Mark Maneja
7 min read
Peter-John de Villiers had played guitar for 30 years but never carved wood. He turned a beginner kit into a hand-carved, gold-leafed work of art, and walked us through how.
Here at Guitar Kit World, we appreciate the creativity of our DIY community. Every once in a while, a build stands out. That’s exactly what happened when we saw the recent work of Norway-based artist and musician, Peter-John de Villiers (known to his fans on Instagram as @theshallowtree).
Peter-John is a visual artist who stepped out of his comfort zone, merging his artistic expertise with a 30-year passion for playing guitar. The kit he used is the Mahogany TR Guitar Kit with Bolt On Neck, a beginner-level build he treated as a blank canvas: carved by hand, stained, and finished in gold leaf.
What makes his answers worth reading is how little he knew going in. He had never carved wood before, had never touched gold leaf, and by his own account prepared for the carving by watching one minute of a YouTube video.
We talked with Peter-John about where the design came from, how his background as an artist changed the process, and what it feels like to play an instrument you built and decorated yourself.
I'm Mark. I've been playing guitar for more than ten years, and I wanted to know what happens when someone who makes art for a living treats a guitar body as a canvas.
Mark: What made you decide to take on a DIY guitar build in the first place
Peter: I have been playing guitar for almost 30 years now, and knew very little about the mechanics of a guitar, just a player. I had honestly always been a bit nervous about making adjustments to my guitars and left it to the pros. Building a guitar kind of broke down all of those unknowns, and I really enjoyed the process!
If you are weighing up where to start, how to choose the right kit for your skill level and our beginner friendly guitar kits are the two guides we point people to first.
The design drawn straight onto the raw mahogany in pencil, before a single cut was made. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Mark: Why did you choose this specific guitar kit as your canvas?
Peter: Thought it would be fun to explore something new for a change. Also, the body had a great surface area for a piece of artwork.
Mark: As an artist, how does working on a functional, playable instrument differ from working on a traditional canvas?
Peter: Well, a relationship to a guitar is different, because you bond with your instrument, sitting there playing it for hours. Putting the creative energy into building the instrument takes that feeling to an entirely new level; it's really rewarding to play a guitar that you have built!
Mark: The artwork on this body is incredible. What was the core inspiration or story behind the design you chose?
Peter: Thank you! It has some Ancient Egypt vibes going on. I've always been fascinated by that time period So the inspiration came easily.
Mark: Did you map out the entire design beforehand, or did it evolve organically as you worked on the wood?
Peter: Yes, I did a sketch beforehand to get a nice composition for the shape. I'm pretty new to woodcarving so it was a lot of discovery, and this was my first time working with gold leaf, that was fun!
Deciding how to finish a body you have decorated is its own problem. Start with how to choose the right finish for your guitar kit, and custom guitar finish ideas covers the more adventurous end.
The same design cut into the body by hand. Peter describes himself as pretty new to woodcarving. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Mark: Are there any specific artists, music genres, or personal experiences that fueled the aesthetic of this build?
Peter: Not specifically, the inspiration is more of a collective thing. But I love all types of art and music, my taste is all over the place!
Mark: Using the entire guitar as a canvas is a bold move! What was the most challenging part of applying your art and finishing the body?
Stain worked into the carving, which is what makes the relief read from across a room. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Peter: Definitely the woodcarving was the hardest part, because I don’t really know what I'm doing. I watched 1 minute of a YouTube video and just decided to get into it.
Whatever goes on top, the prep underneath is the same: sanding a guitar body before painting and how to stain a veneer.
Mark: Did you run into any unexpected hurdles during the actual assembly or setup of the guitar? How did you overcome them?
Peter: The assembly was super easy! In this case, everything was prewired, so I would definitely recommend this kit to first-time builders.
Peter is describing a prewired harness, which removes most of the soldering from a first build. We keep a list of kits that need barely any soldering, and how to install a bolt on neck covers the join his kit uses.
Gold leaf brushed into the headdress and wing, Peter's first time working with the material. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Mark: What was the most rewarding moment of the entire process?
Peter: Plugging the guitar in for the first time and playing!
Mark: How does it feel to actually hold and play an instrument that you not only built but completely personalized from scratch?
Peter: The experience is so different from buying a guitar used or from a shop. You have an appreciation for the process, like you know the guitar on a deeper level. Playing that feels very different; the overall experience is really rewarding and fun.
The finished guitar, assembled and strung, with the carving covering the lower bout. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Mark: If someone reading this is feeling inspired to build and paint their own guitar, what is the number one piece of advice you’d give them?
Peter: Just go for it, stop thinking and do it!
The headstock got the same treatment: a carved flame motif, gold leaf and an eye above the tuners. Courtesy of Peter-John de Villiers
Mark: Do you have any plans for another build in the future? If so, any hints on what the next canvas might look like?
Peter: I definitely do! I'm not sure yet!
A huge thank you to Peter-John for sharing his build and creative journey with the Guitar Kit World community.
Mahogany TR Guitar Kit with Bolt On Neck, SSS Pickups, Rosewood Fretboard
The guitar kit pictured above is where it all began: an unfinished body, a box of parts, and an idea. What followed was a remarkable transformation that turned a simple DIY guitar kit into a playable work of art. Peter's project is a reminder that every custom build starts the same way, with a blank canvas and the willingness to create something uniquely your own.
Whether you're dreaming of a custom finish, a hand-painted design, or a completely original concept, your next project starts with taking that first step. As Peter puts it, stop thinking and just do it.
Ready to start your own build? Pick a kit, trust your creativity, and see where the journey takes you. Your guitar could be the next one featured by the Guitar Kit World community.
To see more of Peter-John's artwork and creative projects, visit www.theshallowtree.com, and follow him on Instagram @theshallowtree.
Peter-John's build is a perfect example of what makes the Guitar Kit World community special. Every project starts with a kit, but no two finished guitars are ever the same.
Whether you're planning your first build, experimenting with a custom finish, or creating a guitar that reflects your own artistic vision, we'd love to see what you're working on.
Join the Guitar Kit World community to share your build, connect with fellow makers, ask questions, exchange ideas, and discover inspiring projects from builders around the world. Your next idea could come from another member, and your finished guitar could inspire someone else's journey.
Become part of the conversation and show us what you create.
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