Custom Handcrafted Guitars
A modern take on classic shapes. 6–8 string guitars and 4–5 string basses — exotic tonewoods, full custom specs, built one at a time in Clayton, NC.
20+ custom guitar & bass shapes, exotic tonewood tops, and your exact specs.
Choose Your Shape
Pick from 20+ guitar & bass models.
Spec Every Detail
Woods, hardware, pickups, finish — your call on everything.
We Build It By Hand
One builder, start to finish. Photos and updates throughout.
Meet the Builder
Tom W. Smith has been building guitars by hand since 2008 — 100% self-taught, learning from every build and every piece of criticism along the way. Every T.W. Smith guitar is built by one person, from the initial glue-up to the final setup. No team. No shortcuts.
Read the Full StoryA look at what has come off the bench lately.
★★★★★ 5.0 from 82 Google reviews
“The entire build process was just absolutely incredible to see come together. I was updated pretty much after every step… made exactly how I wanted it to be. Happy to be the first owner of the ‘Arch’ model!”
“Received my TWS 7-string Spitfire and immediately fell head-over-heels in love. It feels like a guitar I’ve owned for years and I could not put it down. I own and have owned a decent number of high-end guitars over the years…”
“I’ve had my 7-string Talia for two weeks, and it’s been nearly impossible to put the thing down long enough to type out more than a few sentences at a time.”
Ready to Own a T.W. Smith?
Request a QuoteCustom Handcrafted Guitars. A Modern Take on Classic Shapes
6 to 8-string custom guitars and 4 to 5-string bass guitars. Standard to baritone scale, exotic tonewoods, full custom specs, built one at a time
The Art of the Build
Every T.W. Smith guitar is built by hand in Clayton, North Carolina. From selecting exotic tonewoods to the final fret dress, one builder handles every step — no assembly line, no outsourcing. These aren’t factory guitars. They’re purpose-built instruments for players who demand more.
Built Different
20+ custom guitar and bass shapes, exotic tonewood tops, and your exact specs
How It Works
1. Choose Your Shape
Pick from 20+ models.
2. Spec Every Detail
Woods, hardware, pickups, finish — your call on everything.
3. We Build It By Hand
One builder, start to finish. Photos and updates throughout the process.
Meet the Builder
Tom W. Smith has been building guitars by hand since 2008 — 100% self-taught, learning from every build and every piece of criticism along the way. Every T.W. Smith guitar is built by one person, from the initial glue-up to the final setup. No team. No shortcuts.