Kavanagh Customs

Howie's Bound Sunburst Telecaster Custom

• Kavanagh Customs Alder Bound Sunburst Telecaster Custom Body
  [see here]

Howie Says:

My local luthier does a while you wait service on Saturdays, so I got him to do the neck pocket and the 'through the body' holes, assembled it all that evening, and here's the result, sounds great, you can't beat a good piece of wood :)

I'm very happy with the guitar, it's knocked my 1983 Tokai Breezysound off top tele spot, and that's no mean feat!

Liam's Sunburst Telecaster

• Kavanagh Customs Alder Sunburst Vintage Telecaster Body
  [see here]

Liam Says:

I have been meaning to send a photo of my completed guitar for a while now as iam so pleased with it. Then i saw this competition part on your website and thought now is the time. I also wanted to tell you how grateful iam to you guys because i could not have got a better looking or better sounding Tele body ANYWHERE at ANY price!!!!! i cant thank you enough.

The colour is absolutly stunning, offset by the parchment scratch plate and all maple neck, as well as the chrome hardware, there isnt a better looking Tele out there! It also sounds better than it looks, if thats possible, and it plays better than it sounds, if thats possible. The Perfect Tele.

The rest of the guitar is made up of a one-piece maple, V-shape profile neck (nitro finish to match the body), seymour duncan 1/4 pound pick ups, which i would highly recommend, a lot higher output, has the warm tones of a les paul whilst keeping that distinct tele twang. I also fitted it with a 4-way switching system, the tone and sustain in the 4th position (in series) is stunning to say the least.

Anyway enough of my ramblings, i have built the Ultimate Tele, the first part i purchased which instigated the guitar was the body, and thats the best part. And thats thanks to you. Please enjoy my pics.

Phil's Lake Placid Blue CBS Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs Lake Placid Blue Alder Stratocaster Body
  [see here]
• Kavanagh Customs 1970s CBS Big-Head Reissue "Hendrix" Maple Neck
  [see here]

Phil Says:

Here are a few pic of the Body and Neck purchased from you last year

Here is my made guitar must say it plays great!

Many thanks

Simon's Reverse-Headstock Alumitone Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs Black Nitrocellulose ("Clapton") Alder Body for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]
• Kavanagh Customs Left-Handed CBS Big-Head "Hendrix" Maple Nitrocellulose Neck for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]

Simon Says:

I was left in awe by the beautiful photographs of your alumitone Stratocaster photographs in your gallery. I thought that after all the amazing help you gave me throughout the options and building process that you only deserved to see the results.

The build was painless and as you can see, the results are stunning - I'm very lucky to have been able to get hold of my own set of the Lace Alumitone pickups and, as you promised, they are totally priceless. I've used this guitar for almost a year now for everything from gigging to professional recording. Although the pickups are great, you can't beat really high-quality tone woods and that's all thanks to you.

I chose American electronics with S-1 switching and a Fender synchronized two-point tremolo (easily installed since you left the body undrilled for me), Kluson tuners and the reverse headstock gives it a very unique look - my very own "Alumicaster". I've chosen not to put the standard F**DER logo onto the headstock - this guitar is too good to pretend to come from those stables.

You would never get me to part with this guitar - it's as much a part of me as my arm or leg is. Sadly financial situations mean that I may yet have to let it go.. unless you want to declare me the winner of course ;) If any of your customers get in touch looking to build something similar, be sure to pass my details on to them.

Thank you John, your high-quality parts and friendly help make this the best guitar I've ever owned and all at a very reasonable price too!

Dom's Candy Apple Red 1960s Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs Candy Apple Red Alder Stratocaster Body
  [see here]
• Kavanagh Customs Figured Maple Nitrocellulose Neck for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]

Dom Says:

It is a fabulous guitar, sounds and plays beautifully, and,as you can see, looks gorgeous! I purchased the items on your ebay store last year.

Thanks for making such a great product, and being really helpfull.

Glyn's 1950s "Blackie" Clapton Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs Black Nitrocellulose "Clapton" Alder Replacement Body for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]

Glyn Says:

my brief was quite simple i wanted a custom shop look and quality clapton strat but with a piezo bridge. I got a single ply scratch plate (8 hole) loaded with aged parts, changed the nut on the neck for a graphtek and bought (from america) a used fishman powebridge trem with piezos. All other parts (neck plate jack plate stereo jack etc) came from various places..

the final part, and indeed the last piece i bought was the Kavanagh Customs black nitro body then it was down to the toolshed

the neck and body fitted together like a dream, then the most tense part marking out the bridge!!! and drilling the holes... this was really tense but went without hitch

all done it was time for plugging in..... and guess what... it sounded horrible.... really horrible!!!

but looked great. much head scratching ensued... and after lots of investigation we descovered that the resistor that came with the powerbridge was the wrong one... dash to maplins ... got the right resistor performed a little soldering and.... eureka it all worked a dream. and looked great.

Keith's Integrating Convergent Systems (ICS1) Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs African Mahogany Nitrocellulose Replacement Neck for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]

Keith Says:

I have called this guitar the ICS1 (Integrating Convergent Systems) because of all the different skills and tools plus the painstaking attention to detail that I have had to use to get to the finished article that you see in the photos.

Pleased make no mistake, this guitar sounds as good as it looks, and is 100% NOT FOR SALE.

Thanks again for making the whole gig possible, as it all started with a neck from Kavanagh Customs.

Phillipe's 1962 Fiesta Red Stratocaster

• Kavanagh Customs Fiesta Red Nitrocellulose "Marvin" Alder Replacement Body for Fender Stratocaster
  [see here]

Phillipe Says:

I have 5 stratocaster made of different parts from fender mexico, japan or USA and truely the best sounding is the one made with your body and I can really feel that the difference comes from the body and this, I wanted to let you know.

I’m a french musician and I was dreaming of 62 strato reissue. I have bought a 62 mexican neck first and I was looking for a body and on Ebay I have found Kavanghcustoms shop so I decided to trust them and order a fiesta red nitro-cellulosic body to build my guitar.

When it arrive I found that finition was perfect but I was surprised by the low height and the result is fantastic, a good neck, 57/62 vintage reissue pickup and the kavanagh body make this guitar sounding better than my 54 us reissue, 67 MIJ reissue and my 70 mexican reissue. I don’t have to plug it to feel the difference but when I plug it, what sound !!!