You can rest assured knowing the starting point of every Raven Guitar is a very high end instrument, with design features in common with some of the finest guitars in the world. It’s a launching pad that still allows for a myriad of opportunities to put a personal stamp on the tonal and visual statement your custom guitar will make.
Please explore the information below to learn about the solid foundation of every Raven Guitar. We will take that foundation and apply your own personal touch via the many variables available to you during its creation.
I am here to guide you through the process, and am open to any ideas you may have. Please visit the GALLERY page to spark ideas on customizing the guitar of your dreams.
For a more detailed discussion of many of the topics below, visit the PHILOSOPHY page.
For those of you who set your sights still higher, there are a number of Master Grade options that can elevate the look and functionality of your custom guitar even further. Visit the MASTER GRADE OPTIONS page for more details.
All Raven Guitars include:
| Soundboard | Best quality Sitka spruce |
| Back & Sides | Tonewoods in many premium options |
| Neck | Honduras mahogany with carbon fiber reinforcement and custom thickness |
| Truss rod | Two-way adjusting – Accessed through the sound hole |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood or ebony with matching edge binding – Compound radius: 10” at the nut, gradually transitioning to 14” at the soundhole. |
| Bridge | Light weight & hand shaped – Australian blackwood or walnut |
| Bridge pins | Ebony with pearl dot or bone with black dot – Fit individually for each hole |
| Fret layout | 14th or 12th fret crosses the body |
| Scale length | Choice of 650 mm (25.59”) – 25.4” – 24.9” |
| Nut | Fully compensated bone – 1-3/4” width |
| Saddle | Extra wide compensated bone – 2-1/4” or 2-5/16” string spacing |
| Body | Any one of three body sizes – Non-cutaway |
| Headstock | Custom front and back veneer caps in choice of woods |
| Rosette | Custom with purfling in choice of woods |
| Binding | Custom binding on the body and headstock in choice of woods |
| Purfling | Fine black & white pin stripes on the body and headstock |
| End-graft | Tapered style that matches the body binding with mitered side purfling |
| Position markers | Mother of pearl dots, abalone dots or brass stars on the face – Small white dots on side of the fingerboard |
| Intonation | Compensation of each string at both the nut and the saddle. |
| Tuners | Gotoh 510 mini – Black or silver with matching buttons – 18:1 gear ratio |
| Strap buttons | Discretion of client |
| Pick guard | Discretion of client |
| Strings | Elixir Nanoweb – Light gauge – 12 to 53 |
| Finish | Instrument-grade nitrocellulose lacquer – High-gloss or Satin sheen |
| Case | Quality guitar case |
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TONEWOOD
I have a selection of tonewood chosen for their sonic potential and visual appeal. As an aid in finding the perfect set, you will be provided with a complete photo gallery of the diverse candidates I have in stock. Others can be obtained if you have something very specific in mind. Standard for the sound board is Sitka spruce, but Red, Engelmann and European spruce, as well as cedar & redwood can also be sourced. You may feel like a kid in a candy store looking through all the beautiful wood.
SPECTRUM ANALYSIS
From the earliest stages of construction, I use Spectrum Analysis software to record the raw tonewoods natural resonant frequencies. This leads directly to the frequencies I strive for in the finished guitar. This sonic checkup is repeated throughout construction, and fine adjustments are made so the completed instrument lands at the targeted goals. This is one of the ways I achieve an outstanding sound with amazing tonal consistency.
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LIVE BACK
Raven Guitars utilize a Live Back. This simply means that care is taken to make sure the back has the flexibility to be “active” and contribute to generating great sound. The soundboard and back vibrate in harmony to create a more colorful and complex tone than if the back was simply a rigid structure that reflects the sound.
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BINDING & PURFLING
Raven Guitars have binding surrounding the body, headstock and fret board. Black & white pin strip purfling lines also border the body and headstock. I have a mix of home-made and commercial binding in a variety of wood species that will satisfy your aesthetic desires and give your guitar a personal touch.
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ROSETTES
Rosettes impact the visual appeal of your guitar. A wide range of designs are available, from wooden burl rings surrounded by purfling to segmented mosaics to simple purfling rings.
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HEADSTOCK
Raven Guitar headstocks have full binding & purfling, and a decorative cap veneer which adds to strength and beauty. The veneer and binding scheme can mirror that of the rosette and body and bring the instrument home as a visual tour de force. The back of the headstock has a hand-carved volute and cap veneer which adds more strength and visual interest. Other details are elegant countersunk tuner washers and straight string paths which aid in tuning the instrument.
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INTONATION
A feature that sets Raven Guitars apart is the high level of attention devoted to intonation, or making it play more in tune. This is achieved through the use of a compensated saddle and compensated nut. It’s a painstaking process, but one I feel is worth the extra effort to achieve a more finely tuned instrument.
SPHERICAL TOP & BACK PLATES
Raven Guitars use a domed shape for the soundboard and back. This means the center of each plate is arched in a spherical shape away from the perimeter where they attach to the sides of the guitar. This technique delivers an instrument that is strong and robust, and better adjusts itself to large changes in humidity.
