Something about me

    I'm a self taught luthier with over 15 years experience. I will only be doing a limited number of guitars, necks, bodies etc. due to my allergy issues. But if I am careful and take as much precaution as possible I will manage to do as much as I can tolerate. The forces that be, and that I have no control over, have dictated that I return to guitar lutherie after a short retirement. This endeavor back into guitar lutherie will be dictated by how I tolerate my allergies. Since I only plan to do a very limited number of guitars etc, I should be able to manage.

    My philosophy on guitar building starts with the wood, high quality woods yield a high quality instrument. Tonally and aesthetically. Listening to the style and needs of the player are what count. In most every case I have payed attention to these needs and have been able to fit an instrument to that feel and sound the artist is looking for in a guitar. I make the instrument completely in my shop, body, neck etc.. This is the only way I can truly control the quality and get the tonal characteristics an artist is looking to achieve. The only service that I contract out is the finish, but then that even depends on the type of finish. Natural wipe-on oil type or polyurethane I do in house, that includes stains and waxed and buffed top finishes.This type of finish, although softer and more prone to every day wear and tear than a traditional painted one, does yield very good tonal qualities as it is a very thin and doesn't mask the tonal properties of the woods. The only type of necks I do have to order are the graphite composite type.

    I have made guitars for Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult) four of which are on display in Hard Rock Cafe establishments around the world, the include Moscow - San Juan- Destin, FL - New York. I also made guitars for Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult), Danny Miranda (Formerly Blue Oyster Cult, now touring with Queen), Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult), Sammy Hagar, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tommy Ganci (Berkley School of Music and studio musician), Marty Lucas (Muscle, Frankly Scarlet), JED, other manufacturers (Which I can't name), plus numerous other professional and amateur musicians.

    Thank you for visiting my web site and considering my services. I strive to bring the best possible quality and craftsmanship at a most reasonable price. I do custom work where others won't even attempt.

JC Harper

My Pricing Philosophy For My Work

I have always just charged whatever my labor is for any profit, and that applies to the custom guitars, necks, bodies etc. that I make. I do not mark stuff up to ridiculous prices just because of some special aspect of the product. I basically work for squat in this field, compared to the other businesses out their charging exorbitant amounts because something is "special". To me it's just another guitar, neck etc. whatever, I just make my labor cost on whatever it is I might be making. In the case of guitars, necks etc, I just pass along the actual cost of any parts, materials, outsourced finishing etc. I do not make any profit on those things, because I feel that would not be fair. In the case of the earrings, I just absorb the cost of the materials etc, which does lower how much I actually make on my labor. And my shop rate is just about half of a what I could/should be charging.

I literally do sell wholesale to everyone, period!

Anyway, that it's in a nutshell. I do not overcharge for anything. No $4000 - $5000 guitars that should sell for $2000 - $2500, just because of  some "special" feature that can be overcharged for and should be just passed along to the customer. If I sell a guitar for a higher amount it IS because that is what it truly costs, not with some added premium or profit margin.

JC Harper