Testimonials
Striking a chord with every player…
"I wasn't sure if I should commit to this class at first-it's a big time investment at three hours every Monday night for about a year, and it's not cheap. But I can confidently say it was worth every minute and every penny. Between the hands-on experience and the final result-a beautiful, custom-built guitar- it exceeded my expectations.
T.J., the instructor, is fantastic. He's easy to get along with and explains everything clearly, which is especially helpful if you're new to woodworking. This class is no passive experience; you'll get your hands dirty and learn real skills. Along the way, you'll also become good friends with your c
If you love guitars and have ever dreamed of building one, I can't recommend this class enough. It's an unforgettable experience, and the pride you feel when you finish your guitar is unmatched."
- Dave Shorten
“Building my guitar with T.J. Burch was one of my life's greatest accomplishments. It was challenging, humbling, empowering, and incredibly gratifying. T.J.'s instruction was truly outstanding. He's patient, funny, personable and deeply knowledgeable. When I would inevitably make a mistake, he always had a fix for it, and let me follow my own vision, while making sure I didn't start anything I couldn't complete or that would blow up my budget and timeframe.
Even though I drove from Lexington, some 10,000 miles over the course of the build, the Tuesday class was the highlight of my week for a year. I couldn't wait to see my finished guitar, but now that it's over, I really miss the time spent in the shop.
Ultimately, the money and time spent yielded a beautiful instrument that will only improve through the years. It brings me joy on a daily basis, and will outlast me and become a family heirloom. But what I learned and achieved in T.J. Burch's guitar building class was worth far more than time or money.”
-Steve Cody
This is easily one of the best investments of time and money I've ever made, and I say that even as I acknowledge it took a substantial amount of both. I spent in the neighborhood of 140 hours in the shop (3 hours per week for the better part of a year) and my particular guitar cost roughly $3000 (materials plus instruction). But the finished guitar is without a doubt my most prized possession. It's beautiful, unique, well-built and, above all, by far the highest quality, best-sounding guitar in my home--and I own more than one of the highly regarded brand names in the industry.
TJ knows what the hell he's doing; he is a great craftsman; he is a patient instructor; he is sincere in his intention to send you home with a guitar you can play for the rest of your life and then hand down to someone else when you go.
If you are an experienced woodworker he will guide your build with expert advice. If you are not an experienced woodworker, like me, he will give you the support necessary to get you through. He's also fun to be around! In fact, building a guitar under TJ's tutelage was such a great all-around experience that my teenage boys--as a gift from me--are now building their forever guitars with TJ.
My strong advice: if you are serious about the process and the result: don't take short cuts; don't try to do it on your own; don't buy a kit, for God's sake, thinking it will be good enough. Make the investment in a Burch-guided build so you end up with what you really want--an expertly crafted and beautiful instrument that is fully worthy of your time, money and pride.
- Stephen Owen
When I walked into the Burch Guitar workshop, I had no idea what to expect from a custom guitar. Far from being a professional, I felt a little unworthy. TJ walked me through his workshop, described the process and then allowed me to pick out the tonewood that would eventually be transformed into a new guitar. For the body, I picked padauk with a bright orange hue and a central taupe highlight that was reminiscent of a flame. As I waited for the guitar to be built, TJ would send me pictures to let me see the progress. The big reveal was amazing. Sure it was a beautiful guitar, but it was the thoughtful accents and playability that made it so special. I am a native of Louisville but haven’t lived in the city for 23 years. The fleur de lis mother of pearl inlay on the fretboard reminds me of my hometown every time I pick the instrument up. Having my last name at the neck joint turned the guitar into an heirloom piece that I hope to pass on to my son. Most importantly, however, was the absolute playability of the instrument. TJ understood how I like to play, and set the guitar up to my preferences. The action was set lower but amazingly ,the instrument retained a full and resonant sound. Over the years, my Burch has become my “go to” guitar. I no longer have a need to toggle between my hollow body electric guitars and my acoustic guitar because my Burch acoustic offers nearly equivalent playability with a naturally amplified, beautiful full tone. I am so grateful to TJ for a guitar that I will cherish for years to come.
- C. Brennan Fitzpatrick
I knew what I wanted when I started the process. TJ worked with me to make that dream a reality. TJ was able to guide me to develop the details that I had not either figured out or even thought of. I couldn’t be more pleased with my guitar in the end. Over the months that we spent making my guitar I learned valuable skills that have served me in the guitar making process as well as outside the wood shop. I’m ready to do it again!
Jonathan Janes
The craftsmanship of the Burch instrument is truly second-to-none and is well worth the investment. I had the pleasure of personally observing T.J. build the Burch 000 he made for me in 2019 – I watched him start the build from the very beginning of the process. From that experience, I can confidently say the final product is an instrument that exceeds expectations on every level. The guitar is truly exceptional—every detail reflects the dedication and skill that T.J. puts into each guitar. The woodwork was immaculate, the finish was flawless, and the overall feel and sound of the guitar illustrated the care and precision involved in its creation.
My guitar sounds unique and full. The tone is rich and balanced – and creates a vibrant sound that is usually only found in larger body guitars. The resonance and durability rivals much higher-end, mass-marketed instruments. The unique voice of this guitar has a quality that I believe would be very hard to match.
This guitar is built to withstand daily household use as well as the rigors of consistent, live performances. I have been using the Burch to play live since it was completed in December 2019. I can attest that the instrument holds up beautifully and has proven to be quite durable. The neck is solid, and the tuning is consistent.
My brother plays live with me and he has played numerous mass-produced models since I acquired the hand-built Burch. I can state without reservation, and I believe he would agree, that my Burch stands alone amongst the other guitars he has tried. In fact, based upon all the factors a player would find important, the Burch has easily surpassed the high-end, highly marketed brands. I believe my Burch acoustic has proven itself to be superior in terms of quality, beauty, sound, character, durability, and playability.
I give my Burch 000 the highest endorsement and I highly encourage anyone interested in exceptional craftsmanship, a one-of-a-kind sound, and a level of durability and quality unique to the market, to make the investment and give the Burch product a try.
To prove what I’m saying, I have recently asked T.J. to build me a new, different model – just because I want another one.
-Mark Hall