Trace Davis | Founder

Trace Davis founded Afton Instruments™ with a singular purpose: to build guitars that deliver exceptional tone, effortless playability, and uncompromising craftsmanship.

Many players know Trace through his renowned work with Voodoo Amps, where he has built and modified amplifiers for some of the world’s most respected guitarists. His client history includes artists associated with Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, ZZ Top, and AC/DC, among many others.

In addition to his amplifier work, Trace has spent years as a trusted guitar technician for major touring artists, playing sold out arenas and stadiums, gaining firsthand insight into the demands of professional performance at the highest level.

The Legacy

Through decades of experience on stages, in recording studios, and behind the bench, Trace developed a deep understanding of tone, setups, and the subtle qualities that separate a truly inspiring instrument from an ordinary one.

Recognizing a gap in the market, he created Afton Instruments™— a natural evolution of a lifetime spent shaping legendary sound.

Each build reflects not only his technical expertise, but a deep respect for the player’s intimate relationship with the instrument.

The Craft

The first Afton™ models are inspired by the timeless T-style platform, though the similarities largely end with the familiar silhouette.

Each instrument is crafted from carefully selected premium tone woods chosen for resonance, sustain, and touch response. Every body is hand-stained and finished with a few thin coats of nitrocellulose lacquer, preserving the wood’s natural tone, feel, and resonation.

Designed with the player in mind, the necks are custom-shaped for comfort and feel, fitted with stainless steel frets for maximum durability, ease of play, and continued long-term performance.

Built for the Player

Every detail is designed with performance in mind.

Each guitar is equipped with locking tuners, custom Jason Lollar pickups, and pickups designed to Trace’s specs through the Seymour Duncan Custom shop, delivering exceptional sonic character, clarity, and touch sensitivity.

A custom stainless-steel bridge enhances sustain and tonal clarity, while refined player-focused details including custom control knobs and intuitive three- or four-way switching for effortless access — reflects Trace’s deep understanding of real-world performance needs.

A particularly thoughtful feature is the easily accessible truss rod adjustment at the base of the neck, eliminating the need to remove the traditional four-bolt neck for adjustments.

It’s a simple but intuitive approach — one that serious players will immediately resonate with.

The Philosophy

History has shown that T-style guitars can be either magical or merely ordinary.

Afton Instruments™ removes the variables providing you with a truly inspiring, and one-of-a kind instrument.

Every build is designed to deliver the sustain, chime, responsiveness, and tonal richness associated with the finest vintage examples — and then push beyond them.

At its core, Afton Instruments™ exists for one reason:

to provide musicians with superior tone, uncompromising quality, and instruments built to inspire.