North American Instruments

Inside the North American Instruments factory

Some of the thousand-year-old hardwoods
waiting to be formed into another exotic custom guitar!

Fred checks the bridge placement	Fred strings one up	Installing trem springs
Precision jointing of pieces of harwood to prepare for gluing.	Joined edges must be flat and smooth.	Headstock of a white maple neck, cut from quartersawn blanks.
Bolt-on necks are fitted before and after the finish is applied.	High-strength neck screws are standard.	Neck-thru guitars are individually engineered and dimensioned layouts are measured, marked and cut - all by hand.
Electronic components are specially selected for each instrument - and point-to-point hand-wired.	Although we have our own distinctive headstock shapes, special designs or replacement necks are available by special order.	Engraved custom pickguards for a Florida Bluesmaster guitar.
Repairs and restorations are performed with precision and care.	Custom repairs, modification and special combinations of pickups and circuitry are all available in the custom shop.	Locking tuners are standard on many models and are always hand-fitted.
All of the necks and bodies are hand shaped, sanded and finished.	Profile and shape details are hand-cut using a scroll saw.	Various scale lengths are used depending on the design and characteristics of the guitar, and the builder's preference.
Locking tuners are standard on many models and are always hand-fitted.