Forest Tate Guitar Builder
 
 

So far, I have built four guitars. The first, a “flying triangle” style hollow body made with the kind of plywood used in home construction and I didn’t take into account that it was supposed to accept strings. I was 6 or 7.

Then, when I was heart broken in my late twenties I spent time in the rainforest on an island building a Martin style dreadnaught acoustic guitar which actually mended that heart.

Since then, I’ve been building one style – a semi hollow electric with one pickup and no tone or volume controls – the pickup is wired straight to the output jack. Much like my belief that a “good” guitar player is one who is playing a song they care about with their heart, mind, and fingers in equal measure, then you add in the instrument’s technical capability - I don’t believe the snake oil sales hype in luthery that says an instrument requires “tone wood”. All wood has tone. I just pick chunks of wood that I think feel right. This makes way for the tone of the guitar to be more “yours”.


I am planning on building a few new body shapes in the coming months which will range in price from $1279 to $3079 depending on details and hardware. Commissioned builds welcomed as well.


- FT

 
 
Children's Toy Guitar Made in 1985 - Forest Tate
 
 

Flying Triangle, Circa 1985

Construction grade plywood, custom paint, not meant for this world - could never accept strings.

Not for sale

 
 

No-Cutaway Tele I

Black walnut top, ash back, maple neck. P-90 pickup. Penny from my birth year inlayed into top.

This is the main guitar I play.

Not for sale

 
 

No-Cutaway Tele II

Maple top with some birdseye, ash back, maple neck. P-90 pickup and Bigsby trem bar.

The lyrics from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s “I See a Darkness” are written in between the back and top lamination.

“Many times We've been out drinking. And many times We've shared our thoughts. But did you ever, ever notice the kind of thoughts I got. Well you know I have a love. A love for everyone I know. And you know I have a drive To live. I won't let go.”
I See a Darkness - Bonnie Prince Billy

$1779

 
 

Martin Style D28 Acoustic Guitar

Spruce top, mahogany back, sides, and neck. Piezo bridge pickup and internal microphone.

Not for sale