BilT was born out of the creative spirit to change what you can because you can. Founded by friends and coworkers Tim Thelen and Bill Henss, the boutique Des Moines brand specializes in creating highly customized, effects-laden guitars in under two weeks’ time, built by hand according to a wealth of shared experience as high-end luthiers and restoration experts. 

On behalf of BilT, Tim Thelen tells us more about how he and Bill somewhat reluctantly became two of the industry’s most respected innovators and how BilT uses history to fuel progress, not impede it. 

“These are the guys who can pull off anything you can think of to do to a guitar.”

Q&A WITH TIM THELEN

What is BilT?
BilT Guitars is a custom electric guitar manufacturer based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Who is BilT?
BilT is owned and operated by Tim Thelen and Bill Henss.

How did you get started building guitars?
Both Tim and Bill attended lutherie schools and spent many years running repair shops and doing high-end restorations.

When and how did BilT begin?
In 2008, a very good customer of the repair shop Bill and Tim worked insisted that they install several effects into his telecaster. After they initially refused, the customer persisted and wore them down. Once the project was complete, everyone was impressed at how fun and usable it turned out to be. Then they found a picture of a Lake Placid Blue Fender Marauder prototype that had several plates and switches and they instantly realized that would make the perfect template for an effects laden guitar. 

What inspired you to begin and what inspires you continue?
The love of the music that guitars make and the mere thought of what they do can help people create amazing music.

How would you describe a BilT guitar to someone new to the brand?
These are the guys who can pull off anything you can think of to do to a guitar.

How is a BilT constructed from start to finish?
By hand. Period. 

BilT Relevator LS Aged Ice Blue Metallic w/Mastery Vibrato/Bridge & Lollar Jazzmaster Pickups

£1,854.00

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From Bilt:

Ok, Ok, the sheer number of knobs on the Relevator freaked you out. It’s all right, just get the Relevator LS (less stuff). Same body style sans effects, and More

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What components, woods, customizations, model specifics, etc. make BilT guitars unique?
BilTs are made with several guiding principles. One of the most important aspects is player preference with regard to sound and feel, along with serviceability and repairability. They keep the long game in mind so as much music can be made as possible.

How long does it take to make a BilT, start to finish?
To turn around on an order is approximately 90 days but actual construction time is less than 2 weeks.

What inspires your creative process?
Diving into everything that has been done in the past and bringing elements of all of this history to their designs and capturing some of the more wackadoo ideas and putting them into a high quality playable guitar.

What is the spirit of BilT?
Get them what they want!

What is BilT’s mission?
Get them what they need!

Where does BilT go from here?
We’re going to go into the future wrangling, tweaking, experimenting with guitars so that we can enjoy what all the BilT players do with them. 

What kind of guitar player doesn’t like wrangling, tweaking, and experimenting? That‘s what it’s all about, and you want BilT to be the ones to do it. Many of us here at CME own BilTs personally, and with the kind of guitars we’re surrounded by everyday that’s saying something.

Call, click, or stop in today to check out our extensive selection of Tim and Bill’s work. Wrangle, tweak, and experiment with one in our live rooms or check out our video demos to see just what a BilT can do. They are what you want. They are what you need. Call us to discuss Bilt Guitars!