Some of our guitars never make it to the catalogue.
The reason for this is that half of our customers ask us to make a Wild Honey guitar for them personally.
What transpires is simply wonderful.
We take on the responsibility to create a Wild Honey guitar with the design, elements, and even artwork that we feel will resonate uniquely for them alone. It is an exercise in trust for both parties. So far, it has been a mutually satisfying endeavour in each individual case.
Other guitars featured here were made to commemorate an event or to convey honour. These guitars have become anthems and symbols of times and seasons, of people and places.
F
The guitar came with three names
The story starts somewhat earlier with two new friendships. This locally grown wood accompanied dinner guests who brought it on their shoulders one evening last year. They had cut this tree from someone's yard. They thought that perhaps we might like to try and build a guitar from it. The customer, another new friend, ordered the guitar in November of 2009. Because he is practically a local, he had the opportunity to work with us to choose the actual placement of pieces that would be crafted into his own Wild Honey guitar.
It is always fascinating to see the features in the wood become more evident in each stage of building. As each piece is cut and shaped, planed and sanded, the beauty in the details and the guitar's unique character begins to emerge.
As the guitar nears completion, we eagerly anticipate the moment that we get to hear its' first sounds. It is always a celebration. It is in that moment that the guitar seems to finally come alive.
t And now presenting . . .
And so, the guitar was presented to this customer in February 2010. It came with three names and it will be up to him to discover why or to decide which one fits best. Either way, this guitar was a delightful surprise for both him and us, and indeed for everyone who had the opportunity to see it. Now, he only needs to learn how to play guitar . . .
Specifications:
Solid body - local willow
Through neck
Box elder fretboard
25" scale length
22 frets
Black hardware
Double humbucker
5-way switch
Tung oil finish
Left-handed
Healing in the Wings
This guitar has a story.
It started out as an unattractive Explorer style guitar. Unattractive because our angles were all wrong. It was not pretty.
It sat in the shop for a while covered in dust. One day, it almost went to a bonfire as fuel! But then, we decided to try and salvage something of it since the workmanship was decent in principle. We cut a few angles off and then decided to go wild with a new way of carving and painting on our guitars. This was a new step for us, and opened the way for us to try new things.
And so, Healing in the Wings got its' name - retrieved and renewed with Wow! It is a wonderful guitar, and for someone - in the wings - there is healing.
This guitar will be used to raise funds for an upcoming event focused on the need for the healing of Aboriginal youth in Northwestern Ontario. Please stay tuned for your opportunity to make a financial contribution to this event and to the work it will represent.
Specifications:
Solid willow body
Through neck
25" scale cherry fretboard
22 frets
Zero fret nut
Double humbuckers
5 - way switch with coil-tapped bridge position
Lightweight
Hand carved wing motif
Acrylic with lacquer finish
Pyrographed feather motif on the rear neck
Tung oil finish on the guitar body
The colours are vibrant and the design elements are very strong. The main guitar body is finished to a warm, honey matte which will darken with age. In terms of sound, this guitar is no lightweight. There is a surprising bass element to the guitar and at the same time, it produces a broad range of sounds. It is a joy to play!
Cherubim
Wild Honey Guitar Company is not yet officially a bed and breakfast, but it became one of sorts this past fall. We had a guest come and stay with us. She was a stranger who became a friend who became a customer.
She commissioned us to make a guitar for her; it was something she felt she needed to do. We felt that we needed to respond by extending ourselves further than we had before; artistically and in craftsmanship. Since she was staying locally she was able to work with us in order to choose the wood for the body, neck, and fretboard.
Erick made a stunning guitar, beautiful in its' own right. It had such fantastic markings on this body - pronounced striations, colour, bird's eyes . . . the maple fretboard alone had hundreds of bird's eyes and when polished, it felt like they were all looking at you!
But, then Lisa needed to put her hand to it as well. Pursuing a word, and an image, she proceeded to create Cherubim. Certain elements in this artistic rendering are meant to honour the Asian heritage of our customer even though the design is also reflective of the Anishnawbe Woodland style. What resulted was an organic fusion of colour and shape.
The customer returned to the Wild Honey Bed and Breakfast to receive her guitar. She only planned on spending one night, but we were not yet finished our work! Fortunately, she was able to enjoy another night of hospitality Wild Honey style while Erick burned the candle at both ends in order to complete this project.
With but three hours to spare, Cherubim was finished and we were able to present it to the customer, who seemed very pleased.
Specifications:
Solid willow body
Through neck
Semi-chambered
25" scale maple fretboard
22 frets
Double humbuckers
5 - way switch
Gold and cream hardware
Acrylic 6-winged motif with lacquer finish
Tung oil finish on body
a
Made because we remember and are grateful
Keewatin
The North Wind
Keewatin is a picture of the restoration of the First Peoples of Canada. Restoration is coming - has come, and is coming. Restored First Peoples will rise because of the healing in the wings of the Creator. As gatekeepers in the land, they will be the ones to bless and release Canada into her destiny in this and upcoming seasons, but as a resurrected, restored, and strengthened people.
The image of the Thunderbird represents the First Peoples. The fire and flame in the wings is full of the colours of promise - a rainbow. Rising with strength and eyes blazing, the Thunderbird is about to release something from its' mouth - the maple leaf, a symbol of healing and of the nation of Canada. Healing and blessing and release is about to come from the mouth of the First Peoples - what a solemn and weighty thing!
Specifications:
Solid willow body
Through neck
25" scale maple fretboard
22 frets
Double humbuckers
5 - way switch with coil-tapped centre pickup
Hand carved painted with acrylic and a lacquer finish
Pyrographed decrees and artwork on the back
Tung oil finish on the guitar body
