About Borealis Custom Guitars
It Started with Guitars (and a Lot of Curiosity!)
Borealis Custom Guitars grew out of years of playing, modifying, and building guitars - and the realization that we can build instruments that feel every bit as good as the ones we admire.
We started building guitars together after years of friendship, shared musical projects, and hands-on work in the shop. Every instrument is designed, built, finished, and set up by hand, with a focus on playability, feel, and character.
We build guitars because we care about how they’re made, and how they feel once they’re in your hands.
How John and Clay met
The name Borealis comes from a late night after a long build session. We stepped outside, looked up, and watched the aurora borealis move across the sky.
It was quiet, unexpected, memorable, and it felt like a fitting reflection of what we were building. Natural materials, thoughtful design, and instruments that reveal more the longer you spend with them.
Why The Name “BOrealis”?
Our Approach
To us, a good guitar starts with how it feels. The neck should sit comfortably in your hands. The body should resonate when you play it unplugged. The setup should disappear so you can focus on playing.
We don’t cut corners on materials, sanding, finishing, or setup. A significant amount of time goes into details you may never see — but you’ll feel them every time you play.
Some of our builds lean traditional. Others push things a bit further. Either way, every guitar is built to be playable first and visually interesting second.
Meet the Builders
John porterfield
John has been playing electric guitar since the early 1970s. Guitar playing runs in his family, and decades of listening, playing, and studying the instrument have shaped his approach to building.
In the shop, John focuses on design, wood combinations, and finishes — especially finding ways to use color and grain together in unexpected but balanced ways. He enjoys pushing designs just far enough to make them memorable without sacrificing playability.
John approaches guitar building as both a craft and an art form, always with the goal of creating instruments that feel inspiring the moment you pick them up.
Email: BOREALISGUITARSME@GMAIL.COM
Phone: 207.239.0055
clay hawks
Clay came to guitar building through a background in the trades and woodworking. After building his first kit guitar, he became deeply interested in the mechanics, construction, and finishing processes that make a guitar work well over time.
In the shop, Clay focuses on woodworking, finishing, and setup — the details that turn a good build into a reliable, great-playing instrument. He brings patience, precision, and a steady hand to every guitar, especially during the final stages where everything comes together.
Clay believes the most satisfying part of building a guitar is stringing it up, playing the first notes, and feeling everything work exactly as it should.
Email: CLAYHAWKS@GMAIL.COM
Phone: 207.656.7208
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!