I had heard about this guy's stuff but never seen it. John Carruthers has a custom shop in Venice just a few miles from my house. I needed a few little random parts for my current build that I forgot to order, so I thought I'd use it as an excuse to check the shop out. Well the owner invited me to play some of his showcase builds, and they were some of the best guitars I've ever played. They were all just perfectly set up and totally flawless. He has some real vintage-style strats and some more original tele designs, as well as a carved top DC style and a couple of really amazing acoustic-electrics with spruce tops, no soundholes, and some EMG in the neck spot along with a piezo bridge. It played about 80% like a great electric and sounded about 90% like a great acoustic. I was really impressed, anyhow I mentioned what I was doing and his comment was "Warmoth? They're amateurs compared to me". He then gave me a tour of his tiny but totally equipped factory including CNC. All very cool! He showed me a body he'd just finished for the NAMM show, carved koa top double-bound ash tele body, just gorgeous. Then I asked how much, approximately, and he said $3500 for just the body! The repair shop was filled with very old jazz boxes and les pauls. The most interesting time I've ever had buying some screws and a jack plate!
I think Warmoth would sell that body for under $1000, probably under $750, but I've definitely got a place to go for fretwork and etc., those guitars were amazing.
I think Warmoth would sell that body for under $1000, probably under $750, but I've definitely got a place to go for fretwork and etc., those guitars were amazing.