Unlike many builders you see on the Destroy All Guitars website, all guitars from Longbottom are strictly MADE TO ORDER, built by hand, and are fully custom to your specifications. This is one of the areas where Destroy All Guitars shines - because of our decades of experience guiding folks to their dream guitar we are the perfect go-between to manage your custom build. The lead time on full custom builds is usually 15-20 weeks - this is from receipt of first deposit through to completion.
All Longbottom builds utilize the following:
- Hand picked, premium woods for both the neck and body, special woods can be sourced too
- Pickups from Sunbear, Radioshop, Bare Knuckle (or pickups of your choice)
- CTS pots, P.I.O caps, Switchcraft electronics
- Gotoh, Wudtone, Callaham or Wilkinson hardware
- Your choice of fretboard radius 7.5”, 9.5” or 12”
- Color choices from one of England’s best bodywork and finishing workshops
- All guitars are finished in a traditional spec nitrocellulose lacquer that ages over time to give a natural patina of vintage checking and true vintage wear, hard wearing modern polyurethane finishes are also available on request
- All full custom builds come with a Hiscox hard case included in the price
Popular Upgrades:
- Roasted maple neck: $45
- Sunburst or multicolour finish: $115
- Candy finish: $215
- Callaham trem upgrade: $130
- Body binding: from $115
- Compound radius fretboard - $130
The model described below should be considered a possible starting point for your Longbottom guitar. When you're ready to discuss and order your instrument - CALL US TO ORDER.
The Gordini is Karl Longbottom Guitars’ unique take on the classic double-cut, drawing inspiration from the Alpine model to create a fresh yet familiar aesthetic. The lower half of the Gordini mimics the Alpine shape, but the upper horn is extended fractionally to improve balance, especially while standing. Double-cut guitars are known for their effortless upper-fret access, and the Gordini takes this even further with its roomy cutaways. With a 24 ⅝” scale length, offering the an even slinkier feel of compared to a 24.75” scale guitar, it manages to feel both familiar and new. True to Karl Longbottom Guitars’ ethos, the Gordini features refinements like an arm chamfer, belly cut, and rolled fingerboard, making it as comfortable to play as it is visually striking.
Tonewoods & Construction
Crafted from cedrela, the Gordini benefits from qualities similar to old-growth mahogany—lightweight, resonant, and full-bodied. It takes nitrocellulose finishes beautifully, resulting in a stunning high-gloss look. The set-neck construction draws inspiration from 1950s and '60s Kalamazoo guitars, providing enhanced sustain and resonance. Combined with a rolled Indian rosewood fretboard, Jescar fret wire, and mother of pearl dot inlays, the playing experience is both smooth and intuitive.
The best hardware is used to make sure that your guitar is always at its best. Longbottom's first port of call would be a PAF style humbucker for this guitar. The best PAFs are clear and articulate, offering the warmth and punch of a P90 without the hum. These pickups are incredibly versatile and have been responsible for some of the most iconic guitar tones of the past 60 years.The small details add up and that's why Longbottom uses Paper In Oil Caps, CTS Pots and Switchcraft Jack and control switch.
- Body: cedrela, high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
- Neck: cedrela, lacquer finish, traditional truss rod
- Measurements: 24.5/8” scale length.22.5mm at 1st fret, 23.5mm at 12th fret, 42.5mm width bone nut
- Fretboard: Indian rosewood or ebony, 12”, medium jumbo fret wire, mother of pearl dot inlays
- Construction: slab body carved, set neck, offering improved sustain
- Hardware: one-piece aluminium wrap-around bridge
- Pickups: PAF humbucker set
- Electronics: CTS taper pots, Paper in Oil capacitors, Switchcraft output jack and switch