Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Tundra Man?
Where is Tundra Man Custom Guitars located?
How long will it take to receive my guitar after ordering?
How much will my guitar cost?
Do you dislike CNC?
How are Tundra Man necks constructed?
What kind of warranty do Tundra Man guitars have?
What if I receive my instrument and don't like it?
Do you make acoustic guitars?
Will my Tundra Man guitar be perfect?
Is Tundra Man Custom Guitars a Christian company?

Who is the Tundra Man?

The "Tundra Man" is actually Terry Mashek, founder and owner of Tundra Man Custom Guitars. His wife gave him that nickname shortly after they got married, and it stuck.

Where is Tundra Man Custom Guitars located?

We are located on the frozen plains of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We don't have an actual "store front" to our shop, as most of our business is done via mail order. If you're in the area and would like to talk with us face-to-face, however, we can arrange that.

How long will it take to receive my guitar after ordering?

That can depend on a lot of things, but primarily on how backlogged we are when the order is placed. Once construction of a guitar begins, it usually takes around three months to complete depending on how complicated the instrument will be. Please note that we do not promise "hard" delivery dates or try to meet deadlines. Trying to rush our work is asking for mistakes. Most customers agree that they're rather wait a little longer to get a quality instrument.

How much will my guitar cost?

Because we don't have any "stock" models and build each instrument to the individual specifications of the customer, we cannot list prices. Each instrument design has to be evaluated to determine it's cost, and will fluctuate depending on what hardware, materials and features are desired. We cannot (nor do we attempt to) compete price-wise with the Asian mass-produced guitar market. We believe, however, that our prices are very competitive when compared with other US based custom builders. To find out how much the guitar of your dreams will cost, use our online quote form.

Do you dislike CNC?

No. CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines have their place in modern manufacturing environments. CNC and other assembly line machines can produce deadly accurate, completely repeatable, high-volume work. Our company is not about high-volume. We are more interested in creating one of a kind, individually hand crafted instruments. We love the feel of a hand plane gliding across wood, so at this point we do not employ CNC machines. This doesn't mean I dislike them, just that we don't use them.

How are Tundra Man necks constructed?

We pride ourselves in our neck construction. All of our necks are made from multiple laminations of wood to increase rigidity and decrease the chances of warpage. In addition, we use carbon fiber rods to further increase neck stability. These rods do not add any additional weight to the instrument and, pound for pound, are stronger than steel. In addition to the strength benefits, carbon fiber rods do a great deal to enhance the sound of the instrument and prevent "dead spots" on the neck. If that weren't enough, we also incorporate "two way" truss rods that offer both forward and backward adjustment. If you've ever had an instrument neck still not have enough relief even with the truss rod completely loose, you'll appreciate this feature!

What kind of warranty do Tundra Man guitars have?

Your Tundra Man Custom Guitar is covered by a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase. Normal wear, abuse, damage caused by temperature extremes and broken strings are not covered.

What if I receive my instrument and don't like it?

We are certain that you will be pleased with your instrument. If on the off-chance, however, that you are not 100% satisfied, notify us within seven days of receiving the instrument and we will gladly refund your money. Returned instruments must be undamaged and in saleable condition. Note that this policy cannot apply to instruments that have extreme personalized touches (i.e. inlaid names). With these instruments, the customer will be refunded their total purchase price once the instrument sells to another customer.

Do you make acoustic guitars?

At this point in time we do not. Our love and passion is for the electric guitar. While we enjoy acoustic guitars too, we prefer to focus our efforts in the electric instrument realm.

Will my Tundra Man guitar be perfect?

I am reminded of a fundamental truth I learned in the 11th grade: "Any two seemingly identical items measured to a fine enough degree will eventually vary." The word "perfect" is a very subjective term. What one person considers to be perfect can be flawed in another's eyes. None of our guitars are perfect. Any hand-built instrument (or machine built, for that matter) will have minor variances and imperfections that leap out at one person, and are indiscernible by another. Being an imperfect human, I am incapable of making a perfect guitar. We do not want to produce junk, however, so our guitars are not shipped with what a reasonable person would perceive as obvious flaws or gross imperfections.

Is Tundra Man Custom Guitars a Christian company?

Terry Mashek is a follower of Christ and has done his best to found the company on biblical principles such as honesty and integrity. He strives to run his business in a manor that will bring glory to God. It is understood that not every customer shares his same set of beliefs, and we are not out to use our business to "convert the world". At the same time, there are some things that we will not do based on our religious convictions (i.e. inlay swastikas).