price is a bit high for me, personally, to buy into. especially knowing that the guitar is built overseas where the labor is cheap.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by Atomic

....especially knowing that the guitar is built overseas where the labor is cheap.

Perhaps in the same factory as the Agiles?

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Perhaps in the same factory as the Agiles?

exactly. im not saying that these are made in the same place.. but that is just the fact: we have no idea where they are being made. are they subbed out to a variety of different factories? are they all made and kept to the same spec? are they made by skilled labor that is highly experienced with luthiery? I know Gibson has had some QC issues just like any other company, but there is no doubt about where they are made and there IS a certain standard that has to be kept (albeit questionable at times.)

the Agiles are fine guitars IMO, but priced appropriately for being imports. i would pay a little more for an Agile that was finished in a nice and thin finish like nitro lacquer.. but not 4 times as much.

[LoveLPs]

Thanks for the welcome DENNISTRUCKDRIVER. Sorry again for jumping the gun a bit. You suggested I explain who I am, so here's a little background:

I'm a 44 year old in the U.S. with a pretty good job. I've been playing the guitar since I was 11. Right when I started playing, I was in a music class with a (spoiled) kid who had a Les Paul and I've loved LPs from that day on.

I play in two cover bands -- lead guitar in one and co-lead in the other. Between the two bands I play about 10 gigs a year.

Although I'm getting old, I try every day to be a little better guitar player. Sometimes I wonder if my lack of talent is holding me back or my tools are. With this guitar, I can't blame my tools anymore.

For the people who commented on the inlays, they are real mother-of-pearl. I agree that they look a little funny in the photos, but in person they're exactly what I wanted.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by LoveLPs

Thanks for the welcome DENNISTRUCKDRIVER. Sorry again for jumping the gun a bit. You suggested I explain who I am, so here's a little background:

I'm a 44 year old in the U.S. with a pretty good job. I've been playing the guitar since I was 11. Right when I started playing, I was in a music class with a (spoiled) kid who had a Les Paul and I've loved LPs from that day on.

I play in two cover bands -- lead guitar in one and co-lead in the other. Between the two bands I play about 10 gigs a year.

Although I'm getting old, I try every day to be a little better guitar player. Sometimes I wonder if my lack of talent is holding me back or my tools are. With this guitar, I can't blame my tools anymore.

For the people who commented on the inlays, they are real mother-of-pearl. I agree that they look a little funny in the photos, but in person they're exactly what I wanted.

welcome to the forum.

dont get me wrong, im not trying to poopoo on your guitar by any means. im sure its a fine instrument, and if it serves your purpose and tickles your fancy then i am very happy for you and congrats.

im just approaching the issue from an outside standpoint for discussion.

[LoveLPs]

http://nscustomshop.blogspot.com/200...nty-asked.html

One last point. The Nova Scotia Custom Shop link didn't come through in the original post. The attached link gives some background on these guys.

[tonebone]

If I'm wrong about you, well, it wouldn't be the first time for me.

But the way you blew in here, it looks a little fishy.

Welcome to MLPF.

Hope you've got more to contribute than this.

So, get some better straight-on pics of those inlays posted. And maybe a few of the Reborn?

[LoveLPs]

Will do ToneBone. Thanks for the welcome. I would like to contribute about lots of topics like P.A.F. clones, Norlin-era Gibsons, and the search for the right tone.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

How about a 'Hello, I'm....and I'm new here and would like to say hello!" before you start spamming us?

Whoa man, easy there lol.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by Udonitron

....You definitely do not make a newcomer welcome by being so callous....

I told him 'welcome'.....as I said, we get this kind of 'first post' from real 'spammers' very frequently. Just keep your eyes open, and you'll see what I mean.

P.S. As you can see, I quoted you before you edited out the part about being 'callous'.

[Udonitron]

Haha you quoted me as I was changing my post. I thought my comment was a little callous so I changed it...don't I look like a douche now , sorry mate.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by Udonitron

Haha you quoted me as I was changing my post. I thought my comment was a little callous so I changed it...don't I look like a douche now , sorry mate.

yeah you cant run away from douchery on this forum.

[dennistruckdriver]

No. I fully understand your point; however, you must understand mine also. This type of thing goes on all the time, and most occurrences are not legitimate. I hope this one is.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

No. I fully understand your point; however, you must understand mine also. This type of thing goes on all the time, and most occurrences are not legitimate. I hope this one is.

quoting your post.. just in case you decide on practicing douchebaggery.

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by Atomic

yeah you cant run away from douchery on this forum.

Yeah...I have a big scarlet "D" on my chest right now

[Udonitron]

Originally Posted by Atomic

quoting your post.. just in case you decide on practicing douchebaggery.

Haha that's terrible man

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by Atomic

quoting your post.. just in case you decide on practicing douchebaggery.

I don't have to practice.

[Atomic]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

I don't have to practice.

zing!!

[phos]

No offense, but i don't see this neck as being very smooth to play:

Picasa Web Albums - NSCustomShop - JPLP

[jimmypage14]

Dang custom made and 1600? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

[xxGuy]

Originally Posted by LoveLPs

For the people who commented on the inlays, they are real mother-of-pearl. I agree that they look a little funny in the photos, but in person they're exactly what I wanted.

Those inlays are obviously not real Mother of Pearl. Real mother of pearl usually has an uneven-texture, and a bright/colored tint when shown in sunlight.
Edit-

Look how grainy that fretboard is at the bottom, it looks absolutely terrible, almost if someone took a steak knife to it.

[phos]

My comment was more geared towards the neck binding, particularly at end of the frets. My Gibson customs and USA production binding is leveled at an angle with the fret so there are no square corners. Makes a difference when doing slides IMO.