The System of building custom Acoustic guitars



The experience of the process



OM, Tripple O, Dreadnought style, or our new
ARS Signature Model





We currently offer four types or styles of instruments. We offer an OM style or Orchestra Model, OOO or Triple O with a 25" scale length, the larger Dreadnought style, and our ARS Signature Model with 25" Scale (sized between a Single O and Double O.


One of the early steps needs to be which type of instrument is being built. Back and side wood is a consideration here as the larger Dreadnought takes larger wood blank sets. (We have multiple options for each style.)



Back wood selection





Interactive Process

1) I meet with the client and we determine if they would like an OM, OOO, Signature or Dreadnought.

2) The selection process begins with involving the client showing them different wood sets (multiple species) tops and backs, and they get to choose the wood in which their instrument will be custom made with.

3) Fretboard and bridge selection, along with picking types of tuners.

4) We currently offer nine back strip options, or no strip can be selected based on the client’s desire.

5) The client picks the headstock from our available options.

6) Note: we use bone nuts and saddles and wooden (mostly Ebony or Rosewood) bridge pins. Binding color is usually determined by the builder as I go through the process.



Side wood Selection





7) Side sets picks are paired with the back sets, so there are some options when multiple sets are available.

8) The matched set is then set aside for the build.



Neck blanks





9) Neck Blanks are selected

10) Once all selections are made the choices are added to a carton with the client’s name, so the parts will be ready when the build starts.

11) I make it a point to ask for the customer’s cell number. If they choose I send multiple progress reports complete with images as the process goes on (of course this is a free service if you choose it). The customers in which have chosen this option really like the updates.



____



.



Selection of Rosette





Selection of a rosette design to be inlayed into the soundboard. We offer four styles at this time. Colorful arrow pattern, brown tone arrow pattern, dark medium light brown, and a diamond with line pattern are the current selections.



Sound board selection





Choose from standard grade to master grade top wood with a selection of Engelmann Spruce, Lutz Spruce, Western Red Cedar, or Sitka Spruce. Two of the sections of soundboards shown at the left have medullary rays which add beauty once the top is shellac hand rubbed finished.



Front bracing in place





The Sitka Spruce X-Bracing in glued in place with the bracing scalloped and prepared by sounding or tap toning. The small red piece close the the center is the bridge support. In this case the bridge support is made of African Padauk.



Back Bracing in place





The back bracing is completed with only the ends of the bracing scalloped. The bracing is Sitka Spruce as is the center seam cover. The back it a rare type of African Padauk with molting or modelling called Bariole.



A Customer Build In Process



Customer selection of material





Back and side selected is Padauk Bariole, Top wood Master grade Sitka Spruce (this one is loaded with Medullary rays which is also known as silking).



Interface Design





Rosette design chosen is white diamond surrounded by black background with divisions of white and red lined with multi color purfling.



Heat bending the sides





Sides are bent one at a time with special fixtures, and heat blanket. The thicknesses wood side panel is sprayed with water, wrapped into aluminum foil, heated to about 280 degrees F, and pressed into shape. Once shaped the heat is left on for 10 minutes. The side is allowed to fully cool while in the form. Once cooled it is heated back up for 10 minutes, allowed to cool again, then rest in the fixture overnight. Once removed from the form, the side is placed into another form, so the park keeps its shape throughout the process.



Side set joined and kerfed





Kerfing is being added to the sides on the glued and blocked side panel. The heel block can be seen on the far right of the image. The kerfing is an added glue surface for when the top and back are glued into place.



What we do



A few things we love doing



Inside of soundboard





The sound board has been seamed, and sanded to thickness. The rosette is in place on the other side and the sound hole is cut. The bracing is Sitka Spruce. The bracing is custom scalloped for beautiful voicing. The red bridge support piece (shown) is the African Padauk.



The rosette in Place





The diamond pattern rosette is in place on the beautiful Sitka Spruce sound board which is covered in medullary lines. This particular top is perfectly quarter sawn.



Inside the back plate





The back has been seamed, and the bracing is in place. The back is African Padauk Bariole which means molted or modeled in French. This lovely example selected for the client after a phone conversation and some texting.



Back trimmed to size





This becomes one of the first times we get a glimpse of what the instrument will look like. The oversized back is being aligned for size as the bracing will need to be fitted to the sides of the guitar. At the bottom of the images you can see the sides under the back.



What we do



A few things we love doing



Building a batch of back strips





A lot of time consuming effort goes into the building of backstrips. First, the wood needs to be selected and cut to desired sizes and glued together for the set order. Once the gule is cured the wood can be cut to desired sizes. In this case 45 degree angle cuts. The parts now all need to get sanded before the layout. These angle pieces are glued again, and once cured turned into strips, then more glue up and cutting to final shape.



Kefrfing installed





Cedar kerfing installed along with full height split Sitka spruce braces on a Quilted Sapele set of sides. This is in preperation of sanding the top face and back face as we ready to begin the box closing process.



getting ready for triming sides





A careful look will show the sides are not flush to the back. The bracing goes under the kerfing and needs to be cut out in those locations to stiffen the whole guitar. The instruments are made with very thin woods in ther range of 0.080" to 0.010" so they need to be strong. It is very important to make all the seams tight.



Marking out the neck





Marking where the fretboard will go, and general demensions for pre-shaping the neck.



early stages of back bracing





Back braces glued in place before the back is cut to size.



Top bracing fit under kerfing





As the process continues the sides and top get fitted by slotting for the bracing in some areas. Some bracing is short of the sides to allow the sound board to sing. The X-brace and upper support go under the kerfing while angled supports are close but do not extend under.




Dry fitting binding.





Dry fitting the Maple bindings to the side of the instrument. The fitting process is completed to ensure proper fit of the binding. The lengths of the binding start out oversize and will be cut and sanded to final length before the binding is removed and then glued in place. The binding is tall and proud of the sides at this point and will be sanded flush with the body once the gluing process is completed and the tape is removed.














End plate





The end plate is Curly Maple in the center with Ebony angled pieces and African Padauk (solid deep red).















ARSave
A. R. Savino



The places some guitars have gone:

Abrams,WI
Atlanta, GA
Burlington, WI
Kenosha, WI
Lake Geneva, WI
Mesa, AZ
Mt. Gilead, NC
Mukwonago, WI
Ordfordville, WI
Philadelphia, PA
Racine, WI
Vernon, WI
Winnebago, IL

Member of:
The Guild of American Luthiers
American Numismatic Association
Racine Numismatic Society

We plant trees around the world as part of our sustainablity progam. We have plated 37 trees so far with more plantings as our guitar building grows.

Contact Us: 262-629-0628


tony@arsave.com

-
Open by appointment give us a call.
A. R. Savino Guitar Company is located in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Conveniently located between Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL.


Guitars available at:


The Music Cafe (currently 1 in stock)

105 Fox St., Mukwonago, WI 53149


Classic Violins (currently 2 in stock)

403 Main St., Racine, WI 53403


We are only open by appointment however, we will accommodate your schedule. (currently 4 in stock, and 4 in process)


When a custom guitar is ordered, we will send (email or text) updates as to the progress your custom guitar. Have a special neck you are in love with, bring the guitar along, so we can template the neck and duplicate on your Wisconsin custom built hand crafted guitar.


Acoustic Guitars Made In Wisconsin.


© 2006-2025 ARSave. All rights reserved.