| ABOUT CUSTOM ORDERED INSTRUMENTS Unlike the big manufacturers, we don't have a factory with a small custom shop to make a few modifications on a stock factory base instrument. Our whole operation is a custom shop. The quality of the work we do in restoration inspired several collector clients of ours to inquire about commissioning us to build their own dream instruments. So we shared some designs that Dan'l had been working on based on some of the inspiring and better made works that we'd had the opportunity to rebuild. The first of those custom orders as can be seen below are now being built. When we got ready to prepare this site, we decided to inquire what other innovative designs Dan'l had in his notebooks. Dan'l has done industrial and commercial design for several large corporations creating innovative designs of packaging, children's toys, stunt kites, forestry cutting and aerospace testing equipment. We figured with his passion (call it obsession) for all things musical we suspected he might have done some designs around the things he loves the most. Although none are yet built (there is enough work in house already to keep he and his staff busy for up to two years), in this business money talks, and as building is actually far easier than the individual custom work needed for any instrument restoration, these designs are now being made available on a custom order basis exclusively. Each instrument will be hand built, one at a time, to customized specifications coordinated with the person who orders it. Some options, like fretboard designs are presented below, but anything is possible. The current time frame for your custom ordered instrument will be approximately eight months from time of order to delivery date. Payment arrangements are negotiable but typically there is a 33% down payment to begin work and provide capital for materials and supplies, and the balance is to be paid either monthly or bimonthy over the period of construction in equal installments. That provides us with a steady and dependable income flow during the time of manufacture to insure that time resources can be allocated on high priority to your project. Depending on the model, each instrument will be branded with the Dan'l logo or his pre-Ellis Island family name "D'Teriello" (on archtop designs). Each instrument will further be hand signed by the artist and those on the staff that worked with him on the instrument. Eachinstrument will come with a custom made, plush lined, hardshell case by TKL (who makes the cases for many of the higher end makers.)d |
| BLACKHAWK ACOUSTIC |
| This instrument is designed for the serious player who wants a contemporary sound out an acoustic steel string. It is built out of the finest bearclaw Sitka Spruce, with a choice of Cocobola (Bolivian Rosewood) or Ebony for back & sides, two of the densest woods readily available today. Fretboard is dense black ebony on a mahogany or flamed maple neck. Bridge is solid ebony. Nut and saddle, like on all our acoustics is CITES documented preban elephant ivory. (Export instruments will use fossilized walrus or mastodon ivory as a substitute to comply with CITES policies. Abalone trim on the top and around the soundhole with rosewood binding on the soundhole's inner edge, with abalone and mop hawk inlays on the neck. Top and back bound with flamed myrtle to set off the dark chocolate or black back and sides. Finished in a beautiful and acoustically transparent hand rubbed French polish. |
| REDHAWK ACOUSTIC Move mouse over photo for image) |
| This instrument is designed based on what we've learned from the restoration of the masterpiece instruments built in the US from 1920-1940. Built with 50 or more year old Adirondack Red Spruce for the soundboard, and preban, repurposed Brazilian Rosewood for the backs and sides. This instrument is built light, like a prewar Martin or Gibson with a thinner more resonant soundboard than in today's instrument for richer, vintage tone. Internally X braced with Dan'l's exclusive patent applied for longbow bracing system for extra vibrational response while providing the same structural strength, this instrument was designed for the kind of tone only heard on instruments from before WWII. Fretboard and Bridge are Brazilian Rosewood. The neck is Honduran Mahogany. Inlaid extensively in abalone, no finer instrument is being made anywhere today that can compare tonally due to the rare and decades aged tonewoods used. Finished in a beautiful and acoustically transparent hand rubbed French polish. Bound with flamed maple hardwood binding top and back. |
| FALCON ACOUSTIC |
| Inspired by Jimmy D'Aquisto's flattop oval hole acoustics for their power in projection, and using aged and near impossible to find Red Spruce, this instrument is designed for the contemporary acoustic jazz player. An innovative cutaway design gives easy access to the upper frets while the oval soundhole increases volume in spite of a smaller internal resonating chamber. Back and sides are repurposed Brazilian Rosewood, using our innovative back design to allow the use of woods recycled from 100 year old parlor guitars. Fretboard is dense black ebony on a flamed maple neck. Bridge is solid ebony. The inlaid pickguard is Polyurethane finished Koa to insure it has the strength and pick resistence of todays modern plastics. Abalone trim on the top and around the soundhole, with abalone and mop hawk inlays on the neck. Bound with hardwood ebony top and back. Finished in a beautiful and acoustically transparent hand rubbed French polish. |
| SEAHAWK ACOUSTIC
(Roll Mouse over guitar for image) |
| This instrument is for players who love the brilliant tonality of a solid Koa wood instrument. Internally X braced with Dan'l's exclusive patent applied for longbow bracing system for extra vibrational response while providing the same structural strength, this instrument was designed for the kind of tone only Koa can provide. Fretboard and Bridge are solid ebony. The neck is Honduran Mahogany. Inlaid extensively in blue paua abalone, this instrument is stunning and toneful. The pickguard is ebony veneer inlaid into the top, and treated with polyurethane for extra protection. Finished in a beautiful and acoustically transparent hand rubbed French polish. |