There are countless guitar players on the planet, and there are also countless opinions about the guitars they play. Those opinions are based almost entirely on off-the-shelf assembly-line-produced guitars.

Everyone must admit, even the most advanced and renowned players, that some are exceptional. Also, the refined wisdom from experience dictates that it is not the guitar that makes the player most of the time; it's just the opposite.

Looking at some exceptional players with vast experience, you would most likely see a guitar collection of some size and even a few created specifically to voice the genre of these master artists. Still, these are mostly production line assemblies.

So, why would some of these exceptional players not settle for the best production line signature models in their collection? Because they are always moving ahead to the future vision, which is just coming into reach. Something with a unique feel and some brilliance to perfectly enhance their ever-ascending mastery.

Rick Harrison is that future visionary who understands the drive of these players toward ultimate self-perfection. Each RH Custom Guitar is an entirely unique, never-to-be-duplicated example of physical artistry that translates these players’ intentions into the most beautiful language on the planet. That language is music, universal to all human beings. This translation is accomplished through a magnificent build that can fundamentally coalesce the builder’s and player’s hands-on mastery. A sonic wonder, emulating the dual intentions as the blend becomes inseparable to the listener.

Every single aspect of these guitars is considered with the utmost deliberation. These guitars are not a product of their assembled parts. Is a Stradivarius violin simply an assembly? There is a life to these violins, which was infused into each by its maker. This is a fact based on the incredible voicing that these beautiful instruments hold today. This "infused" life is fundamental within RH Custom Guitars.

I own one of these guitars in darker woods of various species, melded into a complete harmony of compliment and distinction. Initially, I played this guitar unplugged for a few days. What a delight! The sustain, the harmonic resonance, the timbre--. I had an acoustic guitar hiding in this dual humbucker. At times, I could hear a 12-string fullness. How Rick figured this out, I will never know. When plugged in and free of signal chain embellishments, the Rocket pickups cannot be described in written form.

You've just gotta be there listening to believe it! Two thumbs up for RH Custom Guitars? Hell no, these guitars are 10 thumbs up all the way!!

Step up and enjoy one for life!
Vincent J. Latora
Fingers on the Strings for 60+ years.

Hi, my name is Steve Gauronski

I became friends with Rick Harrison a few years ago, and over the last couple years was given the honor of recording 2 demo videos for RH Custom guitars.

I was blown away by the high end quality and attention to detail of these instruments, so I just had to have one. I purchased one of his earlier creations, a beautiful "Super Strat" style guitar with a 5A flamed maple neck and African Limba body.

I love that guitar, and play it almost daily. When Rick and I co-wrote and recorded "A Broken Heart" for the sound track of the soon to be released film "The Ghost Trap", I used "The African Limba" for all of my guitar tracks and was beyond happy with the way it performed!

Rick lives nearby, so whenever he builds new guitars he usually brings them by to show them to me. He gives these incredible creations names that reflect their individual features, and when he brought "The Tangerine Dream" over, I thought it looked absolutely stunning! I picked it up and thought WOW!!! The neck feels like it was literally made to fit my hand perfectly.

The Tangerine Dream has a one of a kind, perfectly book matched maple top, a 2 piece Sassafras body, and my preferred custom humbucking pickups. The pickups can split into single coils via the push/pull volume and tone knobs, offering a versatile array of tonal possibilities. The neck is a beautiful roasted, Birdseye maple with stainless steel frets and pearloid inlays to match the tuning machines. It is a hard tail guitar with a mixture of gold and silver "hybrid" hardware. The tone and sustain of this guitar are as good as it gets! I told Rick, "of all the guitars you have shown me, this is my favorite!!"

Well, to make a long story short, Rick made me a deal that I couldn't refuse and I'm now the proud owner of not one, but two of the most amazing "one of a kind" guitars available anywhere!! RH Custom guitars really are that good!!

I had heard of Rick and his guitars from a mutual friend, Mark Kendall.

My first opportunity to see, touch and play one was at the SoCal Guitar Show in June 2022.

After admiring the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of vintage instruments and not seeing anything that really caught my eye, my wife and I were about to leave when I saw the RH Custom booth.

I walked in and was immediately impressed with the visual appeal of the instruments on display. Immediately drawn to a lovely red guitar (named Little Wing), I asked if I could pick it up and hold it. Rick obliged and offered for me to plug it in to his amp.

Absolutely!

The feel and finish of the instrument was absolutely superb. The hardware, a mix of chrome and gold, was high-end and striking.

I heard my wife tell Rick, “He’s leaving with that guitar, I can see it in his eyes.”

Well, once I plugged it in and began playing it, I was blown away. The fretwork (stainless steel frets) is perfect, the intonation spot-on, the playability of the neck is masterful.

And then, Rick says "both pots are push/pull, you can independently split each pickup."

Really? Well, that simply made this the most versatile guitar that I personally have ever played.

Short story: my wife was correct! I did leave with that guitar and happily joined the RH Custom Guitars family.

My band plays a very eclectic setlist that requires me to have at least 2, normally 3 guitars. With the versatility provided by independently splitting each pickup, I can play the entire setlist with this guitar.

The neck is so stable that for drop D, I just down tune the low E string and all other strings remain in tune … it’s literally faster than changing guitars.

I began playing guitar in the early 80s and have amassed a rather large and somewhat varied collection of instruments.

I own Gibsons, Fenders, PRS, Knaggs, Suhrs, Kramers, ESPs, Buddy Blazes, Gretsch, Ibanez, Carvins, Peavy, Brian Moore and Walla Walla … and I would put this instrument up against anything I ever played.

If you play guitar and haven’t tried an RH Custom Guitar, you have no idea what you are missing!

I don't have access to my gear but I bought a headphone amp recorder that I can plug in and play. I'm so damn excited I can't tell you.There's unlimited tones with the pickup configuration and it sounds great! Everything's perfect,I notice so many details that you put into the bass. I love perfection and I've gone over this baby with a fine tooth comb,It's perfect my friend! Thanks again for your attention and talent to detail in every way! Your the best my friend!

From the moment I first laid eyes on it, the beauty, craftsmanship, tone,  and 'wow factor' this guitar delivers reeled me in. 'Must own' are the two words that best sum up my experience with this amazing instrument. RH Custom Guitars are crafted with the care and precision that truly makes them one of a kind!

For more of Doug's opinion while playing his the quilted dream check out this YouTube video.

If you are unaware of Doug's impact as a guitarist and the respect he has earned within the music industry. His career includes a disc on Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label, session work on the famed Guitar Hero video game franchise, and over 1,000,000 YouTube plays as a gear demonstrator for brands including Audio-Technica, Brainworx, Ernie Ball Music Man, Gretsch, Ibanez Line 6, Orange Amps, Roswell Pro Audio, Tech 21, and Universal Audio.

In his teens, Doppler studied with guitar legend Joe Satriani, and was chosen by ‘Satch’ to take over his teaching spot in Berkeley, CA when he hit the big time. Doug is a passionate music educator and teaches at the guitar camps for Satriani, Steve Vai, and Dream Theater’s John Petrucci.

Doppler also serves as the Editorial Director for Worship Musician magazine, which reaches nearly 1,000,000 inboxes via the digital marketing collective that makes up their distribution. In addition to hosting their House of Worship TEC Tracks, NAMM recently asked Doppler to host a pair of church production webinars as well. Every week Doppler also hosts a pair of streaming shows, Doppler’s Gear Garage and The Worship Guitar Show.

The above biography was originally published at https://www.dougdoppler.info/about

I am a gigging musician in Southern California. I met Rick years back when he asked me to demo one of his Tele style guitars.

Typically I am not a fan of Teles, but I was blown away by this piece! It was set up to perfection, the action allowed for that smoothness of playing while being perfectly intimate.

Beyond being a fine instrument, Rick demonstrates a level of artistry that is unparalleled. He has a deep understanding of the woods how they resonate as well as how to magnify there natural beauty.

You won’t find a level of care, craftsmanship and creativity beyond a RH Custom Guitar!

I was recently given the honor of doing this demo for RH Custom Guitars. Rick Harrison builds high end guitars, and no two are alike.

Each and every one is a unique visual and musical masterpiece. The quality, sound, playability, and artistic craftsmanship of these guitars is second to none!!

Check out the whole line at RHCustomGuitars.com, or visit RH Custom Guitars on YouTube.

I play my RH Custom Guitar when I can because I realize it’s the best electric guitar I have ever had.

My review of these custom made guitars goes something like this. You will not find another guitar that can do all the things these custom-made guitars can do.

• • First of all, the craftsmanship is unsurpassed!
  • Number two, they are very musical sounding guitars. What I mean by that is, the notes you are playing speak loud and true. If you want AC/DC, it's there if you want the Eagles' tone it's there, or if you want Tom Petty tones, they are there for the taking also.
  • The push-pull volume knob is a great feature that splits the pickups to make the ultra-clean sounds available.
  • The different woods that their master builder chooses are beautiful and unique!! Some of the detailed artwork on the hardware is unreal, and something I've never seen before.

I was just playing open chords at times while checking these guitars out, and I'm thinking, that's Bad Company's sound or there's AC/DC. I don't think it's possible that I could be any more impressed by a custom-made guitar!! Thank you to the folks at RH Custom Guitars for allowing me to play these killer instruments; I'm totally blown away by your work!!! You will not find another guitar that can do all the things these guitars can do!

RH Custom Guitars makes some of the finest handbuilt guitars I've ever played! Attention to detail, great action, sound and sustain. All the best attributes of outstanding performance! I am excited about your work! Love the result and cost. Thanks to my friend for the recommendation.

I have seen, played, and experienced a lot of guitars and I don't own very many... because a lot are way over-rated, but if you want the ultimate in a Custom Shop Guitar, this is it...and they can prove it!

The craftsmanship and creative design are second to none and the out of box playability is extraordinary beyond words.

You'll probably spend more time just gazing at these guitars let alone playing them.

The bottom line though is that they feel 'just right' in whatever style you play, and the sound comes through the amps with the warmth and tone compatible to any amplifier. The choice of woods and color tones are 'in tune' and unmatched. Just simply incredible work, feel, tone, and stellar quality in every guitar they build!

The main thing I first noticed when I picked up the guitar was the weight. The wood that Rick picks out has mass but not dead water weight, which makes for incredible sustain.

You don't even need to plug this guitar in to judge the sustain. Just play the open G chord and hold it to your body; the vibration goes on for days.

The neck has mass like an old 50's Les Paul, but the 'playability factor' with the flat fretboard makes it silky and fast.

The 'Hum-single-single' combination is a perfect addition to these guitars... very transparent, but very warm and fat.

Hi, my name is Robert Montee, and I'm a guitar collector.

I have just done the Pepsi Challenge with some of my guitars. I played through a Fender Custom Deluxe 64 Reverb with no effects. I played a Fender CS 60 Stratocaster, a Gibson ES-359, my Les Paul and my Gibson 335, and one of my three RH Custom Guitars.

Each of these guitars has its own special sound, but I was able to get all of those sounds put together from my RH Custom guitar.

So, my RH Custom Guitar is, in my opinion, "the best all-around guitar in my ENTIRE collection!"

I have two of Rick's guitars. The "Barnyard Boy"... aside from being a work of art... the voicing is clear with exceptional tone.

I commissioned Rick to produce a guitar very similar to Jami Dupuis' and this guitar is not only a beauty but it is a rocking beast.

I have 20 electrics in my collection... PRS, Jackson Custom Shop, custom Les Pauls, custom Strats, a bunch of Music Man EVH's, Peavy EVH's and Fender EVH's (not the consumer grade versions)...

The RH Custom Guitars are the first to be played and are now my go to axes.

What more can you ask? Visually beautiful and tonally expansive. Thank you Rick.

I bought the Spalted Maple #13 - and it is amazing! It's not only beautiful, but it plays better than any of my Gibsons and Fenders. I swear it makes me play better. Great fretboard, perfectly set-up.

I took it to Guitar Center to get the strings changed (I was having eye issues), and the tech there took tons of pictures of it. Said he has never seen woodwork that well done! Very happy with my guitar. I look forward to buying another.

The quality of guitar that Rick brings to life is incredible. Not only are the designs mesmerizing, but they play like a dream.

The finish and set-up quality are second to none! The guitar arrives ready-to-rip with no additional tune-up required.

The impossibly low action is smooth and clean across the entire scale with zero fret buzz. The pick-up configuration has a killer range that can cross from mild-to-wild without compromise.

Every aspect of his work shows an attention to detail that cannot exist without passion and a dedication to to quality!

I have the privilege of saying I own the "Paul E" guitar built by Rick. Not only is it a work of art but it plays even better than it looks!

Rick's ability to to craft these magnificent axes is second to none.

This guitar ruined other guitars for me because none play as effortless as my "Paul E" and the pick-ups have an unbelievably versatile range for any genre I play.

If you're looking for a custom high-end player's guitar I'd recommend talking to Rick, you won't regret it.

Thank you Rick for this awesome Ax!
I love my RH Custom Guitar because it does everything I wanted it to do; it is just perfect!