Five steps. One conversation that runs through all of them.

Consultation and wood.

The build begins with a meeting in Columbia Falls or over Zoom. Jeremy walks you through the five model sizes and discusses your playing style and the sound and aesthetics you are after. A 25% deposit reserves your build slot. From there, concierge wood selection: actual sets of tonewood, a real conversation about what each species brings to the sound you want.

Design decisions.

Five model sizes, parlor through jumbo. Then options: cutaway (Venetian or Florentine), side sound port, arm and rib rest bevel, Manzer wedge, progressive back radius, multi-scale fretboard. Center-out design. Sound first, then ergonomics, then aesthetics. Each option adds cost beyond the $4,000 base price.

The build.

Once design is finalized the build begins. Jeremy works alone in his Columbia Falls shop, one instrument at a time. Photos of the bracing, binding, and neck-shaping arrive throughout, so you become part of how the instrument gets made.

Finish and setup.

French polish shellac on the body, applied by hand and buffed between coats. It is the thinnest practical finish for an acoustic guitar; the top vibrates freely and opens up over time. Osmo poly-x on the neck for durability. Final setup: action, intonation, nut, saddle. Jeremy plays the guitar before it leaves the shop.

Delivery and guarantee.

Five-day approval period when the guitar arrives. Play it. Live with it. If it does not earn full approval, a full refund is issued, minus all shipping and international import fees, once the guitar has been re-sold.

Every Pappenfüs guitar carries a two-year warranty from completion, covering material defects and workmanship. A guitar case is included in the base price, up to ten percent of the total build.