Handmade by Daniel Slusser in San Luis Obispo, CA
With every guitar and part I build, my aim is to make your artistic muse. One that inspires you to play differently, explore new ground, and that reignites the joy of owning and playing a truly special one-of-a-kind guitar.
Design Philosophy
I want to inspire players to connect with the instrument in a way that draws them towards creating their own signature playing style and tone. Always with an eye towards the vintage legends that started it all, my aim is to make something aesthetically different that also offers objectively improved function and tone. To that end, I’m offering both custom guitars and guitar parts that you won’t find anywhere else.
Tone and Tonewoods
My take on the electric guitar tonewood debate is pretty simple. Acoustically, the wood and construction method used absolutely makes a huge, easily detectable difference in tone that anyone can hear. But, as far as a tonewood’s effect on the sound coming out the amp speaker… it’s more subtle. That’s because the pickup, pots, tone capacitor, amp, and speaker are where the majority of the tone comes from. With that said, amazing tone coming out of the amp’s speaker is only one part of what makes a great electric guitar.
For me, playing an electric guitar is primarily a tactile experience. The way the strings, body, and neck resonate in your hands and against your body are a kind of tone all their own, as they are also vibrations, just like the audible tones we hear.
I believe that is what separates a killer handmade guitar from the admittedly extremely high quality CNC’d guitars available at similar or often much higher prices.
My goal is that every time you pick up a Slusser Guitar and play that first note or chord, you’re surprised at how great it feels and sounds, no matter how many times you’ve played it before.
Quality Parts and Components
Curtis Novak, Seymour Duncan, TV Jones, McNelly, and LR Baggs pickups are offered as standard equipment on Slusser Guitars. Other options available upon request.
CTS pots are included as standard. Caps and switches are up to the player, or I’m happy to recommend my personal favorites to get the tone you are after.
