The guitar in this demo is an illustrative double-cutaway electric with a carved, figured top. Choose a finish and right- or left-handed, and the summary is ready to send as a build request.
Buyers of this style of guitar pay close attention to the top. Translucent finishes such as sunburst and cherry let the figure in the wood show through, and the depth of that figure varies from one board to the next. The double cutaway and 24-fret neck matter to lead players who spend their time in the upper register. Most of the decision, though, comes down to which finish makes the grain look its best.
Music Configurator demo
Double-Cut Electric
- Product
- Double-Cut Electric
- Colour
- Sunburst
- Hand
- Right
Illustrative product. The design and images are generated examples, not a real model for sale.
What you can configure
The demo includes sunburst, cherry, dark green and faded blue from a range of six, with amber and charcoal held back. All four images share one angle, so the figured grain under gloss lacquer and the pearl inlays along the 24-fret fretboard can be compared directly. Hand is selectable as right or left. Choosing left records the order correctly, but the photo remains right-handed until a production build adds a true left-hander.
- Colour: Sunburst, Cherry, Dark Green, Faded Blue
- Hand: Right, Left
Why a configurator suits guitars
Figured-top electrics are often sold one instrument at a time. Each top is different, and serious buyers want to see the one they will own. That puts the retailer in a bind: a configurator suits made-to-order builds, while in-stock guitars need individual photography. A generic studio top will not satisfy someone comparing flame across three guitars.
The best builds handle both. The configurator shows the finish on a representative top for anyone ordering from the maker. Alongside it, any matching instruments already in stock appear with their own photographs and serial numbers. A buyer who chose faded blue can see the three faded blue guitars on the wall, or order a fourth.
For custom shops, the configurator becomes the order form. Finish, hand and further options such as hardware colour or pickups arrive as structured data, ready for the workshop. Left-handed builds, which shops rarely stock, become a normal option with an honest lead time rather than a special request that needs a phone call.
How a production version would be built
A figured-top electric benefits from real photography, because grain does not survive recolouring. I would shoot one representative guitar per finish, right-handed, then a left-handed version of each where the maker builds them. CAD renders are an alternative if the maker has accurate models and good scanned wood textures. The retailer supplies finish names, available hands, lead times, and a stock feed with serial numbers and photos for individual guitars. For larger custom shops, a 3D guitar configurator can swap hardware and pickups as well as finishes.
Build sheet for this range
- Colours in the full range: 6 (4 shown in this demo)
- Hand choices: 2
- Combinations to support: 6 × 2 = 12
- Images for one photograph per combination at 3 angles: 36
- Images if hands can be shown as separate layers, at 3 angles: 24
- Data each of the 12 combinations needs: a SKU or variant ID, price, stock or lead time, and any dimensions or specification that change
Questions about guitar configurators
Can the configurator show the actual figured top a buyer will receive?
For in-stock guitars, yes. Each serial-numbered instrument is listed with its own photographs, filtered by the finish the buyer chose. For made-to-order builds, the configurator shows a representative top and states that figure varies. Some makers let buyers choose from a set of photographed top boards before the guitar is built.
Can hardware colour and pickups be added as options?
Yes. On an image-based build, hardware is a separate transparent layer, so chrome, nickel or black can sit over any finish. Pickups and covers work the same way. The combinations multiply quickly, so layering is the only practical approach once there are more than two or three option groups.
How should left-handed builds and lead times be handled?
Treat left-handed as a normal option with its own lead time stored in the product data. The buyer sees the delay when they select it, not after paying. If certain finishes are not offered left-handed, the configurator greys them out with a note, which is clearer than a blanket statement on the page.
Is it worth showing faded finishes differently from fresh gloss colours?
Yes. Faded finishes are meant to look played-in, so the colour varies across the body and the grain reads differently beneath it. A single flat swatch undersells them. A close-up of the top, and ideally a short rotating clip, shows how faded blue sits over the figure far better than one still image.
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A configurator for your guitars
This demo uses an illustrative product. If you sell guitars, I can build the same experience around your own range, photography and ordering process, connected to Shopify, WooCommerce or a quote workflow. I reply to enquiries within two UK working days.