Steel String Acoustic Guitars

Each year a small number of acoustic guitars are built by Richard Wilson Guitars. Rather than building an endless number of different models, on offer are four of the most popular designs of acoustic guitars -- including small-bodied Parlours, OM and 000s, Jumbos and Dreadnoughts. Each guitar is individually hand crafted from the best traditional tonewoods and materials available.

Ordering:

Contact us to begin the ordering process. After the various options have been discussed an invoice for the guitar order will be drafted and a 50% deposit is required to secure a spot in the waiting list; the balance is due upon completion, plus postage/shipping costs if applicable.

A 5% discount is offered for guitars which are paid in full up front.

Parlour Guitar

12 fret neck. Based on a 1918 Martin 1-18.

Ideal for fingerstyle acoustic playing, these small-bodied guitars have a light, punchy sound that is perfect for blues and folk playing. There is an almost endless number of different

From AUD$2,400

Construction

All instruments are individually crafted in a humidity-controlled environment that ensures all components are stable during assembly.

Standard Features

Note: these features are those available for the base price. Customisations and other features not listed can be included for an additional charge.

  • Basic Specifications:
    • 24.9" (short) or 25.4" (standard) Scale length
    • Soundhole Rosette
    • GHS Phosphor Bronze Strings
    • Hand scarved interal braces
    • Left or right-handed construction
    • Grover Rotomatic (solid headstock) or Sta-Tite (vintage-style for solid or slotted headstock) tuners
  • Tonewoods:
    • Solid bookmatched Indian Rosewood, Sapele, Queensland Maple or Tasmanian Blackwood for back and sides
    • Solid bookmatched Spruce soundboard (Sitka, Engelmann or Lutz)
    • Solid spruce internal braces
  • Bindings:
    • Solid wood or plastic binding on top and back edges
    • Top edge purfling
  • Fretboard:
    • Ebony or Indian Rosewood
    • Mother of Pearl position markers
    • Nickel/Silver Frets
    • Genuine bone nut
  • Bridge:
    • Ebony or Indian Rosewood
    • Hardwood bridge pins
    • Genuine bone saddle
  • Finish:
    • Pre-Catalysed Lacquer

Tonewoods

For an additional fee, the following tonewoods can be used. These prices are only to give a basic idea; higher grades of tonewood can be selected for extra.

  • Highly figured Tasmanian Blackwood - $300
  • Bearclaw Sitka/Engelmann/Lutz Spruce (soundboard) - $300
  • Western Red Cedar (soundboard) - $200
  • Alpine Ash - $100
  • Tiger Myrtle - $350
  • Cocobolo - $350
  • Walnut - $250
  • Koa - $500

There are many other woods available; contact us if you'd like more information about alternative tonewoods.

Lacquer Finishes

As standard, all guitars are finished with a satin pre-catalysed lacquer. This finish adds a richness to the appearance of the instrument, bringing out the natural beauty of the woods.

For an additional charge of AUD$500, any custom guitar can be finished with a gloss lacquer. Such a finish will generally add a minimum of four weeks onto the expected completion date, due to the necessary periods of levelling, respraying, buffing and curing that aren't required for the standard satin finishes.