Testimonials from Satisfied Customers

DR.Z STANG RAY

Lance,

I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for all the help you've been! The Dr. Z Stang Ray was the right choice! I had made my mind up before I even got to your place that I was going to buy the Prescription ES. I just "knew" I had to have it. But, you listened to me play...asked me what kind of stuff I was going to be playing down in Nashville...and suggested that I try the Stang Ray. You were SO right! It's the perfect match for the style of music and the equipment I own.

You don't get this kind of service anywhere else. They'll just sell you anything...but you actually try to help the customer get what they need! Imagine that!! That's now 2 amps, 1 cab, 1 guitar and several pedals I've bought from you. And once I get settled in Nashville...I'll buy even more! I have absolutely no doubt that you'll always lead me in the right direction!

Terry M.

SUHR CUSTOM ARCHTOP

Lance,
I wanted to send along another thank you after spending time with the
Suhr Custom Archtop I ordered from you recently. I appreciate your
input on the specs when ordering...your suggestions turned out to be
dead on!
This guitar has exceeded my expectations in every way; it has become
my go to axe whenever I hit the music room, or go to band rehearsal.
The other guitarist in our band played it the other night at
rehearsal, and was slack jawed afterward. He is pretty finicky about
what he likes, but he most definitely digs the Custom Archtop! He
told me that this guitar has the best split coil tones of any
humbucker guitar he's ever played. He also thought the neck and
fretwork were absolutely stunning. My friend hardly ever uses that
sort of language about guitars, so I feel that we hit the nail on the
head with this beautiful instrument. Of course, shipping and
attention to packing details were much appreciated as well. This
makes my 2nd (but not last) Suhr...believe it.
I have a gig upcoming in a week, and will be taking the new Suhr for
primary duty. I'll keep you in the loop...and am certain that there
will be another Suhr in my future!
Keep up the good work, my friend.

Steve W.

Dr.Z Amps

Lance,
Just wanted to write a quick summary of my experience with your shop and the Dr. Z amp binge I've been on over the last year. I was turned on to Z amps by a buddy of mine, and I found your shop through Z's website. The whole thing started by ordering a Carmen Ghia combo right before Christmas. Sure enough, you turned the order around in less than 2 weeks, and so my obsession with Z amps began. A few months later I decided to add the MAZ Jr. NR model, and again received excelent customer service from you. Then I went overboard and got a Mini Z (thanks for the help), a StangRay, and RxES all in about 6 months of each other. You were extremely helpful in getting these amps in quickly and answering all of my questions concerning tone and what I was looking for in an amp. Right now, I can finally say I'm 100% satisfied with my rig. I use the Ghia and MAZ for lower volume situations and smaller gigs, and the StangRay and RxES for the larger areas. I've got the tone I've always had in my head and never been able to get thanks to you and Dr. Z amps. Your service and willingness to help the customer on a one-on-one basis has turned me into a lifetime customer. Thank you again for all your help in allowing me to build my dream rig.

Sincerely,
Matt L.

Mcnaught Phoenix

Hey Lance,

I just wanted to let you know that I finally had a chance to check the guitar through my rig and recording system................it's freaking amazing! It's the only guitar other than a Gibson that has been able to do "my" sound and I've tried them all over the years. I am very happy, please tell Dave that I am truly blown away.

Take care,

Jon Schaffer

ICED EARTH

Mcnaught Singlecut Junior

Hi Lance
I've only been home from my trip abroad for a couple of hours but, as you would expect, my first priority was to open the box and see my new baby. It's difficult to commit to buying a new guitar without having the opportunity to see or play the instrument and 12 weeks ago I had never even heard of McNaught. However, I have to say that when I opened the case the quality of the craftsmanship on the guitar was a real surprise. None of the photos I had seen prepared me for the real thing. It is absolutely wonderful. I have only had a small amount of time to try the guitar at some low volumes in my home but the versatility of the guitar is everything I hoped for. The neck is a joy - the guitar is ultra playable. Tomorrow it will get fired up at a band rehearsal - I cannot wait.
Finally, I thank you sincerely for dealing with my order in such a professional and personal way. I have had guitars from all over the UK but I have never been treated better than by yourself. When funds permit I will certainly talk to you again about another McNaught.
Many thanks
Tony

Suhr Carve top

Hey Ray, hope all is well, just wanted to drop you a quick note and let you know the Suhr is fantastic, the more I look at it the better it looks. I think it's
the best playing guitar I've owned. The birds eye museum grade neck is amazing and was worth every penny. It's a pleasure to do business with you.
Thanks again for everything.
Rick W.

GENE BAKER B3 FIRE #51

Thanks to Lance at Rays Guitars I have been able to sample the reinvention of Baker as B3 guitars.
Gene has returned with a vengeance !!!!!! This is actually my second B3. I got a an Earth model (his flat top Jr. style model) a few weeks ago and I love it. But this is his carved maple top model he calls Fire. As you can see in the pix, this is one exceptional looking guitar. And the reason I am spamming you all with this needless email. With the subtle honeyburst stain just accenting the superior eastern flame maple top, it is stunning in person. The mineral deposits in the top and the spaulting make this guitar a real individual in the galaxy of thousands of flame topped beauties. This is one of his Korina bodied Fire guitars he is making. This is #51, the last of the bunch. The body is finished in an aged cherry, a perfect and classic complement to the burst top. The head stock has an ebony overlay. And the fingerboard....ohh the fingerboard, is one of the most gorgeous pieces of Brazilian rosewood I’ve ever seen.
Okay so it looks stunning (IMHO) , but does it perform at that level. It is loaded with two Wolfetone Dr. Vintage pickups. I hadn’t heard these Wolfetone pickups until a friend brought over his Historic Les Paul Custom a few weeks ago. I was mightily impressed. Although he had a model called Marshallheads installed in the LP, I knew these Dr. Vintage models had a good chance of being as cool as them. I have to say.....the bridge pickup is the closest I’ve ever heard to a real good PAF. This pickup has that “click” that PAFs have. In addition, when turned down to a rhythm volume there seems to be a slightly out of phase tone almost Tele bridge meets a good Strat in the bridge/middle position. This guitar has a very individual sound. I could tell in the first 10 seconds of plugging it in. This I might say is my fav bridge humbucker tone I’ve ever owned. I guess that’s worth the price of admission alone. The neck pickup is also very cool, low output, clear and clean. Not as individual as the bridge pickup but very nice and sweet. Through my 66’ Bassmaster with a 2x12 Vox cab with Celestion Golds, this guitar gave up all the goods. I was able (with the twist of the volume controls) to achieve some quacky country stylings, smooth blues rhythm, chimey pop chords, stinging blues/rock solos and vicious, snarly rock tones. Can you tell I’ll be spankin’ this plank for some time to come?
In conclusion, this is an expensive bit of wood and metal but...........what price glory? :^)
It was worth every penny. Well actually I traded into it. But if I had spent the money, it would have been worth it. ;^) Thanks Lance for another great guitar.
Cheers
Pete

Mcnaught Vintage Singlecut:

WOW. Where do you start? It has to be the finish. First off let me say that I have handled and played (rather poorly) a lot of handmade "Boutique" guitars. NONE compare to the finished product of David Thomas McNaught! EVERY aspect of guitar making is exemplary on the single cut Vintage series I received. The contour of the neck is a perfect soft V, very similar to a Clapton contour. The headstock design is a work of art by itself (I am pretty critical on headstock shapes). The body and neck, solid Mahogany, the best materials for guitars (in my humble opinion). The Maple cap on the body, one word BRILLIANT! One of the best flamed maple tops I have ever seen and the color Butterscotch, is very cool. I am very happy to own the first of this unique color. This is without a doubt the best "Les Paul" style guitar I have ever played. And speaking of playing. When I plugged in, this guitar came to life. It is effortless. The guitar is setup better than ANY new guitar I have seen. The action is setup "shredder" style. So low, you look at it and it makes tone. That may not be everyone's style but it is easier to raise a low action, than it is lower a high action (without getting string buzz). Now onto the sound. The Direct mount Rio Grande pickups are truly great pickups. I was very skeptical out them at first (being a Seymour Duncan fan), but every time I hear this guitar, I just smile. :-) And their tapped, bonus! The Tone Pros Tune-o-matic bridge. It's about time somebody came up with this idea for production, it's fantastic. I love this guitar and would commit genocide if it was ever stolen. I am definitely saving for the double cut. All of my other guitars are obsolete. If DTM needs a big fat posterchild, count me in!!!

Dave Kalfayan

A very satisfied McNaught owner

Mcnaught Vintage Doublecut:

I have been playing guitar for over 30 years and throughout my musical career I have been searching for the ultimate guitar. Lord knows, I have gone thru many, ask my wife. I fell in love with alot of them but eventually "the thrill was gone," and I moved on to another guitar. I'm happy and proud to say that my search has finally ended about six months ago. I bought a Vintage Double-Cut, David Thomas McNaught . It is truly the "ultimate" guitar! The workmanship is flawless, the attention to detail is phenomenal, and the playability is outstanding. DTM has taken the art of guitar making to its highest level!!! Oh yeah, Did I mention TONE? I haven't found anything that compares and I have been lucky enough to own some very impressive guitars. This baby does it all. I am basically a blue's lead guitarist but I am 100% confident that I could play any style of music with this instrument and be totally impressed with its performance. Let's talk about VALUE. I have had guitars that have cost substantially more than my DTM and I no longer own them. It amazes me that DTM can produce such a fine instrument for the price! Test drive one---you'll know exactly what I'm talking about..........

Bob Halverson

Mcnaught Vintage doublecut:

After having a chance to put my preferred string gauge on and play the Vintage for a little while, here are my thoughts on it: The one-word summary I have is "awesome". This thing fits me like a glove right out of the case. I finally found true appreciation for "hand-made" guitars. Without plugging this thing in, I decided to do a little test run and it rang loud and clear - a good sign!!! The construction on this guitar is top-notch. It just feels SOLID, like driving a BMW if you know what I mean. After getting it tuned, I plugged it in my Bogner Ecstacy and cranked it. Man, what sweet sound came through those speakers! Whether it's the Rio Grande pickups, the wood choice, the construction quality, the amp, or the combination of these things, what I heard was a warm fat tone that doesn't compromise its edge! I am an 80s metal player so I love doing that pinch harmonics stuff and this guitar just screamed right along! The clean sound was phenomenal as well. I did some finger-picking stuff and it sounded huge and clear, almost acoustic-sounding. Did I mention that the sustain on this guitar is unreal? I am absolutely convinced that the combination of "set-thru neck" technology and the fact that the pickups are directly mounted, really work! The only negative experience I had with this guitar was that I couldn't find the right allen wrench to loosen the little black screws to adjust the action. I have a big set of these allen wrenches and I just couldn't find one that would work! perhaps McNaught should ship their guitars with the proper adjustment tools - i.e. trust-rod and bridge stuff. Also, I found that I had to loosen the bridge pickup ring in order to be able to access those little black screws. If I had the right allen wrench, maybe this won't be necessary. Overall though, I found that this guitar worths every penny I paid and totally lives up to all expectations. These guitars cost more for a lot of reasons. You must try one to convince yourself. I was a little hesitant in shelling out the money before but I am so glad I took the chance!!!

Take care, -Vu

Pedal: Rocaforte Bastard Review:

After a long search for the perfect pedal to my rig I came across the path of The Bastard. I've been playing through a 68 Plexi for years and after trying every distortion, overdrive, fuzz etc. pedal on the market, I was convinced that nothing would push the front end of my amp, without loosing the tonal qualities of the plexi. I've tried boutique all tube pedals, that "were designed specifically for use in front of old tube non master amps" to the tune of 500 bucks and found that they sounded no better than the $39.99 special at Guitar Center. I wanted a pedal that would boost the signal of my guitar into the amp, so I could still run my plexi wide open, but have an option for when I wanted a soaring solo, or some heavier crunch. The Bastard does exactly that. It is nothing more than a volume and treble boost that is exactly what the Doctor ordered when it comes to Old Marshall or Hiwatt type amps. In fact any non master volume amp would love this guy.

Aaron Kaleniecki

Mcnaught Limited Edition Tiger #24

Lance,

I love that Tiger guitar!!! That thing brings tears of joy to my eyes! Before plugging in that thing, I gave it a top-to-bottom visual inspection and was extremely impressed with what I saw. The attention to details is unreal! It definitely makes you feel good when you spend a considerable amount of money and then getting something that's more than worthy of the wait and the cash! That Tiger inlay is absolutely perfect and that top - holy cow!!! Looking at that thing is one thing, playing it is another. The whole time I kept thinking that how Dave can possibly make something that beautiful play so easy. That guitar's got tone!!! Anyway, I could go on and on about this guitar but all I can say is go McNaught and I hope he keeps on making guitars for a long long time!!!

-Vu

Mcnaught Vintage singlecut and Zinky encore 1x12 combo

Regarding the professionalism of Ray's Guitars; despite the cigarette burns and coffee-ring stains, I am more than a satisfied customer. I once ordered a guitar from Lance and all I got was a stick in the eye. And I can never forget the time I ordered an amp and all I got was a bag of "dirt weed". But as always, he made it right. The delivery is quick, the products are top-notch. He's the type of dealer that will remember your name and in this age of Guitar Super Centers, that is worth a whole heck of a lot. If you don't end up happy with your transaction, it's your fault.

Neil Fallon

Clutch

Mcnaught Vintage Doublecut:

I have one complaint about this guitar. I should have bought one SOONER!

Randy Bolin

2002 David Thomas McNaught Vintage Singlecut

Hello Lance,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line about the used 2002 David Thomas McNaught Vintage Singlecut, Peacock Blue guitar I just purchased from you. Calling the guitar used is almost a crime as it is in new condition. I have purchased a few new guitars that were not as clean as this one. The guitar it self is really a work of art. The guitar looks great and plays even better. I don't care how good it looks if it plays/sounds bad. This one really sounds/plays better than any "Les Paul" style guitar I have ever played, hands down. David's attention to detail is second to none. I could not find a single flaw in the guitar and I looked hard. This is not the first high end/boutique guitar I have purchased but it is the finest. I don't need to go on - you are familiar enough with the guitars. I have not put it down for 3 days! A special thanks for you too for how you handled the whole transaction. I emailed you on Monday morning we worked out the details Monday night, I overnighted a check to you on Tuesday and I received the guitar on Friday. It was a perfect and easy transaction - you are a true professional - Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bob Szurley

Hi Lance,

As time is passing by, I just realized I forgot to thank you for the Mcnaught. the guitar arrived two weeks ago, and as expected, is an astounding instrument, with a wonderfull neck and tone, not mentionning great wood and craftmanship. this guitar is by far surpassing my expectations and I am in the process of selling a few guitars who have now become obsolete. Thanks a bunch for your time and great cooperation. A good part of my guitar dreams have now become true.

Regards,

Oli

Hi Lance,

I picked up my McNaught Signature carve top Tele last night. It's the most fantastic guitar I've played, I was expecting great things but this guitar has exceeded them all. A great guitar is all about tone and playability and nothing comes close to this. The Set-Thru neck does exactly as promised, the guitar has an acoustic tone that has to be heard to be believed, I was awe struck by it's clarity, volume and that sweet, sweet tone. Plugged in it doesn't disappoint. On clean amp settings it can handle anything from jazz to blues to funk, the piezo adds a level of jangle to satisfy anyone wanting an electro acoustic sound and then some. Kick in the distortion and this thing rocks, fantastic tone and sustain but it retains an individual flavour, a special something hard to describe, you've got to hear it to believe it. It was set up perfectly straight out of the box; the action is super fast without ever feeling like it's going to rattle or choke. The neck is like silk, the fret board outstanding and the quality of the workmanship on this guitar is without doubt the best I've ever experienced (and I've owned a few guitars believe me !!) Looks are a subjective thing and the least important part of the equation; having said that I now carry a picture of my DTM in my wallet. What a stunning looking creation, PRS private stock will never get a look in compared to this!! Please feel free to post the picture on the sold section of your site (let me know when it's there).

Thanks for your help with this Lance it's been well worth the wait,

You'll be hearing from me again,

Marco