Custom Building Process
Building a custom instrument is a collaborative journey. I work closely with each client, sending tons of photos and options along the way. Whether you have a clear vision or need guidance, I help you design an instrument that perfectly matches your musical needs.
What Musicians Say
Hear from musicians who have experienced the quality and craftsmanship of our instruments.
“I had a dream. Rob, Scorpio Guitars and Ukeleles LLC, brought that dream to life. Buying a custom instrument on-line was a little scary for me, but Rob was excellent about communicating, and working together the result was even better than I could have wished.
The back story: I am not young, I am short and have small hands and short fingers. I have suffered with osteo arthritis for about thirty years – here and there and now mostly everywhere.
I am a student, not a performer, playing classical and classical style guitar. I take lessons from an award winning finger style guitarist who composes, performs, records and teaches. One of the instruments he plays is a harp guitar.
I was intrigued and considered the possibility that a “mini” harp guitar might be easy for me to play and help me improve my playing, but I couldn’t find one. I did find that a tenor harp ukelele was commercially available. What if I used baritone strings, tuned to the top four string of a guitar – it might work as a mini harp guitar.
Yes, it did work. About three months after getting it I mentioned during a lesson that I loved it (so did my teacher), but it was somewhat limiting the music I played. I wished that there were five strings on the neck. It didn’t seem such an instrument existed.
My guitar teacher suggested that I put an inquiry on the Harp Guitars group facebook page and I soon received a response from Rob, saying he could and would love to make a five string baritone harp ukelele for me. The rest is history. It is absolutely perfect and the sound is marvelous.”
-Carol K.
“It’s been nearly two months since Rob delivered my guitar. Since then, I’ve worked on getting to know it. While it’s still early days yet, I think I know enough to post a review of the instrument and the guy who created it.
-James D.
“I met Rob at a uke group in Spokane where he and a few others were playing these beautiful instruments that it turned out he’d built in his spare time. Once he started taking reservations for instruments I reached out right away. I love my custom narrow body tenor, which is a thing of beauty, sounds great and is exactly the size I wanted it.
I got to choose all my woods in person, but many of the other design choices were made over email with photos of the options. Rob was great to communicate with and kept me updated on every step of the construction.
-Robin R.
“Working with Rob (Scorpio Guitars & Ukuleles) was delightful. I enjoyed the entire process of selecting all the components of my custom ukulele. The craftsmanship of my super tenor was beyond my expectations; it’s truly a work of art. The bearclaw spruce top and koa sides/back make for a wonderful tone, and the instrument has great projection. If you are in the market for a custom instrument, I highly recommend working with Rob!”
-Leah W.
My daughter received a handmade ukulele from Scorpio Guitars and Ukes. It is, without exaggeration, the finest instrument I’ve ever played. I can only imagine how lovely his guitars must be. It arrived meticulously packaged, with a thick packet of docs regarding care and provenance. This is a magical item, more Carnegie Hall than Campfire. I’m honored our family will be its custodian.
-Kate L
Gallery Preview
A glimpse into the collection of handcrafted instruments.
Repair Services
Beyond building new instruments, I offer comprehensive repair and restoration services. Whether your guitar needs a simple setup or major structural work, I treat every instrument with the same care as my custom builds.
Let's Connect!
Whether you're interested in a custom build, have a repair question, or just want to talk instruments—I'd love to hear from you.