Thank you for your interest!
Important Information for Prospective TogaMan GuitarViol Buyers (Patrons)
Please read carefully before inquiring.
The TogaMan GuitarViol is a handmade, boutique instrument built personally by luthier and multi instrumentalist composer Jonathan Wilson. This is NOT a mass-produced or “click-and-ship” product or commodity . Each instrument is crafted one at a time with meticulous attention to detail, (prioritizing playability and sound with the honest vibe of handcraft) drawing on over 30 years of refinement in pursuit of the modern arpeggione (bowed guitar). Even the Arpeggione of 200 years ago was manufacturing resistant by its nature and caveats.
These are NOT generally available off the rack and ready to ship. (It is not a factory, just me building to crate and shipping). They have to be built and are built to order. This process can span months (6-18 depending conditions). The base project rate is $7777.77 broken into three rounds of $2592.59 (Initiation/mid/set-up) Crating and shipping costs (or applicable taxes/California) and optional pickup system TBD added to third round. $2592.59 initiates the build. NOTE: This status is subject to change as I may be scrubbing this structure all together. Anybody adding to queue will be locked in at current rate.
In rare cases, POP_UP (Exhibition) models can happen (though sold at a 20% + premium at once when available) Otherwise, it is the project queue (non transferable, and no refunds. mutual risk). follow my substack and IG for heads – up on rare Pop-ups. Again, these are one of a kind works of art within the 10x design mold.
Production Reality
Demand for these instruments has consistently exceeded output for more than 24 years. Because they are built by one person, backlogs are normal. Typical wait times have ranged from around 9 months to as long as 3–4 years (or more) depending on workload, custom elements, and external factors. These are not arbitrary delays — they reflect the hands-on nature of true artisanal lutherie in a chaotic dispensation of time.
Recent Changes in Operations
In the early 2020s (even prior 2016 commercial space leaps with complex headwinds) , an attempt was made to scale up production with a dedicated shop space and additional help. Unfortunately, this effort coincided with a perfect storm of challenges: regulatory issues, the global pandemic, severe supply-chain disruptions, and a significant downturn in the film/TV/media industry (the primary customer base for many GuitarViols). These force-majeure events made sustaining a larger operation unsustainable.
As a result, the Valencia CA. commercial shop was closed in early 2025. Production has returned to a small-scale, home-based setup. Jonathan continues to build instruments personally, focusing on quality over quantity while also balancing his work as a nonfiction narrative writer on Substack – his voice to text rants from morning iPhone walks, cautionary tales and creative encouragement. In the past playing music, gigging, and recording was his passion. Given the events of the last decade or two, he has a vision trajectory for a multidisciplinary talent rescue forge called Sparrow Haven and is seeking cofounders for that Fiction to become reality. For the indefinite meantime, he continues daily work on his unique hemp composite instrument craft whenever operating conditions harmonize with wildly unpredictable weather (the elements the bigger climate controlled shops kept out) and variable human energy consistent with a quarter century of relentless (vacations be damned) work pace and age.
Production & Delivery Expectations
Expediting, precise estimated time of delivery (ETD), or firm deadlines are NOT possible. (Those anxious “how is my instrument coming along?” emails…)
Prior to the 2020s, estimated build times were based on more than 10 years (at at time) of consistent, real life data that used to give a ballpark average. (Even that could be rocky when disruptions compounded with ripple effects across a row of dominoes and precarious Jenga Priority tower). That semi-predictability ended during the scale-up attempt in the early 2020s. No well-crafted business plan could have overcome the unprecedented combination of challenges that occurred. Pivoting back to small-scale, one-person production was the only viable option.
Because only one maker is involved, exact delivery dates cannot be guaranteed in advance. Build timelines are, once again, based on the realities of solo artisanal work rather than scaled production. Backlogs remain the norm due to steady demand that has exceeded output for over 24 years. What the public does not see is the intense Priority Jenga tower where all dilemmas are at the expense of the whole.
What This Means for You
– Patience is essential. These instruments are made to order in small batches or project waves, not kept in inventory.
– Timelines can shift due to the one-man process, material availability, and the need for thorough testing and setup.
– Custom features beyond the established core 10X design are limited; the focus remains on the proven model that has been featured in countless major film, TV, and game scores.
– Serious inquiries are welcomed, but please understand that responses and build slots are managed around active production.
– This is more of a longtime patron crowdfunding model where the risk is mutual. (Not click n ship commodities). There is no reverse gear, no changing of minds, no refunds — only forward motion! If you are really a fan, this process will suit you. If you just want a commodity with a firm timeline, this is not for you.
If you are seriously interested in acquiring a TogaMan GuitarViol, we recommend:
Following Jonathan’s Substack and Instagram (@togaman_guitarviols) for the latest updates on availability and occasional random pop-up one-of-a-kind pieces of art that are available for sale but not transferable to build queue (because it feeds the wounded fly wheel input of the last several years).
Reaching out via the contact form or phone (818-268-5602 – leave message or text) with thoughtful questions.
These instruments have earned a dedicated following among composers and players for their unique tone, ergonomics, and versatility. However, they are built with care and limited capacity — not speed. Buyers who enter the process with realistic expectations and mutual respect tend to have the most positive experience.
Thank you for your understanding and interest in the TogaMan GuitarViol. We look forward to hearing from those who share the passion for this unique instrument!
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Has Wilson ever attempted to license the GuitarViol to bigger manufacturers?
Yes, Jonathan was, in fact, approached. (several times). In the end they backed off because they were daunted by tooling investment and an unknown quantity/market. (Wilson was on his own!)
Does Wilson take on apprentices?
Yes, and some who built with me in the past have gone into their own remarkable careers! This is only for the sincere and talented! For Santa Clarita adjacent interns interested in craft and multidisciplinary interests. Reach out
Does Wilson do sessions?
No WFH sessions or sample libraries. Co-publishing collabs considered but Wilson’s limited bandwidth and logistics notwithstanding. These days, it’s a stretch (No Protools boot-up since 2014).
Are there other makers building comparable instruments?
Generally pale copycats but they don’t understand or respect the wisdom and scar tissue of well over four decades’ journey blazing the trails taking the scrapes thorny bushes; helping themselves. Jonathan is still the Film composer’s secret weapon. There are oodles of new emerging Arpeggione fretted cello makers – Jonathan started at at time when the Dewey decimal system was the pre internet Google and, back then, virtually nobody gave a damn about Arpeggiones (or thought they were a stupid idea – they mocked). He went and built his dream instrument anyway.
Does Wilson make affordable entry models?
It’s not fancy materials – it’s the high skill low margin man hours that kill it. Dumbing it down was never an option. It would require offshore factories and massive investment just to start that process. Nobody stepped up to the plate.
Does he do custom, multi-scales etc? Bass models?
Because of the already overwhelmed bandwidth over capacity on primary model design, there’s simply not enough left in the day. The priority Jenga tower is already precarious and a chronic stress bomb to begin with. Without the support staff and added manpower to keep the clock running – not a priority. The current stack gets the focus.
Does he still build his 2000’s era (solid body) electric models?
The exact patented technology that made the early models work well because of physics involved (special BOWD horizon bridge pickup system (*cant get the sound any other way) in solid bodies became a logistical nightmare=massive bottleneck and paled in comparison to the later models. The menu had to be pared down to one model done really well and too many model varieties compromised. However, new engineering is in the works (on the bench in collab). Stay tuned!
Why doesn’t Wilson just…try harder?
Actually, he’s turning 60 this year and has devoted many decades successfully in the film and TV industry. He has had to address the chronic stress of having a client list predominantly populated by people with IMDb profiles in a culture where delays are not forgiven. Wilson has been the overwhelmed linchpin of the film composer’s secret weapon — also the title of a documentary of the same name.
Why does he not just scale-up?
He tried with all his might in the wrong decade! He’s no longer the younger man with an eager small talented crew. Not anytime soon unless you know some sunset career tech bro (or?) who gets it and brings a team and ample resources for Sparrow Haven.
Is he just being difficult?
No. The realities of one-man artisanal production, decades of chronic stress in a high-pressure industry, and the limits of human bandwidth after turning 60 this year make the current small-scale approach the only sustainable path forward. The focus remains on quality and protecting the energy needed to keep building the instrument that has served as the film composer’s secret weapon for over 24 years.
Will Wilson ever mass produce consumer market versions or license?
After the last attempt nearly killed him, a cat that hopped on a hot stove is not hopping on the cold one either. If the RIGHT meeting came along, the right proposal, support, maybe. Until then, probably no. Big companies that would otherwise be served with good optics and best collaborative licensing versions (Wilson on board) seem to prefer aping his stuff and hope it goes well — Wilson would prefer to be proven wrong and would welcome a meeting with a good fit (preferably a company that respects the decades of R&D that went into it).
More as we go! Working on the next chapter while building away! Appreciate your enthusiasm!
Serious inquiries reach out and follow IG and Subsatck feeds for the latest!
If you want to engage with original maker. please understand the realities and your support is deeply appreciated! I always love hearing from you! And if you are a potential partner with Sparrow Haven do reach out as well!
Have an exceedingly awesome day and STAY inspired. Reach out!
En Theos
Jonathan