ABOUT GOLDTONE GUITARS

At Goldtone Guitars, our mission is to create an instrument that's the best representation of you.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship

Goldtone Guitars started in 2008, in partnership with renowned Bay Area Luthier, Gary Brawer. Gary owned a guitar repair shop in San Francisco, CA with well-known clients all over the world. The shop also had one of the first Plek machines in the US. Jeff was a regular in the shop, and one day he floated the idea to Gary of building some guitars together. That’s how Goldtone was born.   

From the beginning, Jeff envisioned a guitar company that combined exceptional craftsmanship with a personalized experience. Customers could be as involved in the design process as they wanted, choosing from the finest components and materials available.  Many of Goldtone’s earliest instruments included vintage gold foil pickups, which Jeff had a plentiful source of. This is largely how the company became known as “Goldtone”. One of our first customers coined the name “Goldtone” after falling in love with the rich, vintage tone of these pickups—and the name stuck.   

Today, Goldtone Guitars is based in Olympia, WA, the city where Jeff grew up and developed his passion for music. Olympia has long been a vibrant music community, and the state of Washington is home to many big names in the guitar industry (ie: Lollar Pickups, TV Jones, Warmoth, Best Guitar Parts, Riggio Guitars, Nash Guitars, Mike Lull Basses, and many more).

Being surrounded by this creative energy fuels our commitment to tone, innovation, and artistry.

In 2024, in partnership with life-long friend John Shultz, a sister company was launched - Tone Lab Amplification. TLA builds custom speaker cabinets, isolation cabs, guitar display cases, music rooms and studios, and does tolex repair work. Similar to Goldtone, most of our projects are done on a custom basis with input on design and materials from our customers.

What We Stand For

While some things have changed over the years, many things have remained the same:

• Small production numbers with an intense focus on quality

• Customer-inspired designs that reflect your own vision

• Premium components and hand-selected materials

• Best-in-class production techniques

• Continuous innovation in tone, form and function

• Responsive, personal customer service

• An unrelenting focus on making the best possible instruments 

Find Your Sound

Whether you’re after a one-of-a-kind custom build or simply finding your perfect tone, Goldtone Guitars is here to help you create something truly exceptional.