Ordering your custom OD guitar

How do I start a custom guitar build?

Start with the customizing form and tell me which OD model interests you. After you submit it, we discuss your playing style, musical needs, tuning and visual ideas, then work through the specifications together. You do not need to have every option decided before getting in touch.

Can I order an OD guitar if I have never played one?

Yes. Start by watching demos, exploring completed instruments and reading about other players’ experiences. Ask me whether there is an OD guitar you might be able to try near you, availability changes. My article Ordering a custom guitar explains how to approach the decision.

Do I need to be a professional guitarist to order one?

No. The starting point is the instrument you want to play and what inspires you. Tell me about your experience, the guitars you enjoy and anything that gets in the way of your playing. We can discuss choices around your needs, whatever your level.

Who will I work with on my OD guitar?

You’ll work directly with me, Omer Deutsch, the sole luthier at OD Guitars, on your guitar’s specifications, playing feel and design direction. Tali, my wife, partner and designer, helps bring the visual ideas together and creates a frontal illustration so we can see how your guitar is intended to look. Together, we shape an instrument around your playing style, musical needs and visual ideas. Learn more about the OD Guitars customer experience.

How can I follow the progress of my guitar build?

Yes. I share photo updates in a shared folder every other week or when significant stages of the build are reached. You can follow your guitar taking shape and stay involved as the work progresses.

Can I see the design before the guitar is built?

Once we know the direction of the build, Tali, my wife, partner and designer, creates a frontal illustration so we can see how the design is intended to come together. You can share colours, artwork, scenery or other images that help explain your ideas.

Your OD Guitar

How do I choose the right OD model and specifications?

Start with how you play, your tuning, string count and the necks and guitars you already enjoy. Tell me what you would like to change about your current instrument. Explore Which Model Are You? and Specs & Options, then we can discuss which choices make sense together.

What does a custom OD guitar include?

Your guitar is built around the specifications we agree together. All OD models have Natural Geometric™ chambering. The specifications also list locking tuners with OD’s NG button design, glow in the dark side dots and a fretboard with blind fret slots. Woods, scale length, pickups, bridge, inlays and finish are discussed for your particular build. See Specs & Options for the available choices.

Can I choose the wood top, colours and inlays?

Yes. Choosing a top from the wood collection is part of the design process. We can discuss colours, finish and inlay ideas around the wood and model. Browse the Get inspired gallery for completed builds. The options depend on the project, so bring your ideas to our conversation. Tali will use an image of your selected wood top in a frontal illustration, so you can see how it works with your guitar’s design.

What is Natural Geometric™ chambering?

Natural Geometric™ is my approach to chambering the guitar body using patterns inspired by nature’s mathematics. The geometric patterns are designed in CAD and combined with traditional guitar building methods. Their position and pattern are part of how I shape the character of my instruments. Read the story behind Natural Geometric™.

What is a multiscale OD guitar, and is it right for me?

A multiscale guitar uses different scale lengths across the strings, creating the fanned fret layout. We choose the scale combination around your tuning, string gauges and playing preferences. The perpendicular fret position also affects how the fret angles feel. See the multiscale information in Specs & Options and the tuning guide as starting points for our discussion.

How do you choose the wood and neck construction?

I consider the individual wood pieces, their preparation and how they fit the complete instrument. The neck and fretboard are central to my approach. My preferred “flipped match” neck construction uses pieces cut from the same wood with their grain mirrored. Read Why wood matters? and The structure of the guitar for my workshop perspective.

Which fretboard and fret options can I choose?

I mainly use ebony for fretboards, with other woods considered for individual projects. Available details include custom inlays, Luminlay front markers and wood binding, while glow in the dark side dots are standard. You can choose between nickel silver frets and a stainless steel option. We can discuss which materials and details suit your guitar, and confirm the selected options before the build.

What pickups and nut materials do you use?

Bare Knuckle Pickups are my go-to choice, and OD custom wooden pickup covers are an option. I normally use a bone nut. If you prefer to avoid animal material, tell me, a synthetic TUSQ nut is available. We discuss the choices in the context of your build.

What are OD custom mono-rail bridges?

I designed OD mono-rail bridges for multiscale guitars. Each string has its own top-mounted bridge, allowing its position to suit its individual scale length. The design includes longer intonation travel, thick side walls, low action saddles and easy set screw adjustment. See the OD mono-rail bridge page for details.

Can builders buy OD mono-rail bridges separately?

Yes. OD mono-rail bridges are offered as OEM hardware for builders only. Contact me about purchasing them for a build.

Can I choose a tremolo or floating bridge?

For standard scale OD guitars, we can discuss a tremolo or floating bridge appropriate to the project. For multiscale builds I use my own single-string bridge approach and prefer not to use a floating multiscale bridge. Bring up your bridge preference before we finalise the specifications.

What is OD’s NG button design?

The NG button design is OD’s own design for the buttons on the locking tuners. The hardware specifications state that every tuner comes with OD’s NG button design. These are the tuner buttons at the headstock, separate from the Natural Geometric™ chambering in the body.

What colouring options are available for the top?

You can keep the wood’s natural colour and grain with a clear coat, or discuss a coloured top and mid burst. A mid burst colours the middle of the top while leaving the edges and the rest of the guitar natural. The wood affects which colours work, and pale moon ebony and buckeye burl can take some colours but not all. We work with your selected top and the look you have in mind.

Can I choose a natural or black back, and a hard cut or fade?

Yes. The listed choices include a natural back or black body, with a hard cut or a fade to black. A hard cut creates a clearly defined colour edge. A fade blends the colour towards the body edges, into another colour or the natural wood. Browse the Get inspired gallery for examples, then we can discuss how these options would work on your build.

Which finishes do you offer, and are there finishes you do not use?

A natural finish keeps the wood’s own colour and grain under a clear coat. A semi-gloss finish can be requested. I do not offer opaque solid colours, sparkles, a full mirror gloss finish or an oil finish. If you have another colour or finish idea, share it with me so we can discuss what is possible for the project.

Prices, payments and delivery

How much does a custom OD guitar cost?

A custom OD build is around US$6,000 as a guide. When the base price is US$4500and the final price depends on the agreed specifications, woods, inlay and other details. Use the customizing form to begin the conversation and confirm the price for your particular build.

How do the deposit and instalments work?

The standard arrangement is a 50% down payment. The price can also be divided into up to four payments during the build, starting with 25%. A 25% down payment secures a build slot and your selected top. The final payment is due when the guitar is finished and ready to ship. Read the Terms of Sale before ordering.

Which payment methods and additional fees apply?

Payments are in US dollars by wire transfer or PayPal. Bank transfer fees are paid by the customer, using the OUR fee option rather than SHA. PayPal payments carry an additional 4% fee. Prices exclude any applicable tax, VAT or customs charges in your country. See the payment terms for the full details.

How long does a custom build take?

The current time is a 12 month build process and lead time from receipt of the down payment. Confirm the current estimated timing for your own order before committing. You receive photos along the way to be a part of the process

Do you ship OD guitars worldwide?

Yes. OD Guitars uses insured express shipping. shipping pricing are available when you submit the order form. Delivery typically takes up to 7 days after collection, and prices exclude any tax, VAT or customs charges applicable in your country.

What if I need to cancel my order?

You have one week after paying the down payment to cancel your order. After that, the down payment is forfeited. If payments are split into four, payments already made before cancellation are forfeited. Review the Terms of Sale and discuss any questions with me before paying.

Guitar care, setup and aftercare

When does my OD guitar need a setup?

A change of string gauge or tuning, buzzing, uncomfortable action or intonation problems can mean the setup needs attention. Read OD’s maintenance guide and Is it setup time? for the checks I describe. If you are unsure, contact me or have an experienced guitar technician inspect the instrument.

What is the difference between neck relief and string action?

Neck relief is the slight forward curve of the neck, adjusted with the truss rod. Action is the string height above the frets, adjusted at the bridge as part of the setup. They work together with the nut and fret condition. Read Things you should know for an introduction to the nut, neck and bridge.

How should I look after my OD guitar?

Follow OD’s maintenance guide for cleaning, fretboard care and hardware checks. Care depends on the materials, including whether the fretboard is maple. If you are unsure which treatment or adjustment suits your instrument, ask me first.

What warranty comes with an OD guitar?

My warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for three months from the date you receive your guitar, subject to its conditions and exclusions. It applies only to the original purchaser of a new or used guitar bought directly from OD Guitars and is not transferable. Setup adjustments and normal wear are among the exclusions, and hardware and electronics are subject to their respective manufacturers’ warranties. Read the full OD Guitars warranty and contact me before arranging repair work.