Carving Their Own Paths: 5 Guitar Builders You Need to Know

Classic guitars are classic for a reason. There will always be a place for Teles, Strats, and Les Pauls on the shelves and in our hearts. But, in a world where there are more mass-produced guitars than ever before, it’s especially significant when a maverick builder designs a new guitar that really works - AND remains solidly “outside of the box.” Let’s profile five guitar builders who have carved out a niche by crafting instruments straight from their imagination: Novo Guitars, Grez Guitars, Castedosa Guitars, Dunable, and Mule Resophonic.

Novo Guitars: Comfortably Vintage, Stunningly New

Former tech at New York’s legendary Matt Umanov’s, Dennis Fano made his name as a guitar builder by founding the brand that shares his name (which recently reunited with Novo under Fano's control) Fano launched Novo Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee, with the goal of pushing the boundaries of traditional guitar design without alienating players who cherish classic tones and feel. 

What Sets Them Apart: Instantly recognizable for their offset designs and bold finishes, Novo’s lightweight tempered pine bodies are a standout feature, offering enhanced resonance and a broken-in feel right out of the box. Paired with premium hardware and handwound pickups, these guitars are highly covetable tools for players across genres.

Notable Players: Artists and influencers the likes of Nels Cline, R.J. Ronquillo, and Rhett Shull have embraced Novo guitars for their stunning looks and exceptional tone.

Signature Models:

• Serus J – An offset knockout with a tempered pine body, boutique pickups, and endless tonal versatility. Perfect for everything from blues to indie rock.
• Solus M1 – A minimalist single-pickup workhorse with a raw, punchy tone and a chunky C-shaped neck.

Grez Guitars: Tonal Mastery from the Heart of Redwood Country

Barry Grzebik’s Grez Guitars is a one-man operation based in Petaluma, California. With a background in audio engineering, an eye for exquisite tonewoods, and a passion for sustainability, Grzebik’s creations as a guitar builder are celebrated for their elegant simplicity and rich acoustic properties.

After years of designing and repairing guitars, Barry launched Grez Guitars to bring his vision of lightweight, resonant instruments to life, often using reclaimed wood from century-old structures.

What Sets Them Apart: Each Grez guitar is essentially a love letter to the wood it’s made out of. Grzebik’s use of salvaged redwood, mahogany, and walnut results in instruments that look as stunning as they sound. Grez also puts their emphasis on sustainability where their mouth is, partnering with Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. to plant a tree for every Grez guitar sold.

Notable Players: Heavy hitters such as Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Meters’ legend Leo Nocentelli have Grez guitars in their personal collections.

Signature Models:

• Mendocino – A compact semi-hollow featuring reclaimed redwood tops, the Mendocino comes in humbucker or P90 options with a tone that’s equally at home in jazz and rock settings.
• Folsom – A solid-body electric with striking mahogany construction and Tele-inspired tones that feels familiar but is versatile enough to cover just about any style.

Castedosa Guitars: A Family Affair

Carlos Lopez, a former Master Builder at the Fender Custom Shop, founded Castedosa Guitars to bring his personal artistic vision to life. Based in California, his company is a tribute to the craftsmanship he honed during his time with Fender and his commitment to pushing boundaries.

After 16 years at Fender, Carlos ventured out on his own and founded Castedosa in 2022. His guitars blend classic influences and Fender pedigree with fresh, modern twists.

What Sets Them Apart: Castedosa’s designs exude personality, often featuring asymmetrical shapes, vibrant finishes, and a meticulous attention to detail that reflects Carlos’s passion as a guitar builder. And when a player chooses Castedosa, they are getting a gift from Carlos’ family - his wife, Stephanie winds all of Castedosa’s TS pickups by hand, and the company name is derived from the first letters of Carlos, Stephanie, and their childrens’ names. 

Notable Players: Josh Klinghoffer and Ariel Posen have been early adopters of Castedosa’s stunning guitars.

Signature Models:

• Conchers Baritone – A striking offset baritone named after Carlos’ grandfather, the Conchers features rich, deep tones and a sleek, eye-catching design.
• 3511 Lobo – A modern double-cutaway, the Castedosa Lobo semi-hollow is one of Castedosa's newest offerings.

Dunable Guitars: Heavy Tones, Made to Order

Sacha Dunable, the frontman of the progressive metal band Intronaut, knows exactly what heavy players need in an instrument. Based in Los Angeles, Dunable Guitars has become a go-to for musicians seeking custom guitars that can handle the demands of modern metal and beyond.

Sacha's work as a guitar builder began as a hobby in his garage before quickly growing into a full-fledged business in 2012. Sacha's experience as a touring musician informs every guitar he builds.

What Sets Them Apart: Dunable offers an impressive range of customization options, allowing players to choose woods, finishes, and hardware to create their dream instrument.

Notable Players: Metal luminaries such as Will Putney, Jeff Sullivan, and Mike Scheidt Artists like Matt Pike rely on Dunable guitars.

Signature Models:

• Cyclops – A sleek beast with aggressive tone and minimalist aesthetics, perfectly balanced for high-gain shredding.

• Yeti – A versatile offset model with a thick, resonant sound and stunning finishes that range from classic to wild.

   

Mule Resophonic: Steel Bodies, Tender Souls

Matt Eich’s Mule Resophonic, based in Saginaw, Michigan, specializes in hand-crafted steel and brass resonator guitars of both the acoustic and electric variety. By building guitars with 19th century appeal and modern playability, Mule stretches the possibilities of “roots” music and inspires players to dig deep.

After honing his craft building banjos, Matt shifted his focus to guitar building and launched Mule Resophonic in 2012. His resonators quickly gained a reputation for their unique character and unparalleled craftsmanship.

What Sets Them Apart: In addition to Eich's personal touch, Mule's undeniable trademark is the steel construction that makes them truly original. 

Notable Players: The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Adam Miller, and Americana-blues icon Charlie Parr are proud players of Mule resonators.

Signature Models:

• Mulecaster – A hybrid electric-resonator with a swampy, soulful tone and an unmistakable aesthetic.
• Mavis – A solid wood guitar with a steel resonator biscuit that's remarkable resonant, even as an acoustic.

A New Golden Age?

These five guitar builders represent the heart and soul of independent guitar making.  Through their unique designs they remind us that guitar magic starts with a piece of wood (or steel...) and a whole lot of imagination. Whether you’re drawn to the sleek designs of Novo, the reclaimed beauty of Grez, the personality of Castedosa, the heavy-duty power of Dunable, or the soulful resonance of Mule, it's undeniable that we're in a new golden age of electric guitar builders... all of whom, by the way, agree that Stringjoys bring out the best of their instruments. ;]