Luthier Ed Schaefer studied classical guitar in college while working as a guitar tech at R.B.I. in the early 1970s. The Rhythm Band Instrument Company was a sister company of I.M.C. (International Music Corporation - See Hondo or Charvel/Jackson). Schaefer started producing his own guitars shortly thereafter and has been producing guitars ever since. Schaefer has produced in Texas for many years, except for a brief stint in Duluth, MN between 2003 and 2006.
In April 2008, Schaefer stopped taking commissions for new guitars except for building a few high-end models per year. Due to customer's requests and popular demand, Schaefer began taking limited commissions again in March 2009 and in June 2009, he opened a new shop in Austin, TX. Along with building guitars, Schaefer also offers guitar repairs and a luthier school. Schaefer reminds the customer that each model is only the starting point and several custom options are available. For more information or specific options, visit Schaefer's website or contact him directly.
Instruments currently built in Austin, TX since 2009. Previously built in Hillsboro, TX and Fort Worth, TX until 2003, in Duluth, MN between 2003 and 2006, and in Bastrop, TX between 2007 and 2008.

SCHAEFER GUITARS Electric Guitars Models

SCHAEFER GUITARS CASANOVA Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS CASANOVA

- thinline double cutaway body, quilted or flamed maple top, sides, and back, three-piece maple neck, split-block MOP inlay on fingerboard, gold Grover Deluxe tuners, Art Deco headstock inlay, bound entire guitar, f-holes, pickguard and tai...

SCHAEFER GUITARS ELEGANTE Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS ELEGANTE

- 16 in. or 17 in. archtop bodies, Venetian cutaway, Flamed Maple sides and back, Sitka Spruce top, three-pieced Flamed Maple neck, five- ply bound headstock, three-ply bound Ebony fingerboard, nine-ply bound top and back, three-p...

SCHAEFER GUITARS FREDDY Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS FREDDY

- thinline archtop body, select Sitka spruce or European spruce top, European maple back and sides, two f-holes, three-piece hard rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece, single-ply binding o...

SCHAEFER GUITARS FRED HAMILTON SIGNATURE MODEL Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS FRED HAMILTON SIGNATURE MODEL

- extreme single cutaway archtop body, select Sitka spruce or European spruce top, European maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, single-ply body binding, three-piece flame maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with no inlays, boun...

SCHAEFER GUITARS FRETMASTER Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS FRETMASTER

- single cutaway chambered solid Honduras mahogany body, quilted or flame maple top, three-piece flame maple neck, split-block fingerboard inlays, three-per-side Waverly tuners with ebony buttons, Nashville tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpie...

SCHAEFER GUITARS JAZZ SINGER Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS JAZZ SINGER

- 16 in. or 17 in. archtop body, Venetian cutaway, Flamed Maple back and sides, Sitka Spruce or European Spruce top, three-piece Flamed Maple neck, bound headstock, single-ply bound top and back, single-ply bound Ebony fingerboard, single-p...

SCHAEFER GUITARS MIKE OVERLY CUSTOM Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS MIKE OVERLY CUSTOM

- 16 in. archtop body, Venetian cutaway, Flamed Maple back and sides, Sitka spruce or European spruce top, three-piece Flamed Maple neck, three-ply bound headstock, three-ply bound Ebony fingerboard, three-ply bound top and back, three-ply...

SCHAEFER GUITARS RHYTHMASTER Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS RHYTHMASTER

- 17.75 in. archtop body, select flamed maple sides and back, hand carved top, 3.25 in. sides, three-piece flamed maple neck, split-block inlay on fingerboard, double-action truss rod, gold Grover Deluxe tuners, Art Deco headstock inlay, th...

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 7 Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 7

- seven-string configuration, archtop body, select Sitka spruce or European spruce top, European maple back and sides, two f-holes, three-piece hard rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard, 4/3-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece, thr...

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 15 Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 15

- archtop body, select Sitka spruce or European spruce top, European maple back and sides, two f-holes, three-piece hard rock maple neck, ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece, single-ply binding on the bod...

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 16 Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS SCHAEFER 16

- archtop body, select Sitka spruce or European spruce top, European maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, single-ply body binding, three-piece flame maple neck, 21-fret bound ebony fingerboard with split MOP block inlays, bound headstoc...

SCHAEFER GUITARS SWINGMASTER Image

SCHAEFER GUITARS SWINGMASTER

- 17 in. archtop body, select Sitka Spruce or European spruce top, select aged maple sides and back, hand carved top, 3 in. sides, three-piece hard rock maple neck, solid ebony fingerboard, block inlay on fingerboard, double-action truss ro...