Click here to check out Lee Jackson's review of the "Workhorse"!
Factories build guitars for profit ; Luthiers build them for players
An instrument is about feel. How it feels is everything! How it feels in your hands, how it hangs on your body, how it balances, what it weighs.... An instrument that feels good sounds better because it becomes more part of the player and is easier to work with. A good feeling guitar or bass is a joy to play and you will play better!Why not make it feel like part of you from the start? My goal is to give you that. Years of restorations have taught me that it is possible to have a brand new guitar or bass feel like an old friend. The finest tone woods are used along with your choice of electronics, choice of finishes, fret sizes scale lengths, fingerboard radiuses, and hardware.-- Roman Rist
An instrument is about feel. How it feels is everything! How it feels in your hands, how it hangs on your body, how it balances, what it weighs.... An instrument that feels good sounds better because it becomes more part of the player and is easier to work with. A good feeling guitar or bass is a joy to play and you will play better!
Why not make it feel like part of you from the start? My goal is to give you that. Years of restorations have taught me that it is possible to have a brand new guitar or bass feel like an old friend.
The finest tone woods are used along with your choice of electronics, choice of finishes, fret sizes scale lengths, fingerboard radiuses, and hardware.
-- Roman Rist
clients
Billy Idol
INXS
Alice Cooper
SteveVai
The Commodores
Mike Kenealy
Bad Company
Yngwie Malmsteen
Yes
Cheap Trick
Don Henley
Poison
Ratt
Guns and Roses
Charlie Sexton (Storyville, Arc Angels)
Tom Petty
Taj Mahal
Lita Ford
Masters of Reality
Hole
The Wallflowers
Jethro Tull
Bobby Blue Bland
Jay Gore (Hilary Duff)
Gary Moore
The Angels
John Mayall Band
Patti Labelle
Chris Impelliterri
Chris Korblein
Kiss
Prince
The Steve Morse Band
Bernie Taupin
Guitar World Magazine
Seal
Van Halen
Kingdom Come
Ronnie James Dio
Lisafer
Krokus
Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon)
FAQ
How much to build "X" guitar?
Aside from the Rist "Workhorse", all guitars are built and priced on an individual basis. Please contact us with your specifications for a price quote.
Who all works on the guitars?
Roman is the only person who works in the shop. Every guitar that passes through the shop begins with Roman and ends with him. He does the shaping of the necks and bodies, inlays, etc.
How long does it take to recieve my guitar?
Lead times can vary depending on work load and real-life issues. Roman works especially hard to fill orders in a timely matter.
What's up with the "workhorse" guitar?
The Rist "Workhorse" is the first production model to come from the Rist workshop. It is meant to be an affordable option for those who might never have the oppurtunity to have a luthier built instrument. Roman is only making 2 of these a month, so get in early to avoid being way down the line..
GALLERY
Mahogany body, 24 3/4" scale with 59LP Neck carve and nut width. Handwound P90 and WB Hot-T.
Workhorse No. 1 upon arrival to customer.
Workhorse prototype
62 Relic'd Replica
Super light, attractive, sounds like a real acoustic with the Loyd Bagg's electronics. and best of all, it fits in a Les Paul case!
12 string electiric, 59 LP burst construction with double cut configuration.
Acoustic/electric with TV Jones and LR Baggs acoustic TOM bridge.
Walnut body, semi-hollow construction.
V replica, Korina construction.
Click here to check out full size pictures of Roman's work!
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Testimonials
"Roman's attention to detail and use of quality woods and components make for an exceptional guitar. I own vintage and custom shop 'name brand' guitars - none of which compare to my Rists. Playing a Rist is an experience unlike any other - the tone, aesthetics, and playability of Roman's hand built guitars are all contributing factors to this experience. Roman is an artist in the most literal sense. I cannot recommend Rist guitars highly enough."
- Dan R.
About the "Workhorse"
"Did this guitar make my tired old blues licks sound like something new, original, vibrant, ground breaking?
No, this guitar made my tired old blues licks feel like an old friend. Straight away, within a few minutes of picking up Romans guitar, I was back in the zone. Comfortable, trying out new things, falling back to tried and tested old things in between. Heaven.
The neck is smooth and comfortable, very close to the feel of my '59 [doublecut] junior. In fact, way closer to the feel of the real vintage '59 neck than any of my other guitars. The workhorse has a belly cut and contoured access to the high frets. These are small changes to the traditional design, and I didn't even notice they were there until I looked. I was simply playing, and thinking 'Hey, this sounds good, I wonder what a up run to the pentatonic around the 2nd position would sound like'."
- Jimmy Q.
"I've had numerous guitars including several other 'Customs', and this guitar stands out as being "like an old friend". There is something about a Rist guitar that seems to imbue a sense of 'belonging' to the owner."
-Del A.
The Rist "Workhorse"
I have always loved LP Juniors and P-90 guitars in general. I have also for years wanted to do a line of "simple" guitars, but being a custom builder people have wanted fancy.
This guitar, the "Workhorse", is my tribute to the roots of Rock and Roll. MY roots. Mountain, the Who, Santana, etc. Anyone you can think of that utilized P-90s to rock.
- Roman Rist
Specs:
1 piece mahogany body
1 piece mahogany set neck
Choice indian rosewood F/B
Medium tall fretwire 24 and 3/4 inch scale
Gotoh tuners
Lightweight intonatable wrap around tailpiece
Custom wound WB P-90
CTS pots
Hard oil finish
The guitar is based on that familiar single cut design with modern updates.
1) The neck tenon is much longer than on the 50s counterpart. It actually is as long as a "burst' tenon.
2)The body is sculpted front and rear. It has a belly contour and a sculpted heel so the access to the 22 fret is effortless.
(Some pictures are of the "Workhorse" prototype, which was a three piece body, all production "Workhorses" will be/are one piece bodies)
Rist Custom Guitars
