Pot / Atlas Guitars Enquiry

[worldwithoutlines]

Hello guys,

Before I start asking questions I would love to say that this might be another one of those 'why don't you call 'shop name and ask?' kind of questions. It's pretty disappointing that at times I post stuff to enquire about that is really urgent (to me) and there is no reply at all. Probably impatience, my bad. I don't know why I would even come up with a disclaimer in the first place, but this might just be one of the most important threads I were to open because I'm going to spend quite a sum of money this time round and things really need to be precise. Enough of all that. I love this forum, really. Learnt a lot of things from it actually.

I have been saving up for an ATLAS guitar (handmade guitar shop based in Thailand; site www.guitarandpickup.com). I am very surprised when I looked at their flawless craftsmanship, thus I have been saving up to get something like a PRS CUSTOM 24 (I am a big fan of Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree by the way) and have tried the guitar personally and it sounds and feels really awesome. Looking at the price tags on PRS Guitars it's a tad ridiculous and I know I wouldn't splurge so much money on a guitar, at least not now ($3000 is a lot of food, really).

From what I know of, Guitar 77 does have custom guitars under the name POT. Is this the same company as Atlas? I don't know whether I should go through Guitar 77 or contact the Atlas guys themselves. I've emailed them several weeks ago but to no avail. One fine day I'll make a call to their shop and inquire (NS life is really killing me I hardly have time to go out) and it's a little hard for me so I hope you guys would understand. I do a lot of stuff online in camp.

I want to know what are your views on Atlas guitars, or Pot guitars for that matter. I couldn't find much information about them, but I know Mr Paul Danial here uses a Pot guitar . Also if I could get more information on similar type of good PRS copies and stuff would be good. Am I able to custom it to my own specifications or just go with whatever is on their site/premade? Also roughly the price range I were to spend to get one.

I would really appreciate all the inputs given, I believe everyone has this point of time in their life to get a custom guitar. I just want mine to be a pleasurable one. Thank you so much and really sorry for the long ass post and futile disclaimer above.

 

[lightice]

For these custom builders in Thailand, their used/pre-owned value depreciates as much as 50-60% from their initial cost.

Besides what you mentioned, NNG is another brand of custom made guitars from Thailand.

To really know what you want in a custom guitar will need a lot of trying different combination of hardware and woods. I believe hands on experience is the only way to really know what you want.

The only problem is that if you order it, and when it does arrive you find that it lacks something and decide to sell it off... bummer.

 

[fibredrive]

Orangeguitar has their version called Uno as well. Thai hand made but i dunno from which shop. might wanna check with wai kay too. as mentioned, the problem with your own custom guitar is the huge loss you gonna make if you try to sell it off.

i've only tried one Pot in G77 before. but i went the other custom route (warmoth) for a little lesser and more variety and flexibility (i.e. wanna swap your mahogany neck in future? no prob..).

it is immensely satisfying (to me) to customise your own guitar. the process and the product are both a joy. but must be patient. hehe. ok i digress. sorry. hope other forumners can help you with your quest. cheers

 

[edder]

Most of the time when I ask the person to call the shop and ask is when the person comes into the forum and ask "HOW MUCH and AVAILABILITY of the product at blah blah XXXX".

The best people to answer that kind of questions is obviously... The Shop(tm)(r)(pat pend)

Your question is totally legit and i doubt it'll ever get the call the shop answer. Most of the guitars I've seen from the Thai builders are pretty excellent, esp the NNGs but lightice is absolutely right about the resale price. If you wanna go custom, make sure you know what you really really really really want or there'll be a lot of $$$ wasted.

Oh and btw, Paul Danial is a massive guitarist, give him any guitar and he'll sound good but there must be a reason why he choose POT. In case if he doesn't come in here, you may wanna pm him for his input on POT.