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When
I first started, I was often asked why I built instruments in the old
fashioned way--each guitar built by one craftsman. In 1962 when i started
my career as a luthier, I was one of a very few group of luthiers making
handcrafted steel string guitars. I taught many of my contemporaries to
guitar builders, These days when we are in the middle of a renaissance
in handcrafted guitar making, that question is not asked so often.
The answer to the question then, as now, is quite simple-- I love to work
with wood and tools. I also love tools, guitars and guitar music.
There is also a more complete, and more complex, answer to the question.
The initial impulse to build my guitars grew out of a dissatisfaction
with the quality and feeling of assembly line instruments. I believe that
the essential element missing is the intimate interaction of a single
craftsman with both the customer and the materials throughout the entire
process of creating a fine acoustic instrument. This does not mean that
I think "factory" instruments (whether from large or small
factories) are inferior. Rather, instruments made by a single craftsperson
are unique, and that uniqueness is valuable to many guitar players and
is a choice which should be available to anyone looking for a fine instrument.
Another essential feature of the handcrafted instrument is that it can
be carefully tailored to the individual buyer -- customized, if you will.
From the beginning of my carrer in lutherie I have worked to maintain
the connection between myself, my customer and the guitars I build, and
to continually improve the quality, acoustic properties and overall appearance
of my instruments. There are no arcane secrets to this craft --
just the refinement of well-known ideas and loving care and attention
to even the most minute detail.
I believe, that my instruments speak as to the quality of my work.
Lest one get too enamored of the lone craftsman in his shoppe mystique,
I freely admit that I use power tools whenever I can to improve the
quality of the instrument. Most of the instrument builders I know
are tool nuts, and so am I. Many of my proprietary
tools are available directly from Roy Noble Guitars or through Luthiers
Mercantile in Healdsburg, CA. I love this work, it brings me
relaxation and satisfaction, and I love wood, guitars and guitar players.
I make only one quality level of guitar -- the best that I can, no seconds
no lower grade models. I use only the finest woods available and
painstakingly assemble them into fine guitars. On my web site you
will see a variety of models and decorative options, some of them are
very expensive. These elements do not increase or decrease the care
and craftsmanship that goes into each of my instruments.
If you are interested in my guitars, I encourage you to contact Craig
(my sales guy) or myself
about any questions you may have. I am willing to consider almost
any option or variation you might want -- many of them are listed in the
following pages. Others, such as custom shapes, different scale
lengths, custom neck size and contour, and a wide variety of wood choices,
are purely at the whim of the buyer (and, let's be honest, your willingness
to pay).
MODELS
I make three basic models or shapes.
DREADNOUGHT DREADNOUGHT
12 CONCERT
One final word -- WARRANTY
-- My guitars carry a limited lifetime warranty -- to the original
owner -- which covers any defects in materials and workmanship.
This does not cover normal wear and tear such as fret wear, nor does it
cover abuse. The full written warranty is set out HERE.
However, be warned: it was written by a legal eagle, and you may
find it a bit dry.
We hope to hear from you.
Roy
Noble Custom Guitars • 8140 East Avenue U • Little Rock, CA
93543
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