Posted wait vs. build time: why custom guitar wait times don't compare directly
Two builders can both say "6 months" and mean different things. Before you compare rows in the tracker, check what each number actually covers.
Queue, build, or both?
- Both, separately. Dark Art posts a 3–4 month wait to start plus a 4–6 month build. Tom Sands posts 24–36 months before the build starts, then about 12 weeks.
- Build time only. Kiesel posts an estimated build time of 12–16 weeks. Escher says a build typically takes 3–4 months once started, but asks you to contact it for the current wait. Millimetric lists a build of about 4 months with a queue that "depends on workload." Rubato lists a 5–6 month build time but says orders are closed for 2026.
- A total estimate. Builders such as Franklin (12–18 months) and M. E. Brune (roughly 18–24 months) post a single range.
In the table, rows where the builder posts only a build time are sorted by that number, so they can look shorter than they are. Read the posted wording.
Where does the clock start?
Ormsby counts its 6–12 months "from setting specs," not from the day you pay. Others count from the deposit or from when your slot opens.
What's left out?
- Shipping. Skervesen says its times don't include shipping. Halo says transit (1–6 business days in the US, 6–10 outside it) comes on top of its lead times.
- Finish choices. Aristides posts 10–14 months for painted guitars and 6–9 months for a raw finish.
- Model. Skervesen posts about 12–14 months for bolt-on and 16–24 months for neck-through builds. DGN posts 4–6 months for some models and 8–10 for others.
Is the page current?
Some builders update their wait page often; others leave it for a while. DGN's order page is marked "Updated Spring '25," so the tracker flags that row as page dated. If a page carries an old date, ask the builder for the current number.
Next: 10 questions to ask before joining a waitlist.