How to order your instrument with me

Basic info

At the moment, I build electric guitars and electric bass guitars, one model of each. The guitar is called Xelo and the bass is called Ximo, both of which are very Valencian nicknames.

All of them are finished with oil and wax and feature two pickups. The bridge pickups are reverse-wound-reverse-polarity compared to the neck pickups, for its hum-canceling properties while still being in phase.

Xelo (electric guitar)

Standard features:

• 25" (635 mm) scale length
• Six strings (10-13-17-26-36-46)
• Two Luthier Alfons hand-wound single coil pickups (ST-style)

Ximo (electric bass)

Standard features:

• 33-1/4" (844.55 mm) scale length
• Four strings (45/50-65/70-85-105)
• Two Luthier Alfons hand-wound single coil pickups (JB-style)

For more information, see the instruments page.

Customization

There's a lot you can customize without having to be afraid of an enormous price increase. This regards wood types, tuner types, scratch plate color, clay dot color, some of the other hardware (knobs, capacitor and resistor values, etc...), and temperament (e.g. 12-TET, 19-TET, or meantone).

Any other kind of customization can be discussed as well, but might substantially increase the price, if it involves a lot of research/development/design, so work that's not part of my standard production process. Think of a custom design (body shape, scale length) or a specific type of bridge that requires other changes. In this case we can discuss whether the extra work is only or mainly done for you or whether I can benefit from it too, regarding future customers.

Customization of temperament

I'm happy and proud to mention that customization of temperament is part of my production process due to my expertise in tuning and temperaments and my self-made Arduino controlled fret slot cutting jig. There's no need to create or order specific new templates for each new temperament options.

Order your instrument

The most straight-forward way is to email me your idea. I will answer you as soon as I can, and we can make an appointment for a call, video call, or visit to the workshop in Pego, to further discuss it. After deciding on the final design, I will send you an offer that will be valid for one month. After eventually signing the offer and paying a deposit of 20% of the total cost I will add your instrument order to my schedule and start ordering the required parts I don't have in stock.

Email me at: alfons@luthieralfons.cat

I speak English, German, Dutch, Limburgish, Catalan (Valencian) Spanish, and a little Castilian Spanish. You can write me in any of those languages. In writing, I'm even more fluent in most languages than speaking.

When will you instrument be ready?

It's difficult to give an exact date, but a rough estimation is three to six months after receiving the signed offer and deposit. I try to work in small batches. If you really require a deadline, add at least three months to that due to unknown circumstances (supply chain or other unforeseen issues).

Pricing and shipping

Currently, the price of a custom order is €2,679 for a Xelo and €2,779 for a Ximo, both with 21 frets and 10 clay dots. That's just a starting point, an indication. The final price may be a little higher depending on the wood type and/or wish for certain tuners (e.g. vintage, locking, or boutique brand). Instruments with less than 21 frets may even turn out a little more economic than that. A guitar with 28 frets (like my meantone) will be €35 more. The price differences will all be reasonable, nothing shocking.

Cases are included in the price. I use Gator ABS cases, which are solid and look good. They fit well to my instruments. For all guitars that require shipping, ordering without such a case is not possible. For those who pick up their guitar in Pego it's possible to order without a case and receive a discount. Of course, it's possible for all customers to upgrade the standard case to a frequent flyer, military quality case.

The shipping costs are not included, but within the EU they will not be too high. If you require shipping outside the EU, we will need to discuss taxes and even wood types and certificates (CITES). Shipping to the US for example is possible, but will most likely be a complicated and thus rather expensive process. The easiest and cheapest way is to buy your instrument from within the EU and take it with you yourself (while taking into account that certain restrictions and import taxes may apply for your country and that you have to take care of them yourself).

Finished instruments

Sometimes I have supply of ready-made instruments. There's no waiting list or waiting time for them. Furthermore, they're usually between 10% and 20% lower in price than a custom order. You might find one with me or in another shop. In those shops I can't control their selling price, only what they have to pay me.