Shijie guitars was formed in 2014 by Mr Alex Wang
Alex was a highly respected luthier of over 20 years experience. Being a perfectionist, Alex had meticulously made notes on all the guitars he had repaired and noted solutions on how to make the guitars better.
Alex was patently aware that many Chinese guitars were made to a price point rather than a quality standard and believed there was an opportunity to join a very short list of Chinese builders who could compete with the best in the world. Starting with the best raw materials and then adding his own formidable skill set to the builds.
The passion and dedication to perfection that at times drove others wild would soon be put to good use in building the business.
The company started out making high quality replacement necks but many customers admired the necks so much they asked him to make them custom builds.
Word quickly spread about the “new builder” and he started to produce OEM guitars for high end companies in Germany, Japan and the USA. When the commercial opportunity did not run as planned with one company Alex made a decision to stop making guitars for other companies and only for his own brand Shijie.
The company then launched the TM6 model to universal claim this Showed many of the design fundamentals that appeared on other brands a year or so later…. this was no coincidence.
Fueled by this Alex then started to utilise his knowledge of classic instruments from the USA and released the STE Model which was widely praised across social media and you tube guitar channels in particular. Demand for the STE model flooded in and led to the the ensuing launch of the TLV Model to equal success . By Autumn 2021 the business had outgrown its original home and moved to bigger premises in Weifang.
The innovation continued whilst taking steps to ensure the quality the company had now become known for was maintained and enhanced. Tech was being built into guitars that were costing 3 times the market usual price such as carbon rods into the necks combined with roasting and double action American truss rods. Was it all necessary? maybe not, but it’s since been copied by some other high end builders.
The business uses minimal CNC and all materials are hand selected by Alex and are handcrafted by Alex and his team to a level of quality that few can contend with. Alex always wanted to build a brand for the future of his family and he wanted to achieve this by making the best guitars possible not just generating margin.
Many professional players are now starting to make the leap to Shijie Guitars away from the “big 4” brands based on quality of manufacture and sound on offer Shijie guitars “Make you feel special”
Shijie are continuing to grow by offering evolved designs of traditional guitars and creating their own designs that push the boundaries of value and quality that previously existed .
With that in mind Shijie see Wilkinson as a strategic partner for many of the new designs and plan to continue to utilise Wilkinson hardware on many models across all price points in future.
