Frequently Asked Questions - Check here for answers to your questions. If you don't find the answers you need, please contact us on the Contact page, and we will get back with you.
Can you make mine out of (you name the species) wood? - Please ask, and we will let you know. We have a good supply of wood in many different species in our inventory (See the list here.) We have a number of very good sources for raw materials, and know many people that can help us find almost any wood we might want to source.
Keep in mind that some wood species are very expensive, and importing them can take a lot of time and customs paperwork. Also keep in mind, if you want a particular live-edge material, it must be sourced within the U.S. It is almost impossible to bring wood from another country into the U.S. with bark/raw edges due to controls on pests that live under the bark.
How long does it take to create a custom piece? - We don’t like to say this, but it depends…. On material availability, design complexity, finish requirements, orders already being processed, and our schedule. We will work as quickly as possible, but will never sacrifice quality for speed.
In general, once we have sourced the materials and are able to start working a drumstick holder or guitar hanger, it takes two to three weeks to complete with the necessary curing times for the finishes. Tables and more complex pieces take more time.
I have a piece of wood I would like turned into a drumstick holder, guitar hanger, or otherwise. Can you do this for me? - Quite possibly. Please get in touch with us, and we can discuss. We will need specific details on what you have, what you want, etc. Let’s see what we can do.
Why are some of your products so expensive? - Time, tools, and materials; pretty simple. The cost of the raw materials can be significant, especially when using something like Cocobolo or Snakewood (the most expensive material we have worked with per cubic inch). Then factor in the time needed to design, fabricate, and finish each piece. Some materials are easier to work than others. Some are easier to finish than others. Using multiple materials takes time to assemble/laminate them into a single piece. There are many factors involved, and we work to finish each product as quickly as possible, and market each one at a fair price.
Can you make other products? - Sure thing! Let us know what ideas you have, and we will see what we can do. We have been asked about holders for harmonicas, wind instrument mouthpieces, and cigars, different types of tables, even lamps.
Where can I see your products? - Our website is your first source to see the different types of products, and we have them in a number of stores in Oklahoma and Texas now, and more will be forthcoming across the country soon. Please visit these stores if you are in one of their areas! But even seeing a few examples of them in a store doesn’t tell the whole story, as every single piece we make is unique. If you know what you want, we can work with a local dealer to create a specific piece, or you can contact us directly.
Can you ship to addresses outside the U.S.? - Yes, we can. The shipping charges shown with the products in the cart section are based on total weight for deliveries within the U.S. and most of North America. We can arrange shipping to locations outside this region, and that may require additional shipping charges, customs fees, etc. Please contact us, and we will let you know what it will take to ship to your location.
Can we carry your products in our store? - Let’s talk! While our production rate is limited, we are always looking for stores with clientele that would fit our customer base. Please contact us, and we will see what we can do.
About California Redwood - If you have never visited the California Coast Redwoods and/or the Giant Sequoia Redwoods, you should consider doing so! These trees are the largest, and one of the most amazing living things on this earth. Many are well over 1,000 years old, and some are close to 2,500 years old. They can make you feel very small… Many of them are over 300 feet tall, and over 15 feet diameter (Some are much larger than this…).
Very unfortunately, many of the old-growth Redwoods have been cut down from the time they were discovered by explorers in the mid 1800’s, up until protection for these great old-growth trees was finally put in place with the establishment of several national and state parks in the mid to late 1900’s.
Many new growth Redwoods are being planted in an effort to re-establish these Redwood forests (more are being planted than harvested now). This is a tremendous and wonderful effort! But these new trees have no where near the character and beauty of the old-growth trees, and will take centuries to reach that level of grandeur.
We are very supportive of efforts to protect the old-growth trees. We do not, and never will, purchase Redwood lumber from newly cut, old-growth trees. All of the Redwood material we use comes strictly from ethically re-claimed stumps, logs, root burls, etc, from trees that were cut down many years ago on private land. At some point, the supply of this kind of re-claimed material may dry up, but that’s not likely anytime soon, with as many trees as were cut down so many years ago. But when it does, we will be OK with it. For now, as long as there is material we can obtain ethically, we will continue using it to create beautiful products.
What is your background? - I learned the essentials of wood working and finishing from my father many years ago. He spent a lot of time giving me the foundation for many of the creative skills I use every day, now 40+ years later. I also draw from my father-in-law, who was an amazing wood craftsman, building much of the furniture in his house, as well as many fine pieces for family, friends, church, etc. The two of them have been a big part of my inspiration.
My own background is many years deeply involved in the custom, high-end mobile audio arena, designing and creating top-level car audio systems for competition, major mobile electronics manufacturers, and customers wanting the very best looking and sounding audio systems. Unique design, finish quality, and ultimate sound quality have been absolutely critical to the 80+ World, National and major championship titles our audio systems have won.
I played drums in school, and drum set as well when I was a teenager. I now play drums with The Tent City Allstars, a band in the Tulsa area, and with our church P&W band. I also manage the technical areas of our church (audio, video, lighting, sound system, etc.).
I also teach high-level classes covering the extensive requirements to build the very best sounding mobile audio systems; everything from the human hearing system, music recordings and techniques, equipment selection, installation requirements, and final system tuning.
Why did you create Artisan Customs? - Pretty simple… I was tuning my drum set, and had the floor tom sounding great. Then I hung the stick bag on it, and that great sound turned to dead mud. I had to get the stick bag off of my floor tom. (Try it; a stick bag on a drum kills the resonant qualities of the drum shell, and makes it sound dead.) I wanted something creative, but couldn’t find anything available, anywhere. Inspired by my father-in-law, I found some nice California Redwood, and made the first exotic wood stick holder I know of. Several musicians asked about the stick holder, guitar hangers, and other ideas, and I started making more of them. Artisan Customs was born.