Testimonials about Cruzcaster Guitars
I just received an email from the new owner of Cruzcaster #002. He said that I could quote him.
"I absolutely love it . Plays great, sounds great. I like it so much I told the guys in Long and Mcquade about it. Going to take it there next trip because they really want to see it. Who knows what might happen with this. Maybe you will become another "Orville Gibson".
Go ahead and use my enthusiasm on Facebook. Every artist deserves recognition. That's why I bought it. It's a work of art that one can use as well as look at. Love it. Great job!!!!
Thanks again. Jim" (J. Gulley)
"I absolutely love it . Plays great, sounds great. I like it so much I told the guys in Long and Mcquade about it. Going to take it there next trip because they really want to see it. Who knows what might happen with this. Maybe you will become another "Orville Gibson".
Go ahead and use my enthusiasm on Facebook. Every artist deserves recognition. That's why I bought it. It's a work of art that one can use as well as look at. Love it. Great job!!!!
Thanks again. Jim" (J. Gulley)
The new owner of Cruzcaster #004, C. E. Jones from Kamloops, sent me a note as soon as he received it.
"Hi Doug, I just received #004. Always a gamble buying a guitar before playing it, but I figured even if it just ended up hanging on a wall it would be worth the price. But as it turns out this thing is terrific. Weighs as much as my heaviest Les Paul, plays really well, sounds great (you did a very nice job balancing the pickups) and looks the bomb. The hardware's first class, and the neck feels very comfortable. As you can tell I'm really pleased - I don't think you charge enough for these guitars, but I'm glad I got mine before you figured that out."
Another note a few weeks later:
I'm the owner of Number Four. I thought I'd let you know that just today I had a young guy over to buy one of my amps, and I said he could use any of my guitars to try it out - he went right past about $20k worth of guitars - three USA Paul Reed Smiths, two Gibsons Les Pauls and a Deluxe Strat - and grabbed the Cruzcaster. He loved it (said he usually played Teles and this was at least as good as a US Fender), and asked for your contact info. Keep it up - when you're famous I'll have a collector's piece as well as a really great guitar. Thanks and keep up the good work - my #004 gets more admiring comments than any guitar I own. (Craig Jones)
Hi Doug
It was great to briefly meet you in Powell River earlier this week...and even greater to purchase one of your Tele style Cruzcasters. I have been playing the #017 a lot over the last few days since we returned from our PR visit, and it just keeps inching deeper into my heart. I love the feel of the neck, the sound of the pickups and wood, and of course the unique look of the instrument. This guitar has a surprising amount of sustain...the wood resonates harmonically in a sweet fashion. What is also impressing me is how stable and accurate the intonation is. I look forward to using it on some R & B gigs that will be coming up this fall...and at this point sweet seventeen is shaping up to be my "go-to" guitar. Keep up the good work. We are very pleased indeed! (From Ari Lahdekorpi)
Doug, received the guitar in perfect condition, could not be happier, it is a true work of art,and it plays fantastic. Great job my friend, thank you!
I waited to get back to you until I actually was able to field test number 026. I still cannot believe the depth of tone this amazing instrument projects! Shimmering cleans, and the crunch through my Marshall made myself and band mates speechless. If anyone out there is on the fence about purchasing one of these amazing guitars, do it now! Thanks again very pleased !
This guitar is unbelievable, and the buzz from the crowd was "where did you get that"! I could sell these things all day long down here!
(Steve R Huber)
Hi Doug, just got home from work in Regina... Guitar has been sitting two weeks and is still in tune...
Just wanted to let you know that #027 "Ontario" is honestly one of the nicest guitars I've ever played!! The S/H combination is perfect! The Bigmouth sounds great and not only holds up to the Seymour Duncan, but compliments it beautifully!! I also enjoyed how excited you were about your guitars, I truly got the impression you love to build these beauties, and not that you wanna make a sale... I had my "Betty" wired with the controls reversed which makes a custom guitar even more custom to my liking... I will be having another one built in the new year... I may have taken a little shit from the wife sure, but it's totally worth a couple quiet days….
Best regards, Kris…
#22 Story:
I ran across Doug's guitars online and was immediately interested. I ended up purchasing what was originally the Esquire model.
I loved the look of the guitar, but wanted a two-pickup setup so I was in constant contact with Doug discussing replacement options. He always responded quickly and made time to talk with me about my needs/concerns. He dealt with all my questions and paranoia (about purchasing a guitar sight unseen) with a lot of patience, which was much appreciated.
He altered his original guitar to accommodate my requests (2-pickups, knob replacement).
It arrived safe and sound and I couldn't be happier.
The guitar feels/sounds great and is definitely one of a kind!
I consider myself a serious guitar player and will absolutely be using this guitar for both live shows and recordings.
Thanks Doug!
David F.
Hey Doug! My guitar arrived last night and as I expected it looked awesome. I was in a hurry to get home and test it out and was not disappointed. I plugged it into my twin and was very impressed with the tone and the set up of the guitar. I know #31 is similar to some of the previous models and didn't allow you to go into some of your new creative concepts but for me the FBI guitars were what caught my eye and this guitar looks killer. I played it then stared at it then continued to play! I know that appearance is what caused me to check out your website, the reviews made it safe to order and now that I have it I know I made a great decision. I love the neck on this thing and found it to be very comfortable playing. I am very happy with the guitar Doug.
Yes, they look so good but it can't be understated how nice my guitar plays! I mean you can own the ugliest guitar in the world but if it sounds awesome and plays awesome you will keep it forever. The guitar you built me sounds great and it is so comfortable to play. I really love the neck, I have not had a fender telecaster in my hand that is as comfortable as the set up of this guitar.
Thanks Mike Bailey
Dennis C. the owner of #037, "Relic" received his Cruzcaster and said this:
"Relic is a blast to play. Has nice action on the neck and sounds awesome. Nice Tele bite. All who have played this beauty love its tone and feel. Highly recommended."
Hi Doug. My name is Ron Miller. You recently collaborated with my wife, Janice, to secretly custom build my Chrisrmas Cruzcaster #042. I just wanted to let you know that I am absolutely thrilled with it, and sneak away to play it any chance I can get. It looks, feels, and sounds fantastic - you definitely nailed it! We sure do appreciate that you went the extra mile to build and ship on time for Christmas. You are obviously passionate about your craft, and it's clear to me why. Thank you very much!
The Industrial Revolution, #034, is something special. As I probably mentioned, I've been an Ibanez player since about day 1. I wanted a Tele style guitar because I love the looks and love the sound, but I never thought that my Ibanez S Classic could be dethroned.
Well, Doug, you made it happen. I can't believe how awesome the Industrial Revolution plays. And the sound is just inspiring - raw, powerful and extremely musical. And the looks...no guitar looks better!! Sure, I still play my Ibanez, but my #1 go-to guitar is now the Cruz Caster.
I am definitely enjoying it!! This spring, the band and I are going into the studio for a little demo work. Between you and me, I want to do more than a demo - I want a whole album, and the Industrial Revolution Cruz Caster will definitely be heard on that demo/album on several tracks!!! I will take photos and send you both tracks and some pics as we finalize our project!!
Best Regards, Jorge
Hi Doug,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, the postie arrived as I was heading out and so just catching up. The guitar, #048, arrived in one piece, excellent packaging and a good quality case!
I love it, great job and just goes to prove that sometimes less is more! Plugged into my 65 Twin reverb, cranked it to 4, a bit of reverb and wailed on it, great tone and those heavier bass strings really thump, good choice! I like the satin finish on the back of the neck, the action is bang on, all in all a pleasure to play!
Doug, thanks very much, I enjoyed our conversations and it was fun to go through this build with you.
Best wishes and good health, Bob
PS - My wife loves it too, she thought the Manitoba 54 was a cool touch!
Hi Doug,
Got my Esquire (#43) safe and sound last Tuesday. It was absolutely beautiful, better than I could have imagined. Being a drummer and a pianist it does sound better when more talented people play it tho, but I'm working at it.
Now I know how my customers feel after picking up a custom designed and built motorcycle. I am truly grateful to work with you on this guitar that I will cherish forever. Thank you so much Doug!
All the best, mike
Took the guitar over to guitar center yesterday to try out some new amps. Everyone was asking about it and loved it. Someone asked what was done to tint the back of the neck, I wasn’t sure.
Man this sounds great!
Setup and finish is awesome too. Love the JB pickup. Thru my Marshall on lead 1 with gain halfway up and the guitar cranked, it gets me closer to that AC/DC sound than my SG does actually Really loving the guitar a lot, great job.
Michael #047
Just thought I'd let you know that my Surf's Up Tele, #045, is already my favourite electic that I've owned (and I've had a lot.) The look and sound are great, of course, but your work on the neck really stands out. A buddy with no end of high end brand name stuff couldn't let it go when he tried it. Thanks
Hi Doug : Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I love my new 025 Cruzcaster . I decided to really dig into learning some country guitar and could not have picked a better instrument then your custom build. Plays awesome ,sounds great and looks even cooler . Doug's wonderful to do business with ,fast shipping and good communication .Can't wait to get another one day .Get one soon you won't regret it .
I waited to get back to you until I actually was able to field test number 026. I still cannot believe the depth of tone this amazing instrument projects! Shimmering cleans, and the crunch through my Marshall made myself and band mates speechless. If anyone out there is on the fence about purchasing one of these amazing guitars, do it now! Thanks again very pleased !
This guitar is unbelievable, and the buzz from the crowd was "where did you get that"! I could sell these things all day long down here!
(Steve R Huber)
Hi Doug, just got home from work in Regina... Guitar has been sitting two weeks and is still in tune...
Just wanted to let you know that #027 "Ontario" is honestly one of the nicest guitars I've ever played!! The S/H combination is perfect! The Bigmouth sounds great and not only holds up to the Seymour Duncan, but compliments it beautifully!! I also enjoyed how excited you were about your guitars, I truly got the impression you love to build these beauties, and not that you wanna make a sale... I had my "Betty" wired with the controls reversed which makes a custom guitar even more custom to my liking... I will be having another one built in the new year... I may have taken a little shit from the wife sure, but it's totally worth a couple quiet days….
Best regards, Kris…
#22 Story:
I ran across Doug's guitars online and was immediately interested. I ended up purchasing what was originally the Esquire model.
I loved the look of the guitar, but wanted a two-pickup setup so I was in constant contact with Doug discussing replacement options. He always responded quickly and made time to talk with me about my needs/concerns. He dealt with all my questions and paranoia (about purchasing a guitar sight unseen) with a lot of patience, which was much appreciated.
He altered his original guitar to accommodate my requests (2-pickups, knob replacement).
It arrived safe and sound and I couldn't be happier.
The guitar feels/sounds great and is definitely one of a kind!
I consider myself a serious guitar player and will absolutely be using this guitar for both live shows and recordings.
Thanks Doug!
David F.
Hey Doug! My guitar arrived last night and as I expected it looked awesome. I was in a hurry to get home and test it out and was not disappointed. I plugged it into my twin and was very impressed with the tone and the set up of the guitar. I know #31 is similar to some of the previous models and didn't allow you to go into some of your new creative concepts but for me the FBI guitars were what caught my eye and this guitar looks killer. I played it then stared at it then continued to play! I know that appearance is what caused me to check out your website, the reviews made it safe to order and now that I have it I know I made a great decision. I love the neck on this thing and found it to be very comfortable playing. I am very happy with the guitar Doug.
Yes, they look so good but it can't be understated how nice my guitar plays! I mean you can own the ugliest guitar in the world but if it sounds awesome and plays awesome you will keep it forever. The guitar you built me sounds great and it is so comfortable to play. I really love the neck, I have not had a fender telecaster in my hand that is as comfortable as the set up of this guitar.
Thanks Mike Bailey
Dennis C. the owner of #037, "Relic" received his Cruzcaster and said this:
"Relic is a blast to play. Has nice action on the neck and sounds awesome. Nice Tele bite. All who have played this beauty love its tone and feel. Highly recommended."
Hi Doug. My name is Ron Miller. You recently collaborated with my wife, Janice, to secretly custom build my Chrisrmas Cruzcaster #042. I just wanted to let you know that I am absolutely thrilled with it, and sneak away to play it any chance I can get. It looks, feels, and sounds fantastic - you definitely nailed it! We sure do appreciate that you went the extra mile to build and ship on time for Christmas. You are obviously passionate about your craft, and it's clear to me why. Thank you very much!
The Industrial Revolution, #034, is something special. As I probably mentioned, I've been an Ibanez player since about day 1. I wanted a Tele style guitar because I love the looks and love the sound, but I never thought that my Ibanez S Classic could be dethroned.
Well, Doug, you made it happen. I can't believe how awesome the Industrial Revolution plays. And the sound is just inspiring - raw, powerful and extremely musical. And the looks...no guitar looks better!! Sure, I still play my Ibanez, but my #1 go-to guitar is now the Cruz Caster.
I am definitely enjoying it!! This spring, the band and I are going into the studio for a little demo work. Between you and me, I want to do more than a demo - I want a whole album, and the Industrial Revolution Cruz Caster will definitely be heard on that demo/album on several tracks!!! I will take photos and send you both tracks and some pics as we finalize our project!!
Best Regards, Jorge
Hi Doug,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, the postie arrived as I was heading out and so just catching up. The guitar, #048, arrived in one piece, excellent packaging and a good quality case!
I love it, great job and just goes to prove that sometimes less is more! Plugged into my 65 Twin reverb, cranked it to 4, a bit of reverb and wailed on it, great tone and those heavier bass strings really thump, good choice! I like the satin finish on the back of the neck, the action is bang on, all in all a pleasure to play!
Doug, thanks very much, I enjoyed our conversations and it was fun to go through this build with you.
Best wishes and good health, Bob
PS - My wife loves it too, she thought the Manitoba 54 was a cool touch!
Hi Doug,
Got my Esquire (#43) safe and sound last Tuesday. It was absolutely beautiful, better than I could have imagined. Being a drummer and a pianist it does sound better when more talented people play it tho, but I'm working at it.
Now I know how my customers feel after picking up a custom designed and built motorcycle. I am truly grateful to work with you on this guitar that I will cherish forever. Thank you so much Doug!
All the best, mike
Took the guitar over to guitar center yesterday to try out some new amps. Everyone was asking about it and loved it. Someone asked what was done to tint the back of the neck, I wasn’t sure.
Man this sounds great!
Setup and finish is awesome too. Love the JB pickup. Thru my Marshall on lead 1 with gain halfway up and the guitar cranked, it gets me closer to that AC/DC sound than my SG does actually Really loving the guitar a lot, great job.
Michael #047
Just thought I'd let you know that my Surf's Up Tele, #045, is already my favourite electic that I've owned (and I've had a lot.) The look and sound are great, of course, but your work on the neck really stands out. A buddy with no end of high end brand name stuff couldn't let it go when he tried it. Thanks
Hi Doug : Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I love my new 025 Cruzcaster . I decided to really dig into learning some country guitar and could not have picked a better instrument then your custom build. Plays awesome ,sounds great and looks even cooler . Doug's wonderful to do business with ,fast shipping and good communication .Can't wait to get another one day .Get one soon you won't regret it .