Jeffrey Yong Guitars

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For the love of arts and music, I built my maiden guitar built in 1985 and it has set off a chain of events that led me to this wonderful instrument … guitars … building guitars and other string instruments ...

The Creator has blessed me with the fine skills of an artisan. Throughout my life, I am gratified by His blessings in many ways. During my career pursuit to become a luthier, I have received many generous assistance and encouragement from many people. In particular the fellow luthiers I have acquainted at the GAL conventions (GAL – Guild of American Luthiers). The many kind words from various forum friends that have generously shared their perspectives regarding my guitars and craftsmanship are not forgotten as well.

It is always gratifying to handle a completed hand-crafted instrument and anticipating the first tune coming out from it. While I have built a variety of string instruments, they all share three guiding principles, i.e. art, science and craftsmanship. Nothing beats the process of creation process and the abundance of learning that can be gained. This discovery journey has been most satisfying and I will be most glad to share the excitement with you.

I build my guitars entirely by hand except the regular hardware and electronics parts that are purchased and installed. Being more curious than cautious, it has driven me to acquire other forms of knowledge and experiences beyond just building guitars. One such attempt was my extensive research in woods especially those found in the tropics that reside near me.

My research efforts have led to the introduction of the Malaysian Blackwood to the world of guitar making. This tropical hardwood made its appearance at the 1998 GAL convention in Tacoma, Washington, USA. Since the inception, the popularity has grown tremendously. It carries many premium qualities for musical instruments making that are unparalleled. Today, the Malaysia Blackwood has established it position firmly at the level of premium tonewoods in the musical instruments making industry.

In 2006 I built a guitar using Monkeypod wood (Samanea saman or Rain Tree). Up to 99% of this guitar was built using hardwoods. Its presence at the 2006 GAL convention was evidently heard and felt during an acoustic guitar blind-test listening session. This non-conventional built has triumphed over the other acoustic guitars in the session. The tonal characteristic was unique and impressionable to everyone who was present. Eventually the audience has unanimously regarded the Monkeypod guitar as the one that possessed the most desired tonal characteristics.

While using Monkeypod wood to build guitar isn't new but it has never been regarded as a premium tonewood in the musical instruments making industry. The showdown in 2006's GAL convention has certainly illuminated its profile. The popularity of this unique wood has been never stopped growing since. Monkeypod wood is used as a standard for all my guitars. I offer 2 models for the steel strings, the OM model and my signature JJ models. For the classical guitars, there are 3 models. They are the Tioman I - Torres bracing and body design, Tioman II - Torres body shape with modified Lattice bracing and Tioman III - bigger body (Khono design) with modified Lattice bracing.

The braces designs and layout for my guitars are influenced by the Martin's X-scalloped braces patterns, Torres Fan bracing and the Smallman Lattice bracing. Departing from the conventional principles, the braces are made from non-conventional hardwoods found in Malaysia. This alternate approach takes courage. Through years of determination, this approach has proven with consistent excellent results. Moreover, tapping not from the mainstream wood sources can help in conserving those heavily used species of wood from depletion. I believe with combined efforts, reducing the rampant rogue sales within the black market is possible.

I take pride in introducing innovative and unique features in my guitars. Except for imported woods, I cut and processed my own tonewoods, e.g. Malaysian Black Wood and Monkeypod Wood. I hope my instruments will bring great pleasure and satisfaction to your life long musical enjoyment and monetary investment as well.

	He is an artist, daring innovator and a God-fearing man. I am honored to know him and truly blessed to be playing his guitars. Shun Ng
	"Jeffrey Yong's guitars are among the best I've ever had the opportunity to lay my hands on-they're gorgeous, ergonomic, and the sound is out of this world." Ken Bonfield (USA)
	Be sure and check out some of Jeffrey's wonderful guitars. They often end up in the very top selection in the Guitar Steel String Listening Workshops. Mark Robert (USA)
	Jeffrey Yong is truly a world Class luthier.He always put a high standard whenever he works on a project.He is creative and innovative as you can see with his intruments. I know many local musicians and some well known international musicians own something made by Jeff. All the best jeff! Farid Ali (Singapore)
	"Building a guitar must truly be one of the most complicated undertakings that exist. The Luthier must possess an advanced knowledge and understanding of the nature of wood, the mastery of tools, the science of acoustics, the alchemy of glues, an uncanny patience and a conventional as well as artistic (and in Mr.Yong's case) adventurous disposition towards aesthetics. My most prized instrument for over 20 years is made from a more common form of hardwood, available throughout Malaysia, but nowhere else on the planet. A specialty of Mr. Yong is his acute knowledge and understanding of the woods of this remarkable country. He is an artisan of the highest order, and it is a pleasure to play his instruments. " Richard Smith Professor of Music, University of Southern California, Recording Artist
	"Jeffrey has become one of the best guitar builders in the world and certainly the premier in Asia. What I don't understand is, how he can stand to let some of these masterpieces go? I am blessed to have the one I consider his most unique. If he doesn't come and pry it out of my hands, I promise to get it one day to a museum! Thanks, friend, for letting it go, for now." Bob Tucker (USA)
	Jeffrey Yong is one of those rare world class luthiers to always keep pushing forward, he introduced monkeypod as a wonderful tonewood to the acoustic guitar world which he also used on the killer harp guitar he built for me. Don Alder (Canada)