Guitars For Sale:
The guitars listed below are those which are currently in stock and available for immediate purchase. Click the links for more information and larger images. Feel free to contact me if you have any queries about these guitars.
Model II Weissenborn - AUD$1,800
Model I with highly figured tonewoods - AUD$1,800
Guitars by Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson Guitars has a new home on the web at RWguitars.com. The new website features new photographs, updated information and much more.
The 'Weissenborn' Style Guitar
Commonly referred to as simply a Weissenborn, this is a style of lap steel guitar characterised by its unique hourglass or teardrop shape and its hollow neck structure which allows for its trademark richness and depth of tone. Original Weissenborns were made from Hawaiian Koa, a timber now a rare and expensive commodity. Its Australian cousin Tasmanian Blackwood has come into its own in recent years; a fitting alternative with a similar tone and strongvisual resemblance. I now reserve Koa for only the top line of instruments.
The Weissenborn style guitar has seen a resurgence in recent times, thanks to artists such as Ben Harper. Here in Australia roots artists such as John Butler and Xavier Rudd have adopted the instrument, adding to its popularity among blues, roots and folk musicians.
Your guitar will be carefully handcrafted to result in an instrument that is uniquely yours. Throughout the process we will work out an instrument to suit your specific desires, right down to every little detail.
Contact me today to start creating the guitar of your dreams!
Richard Wilson
About Myself
I was drawn to the art of lutherie by an ongoing interest in the Weissenborn. Starting by making a very simple electric lap steel, I continued with the craft, seeking to build for myself better and more interesting lap steels. After building a handful of solidbody electric lap steels over the course of a few years, I decided it was time I made my own Weissenborn style lap steel. It is the simple beauty and amazing tone of these instruments that keeps me so attracted to this style of guitar.
Richard Wilson Guitars are built in a small production shop. Each year I individually hand craft approximately 10-20 guitars in my Brisbane workshop utilising a unique blend of age-old techniques combined with modern efficiencies. My guitars originated as Weissenborn replicas, but over the years they have grown to become unique instruments in their own right, based on this iconic design.
In addition to acoustic and electric lap steel guitars, I also build a range of flattop acoustic guitars, ukuleles and a range of other instruments for my own personal collection.