Salvaged Strat Revival

This is a slightly offset Stratocaster with a past

Built from salvaged timber and the remains of a broken Strat-style body, it was carved, cursed, and coaxed back to life in a rat-infested shed somewhere in North Devon. Every contour carries the marks of hand tools, stubbornness, and the ghosts of guitars that refused to die.

The shape nods to those wonderfully oddball ‘Woolworths’ catalogue guitars of the 60s and 70s — Japanese budget beauties with more character than they had any right to possess. This is a retro homage with a Rat Bait twist: imperfect, unapologetic, and absolutely alive.

Rat Bait Guitars is a defiant celebration of imperfection, rebellion, and resurrection

Born in a rat-infested shed on the edge of Exmoor in North Devon, each guitar is hand-built from salvaged wood and broken, discarded guitar bodies, carrying the scars and stories of their past lives. The founder, a seasoned guitarist and bassist with a history of recording for Beggars Banquet, Microsoft and many European labels, started crafting these unique instruments from his vast collection of reclaimed parts as a way to breathe new life into discarded materials.

The guitars are crafted from a patchwork of reclaimed wood sourced from old furniture, fence posts, roofing timber, and flooring—each piece treated and shaped with care to preserve its character and history. The body shapes draw inspiration from the quirky, budget Japanese guitars of the 60s and 70s, like Teisco and Kay, giving each instrument a retro charm with a rebellious twist.

Rat Bait Guitars stand apart not only for their eco-friendly ethos but also for their raw, authentic sound and feel. These guitars are never perfect, but they are rich with personality and soul, making them prized by players who value uniqueness and sustainability.

Customer reviews highlight the guitars' distinctive tone, playability, and the story each instrument carries. Players appreciate the craftsmanship and the ethos behind the brand, praising the guitars for their rugged beauty and the way they inspire creativity.

Each Rat Bait Guitar is more than an instrument; it’s a resurrection, a piece of history reclaimed and reimagined for the modern player. From the rat-infested shed to your hands, these guitars carry the spirit of rebellion and the soul of reclaimed wood.