James Trussart

James Trussart Electric Guitars — Steel Soul, Built by Hand in Los Angeles

There is no other guitar builder in the world quite like James Trussart. Not in approach, not in materials, not in philosophy, and certainly not in the instruments themselves.

Born in northeastern France and raised far from guitar culture, Trussart came to lutherie the long way around, first as a fiddler touring the Louisiana bayou with Cajun singer-songwriter Zachary Richard in the late 1970s, then as a violin maker, and eventually as a builder of some of the most visually and sonically striking electric guitars ever made. Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2000, he has operated a small hillside workshop where every guitar is built by hand, played by James himself before it leaves the shop, and sent out into the world as a genuinely one-of-a-kind instrument.

The defining characteristic of every Trussart guitar is steel. Where other builders reach for mahogany or alder, Trussart reaches for hand-formed steel bodies that produce a resonance, sustain, and tonal character that simply cannot be replicated in wood. The result is a guitar that sounds unlike anything else you have ever plugged in.

The Rust-O-Matic Process

One of the most recognizable aspects of a Trussart guitar is its finish, and no finish is more celebrated than the Rust-O-Matic, a term coined by none other than Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Each Rust-O-Matic guitar body is left exposed to the elements for several weeks, allowed to corrode naturally, then treated to arrest the process. The body is then hand-sanded to simulate decades of wear before being sealed under a clear satin coat that locks in the texture, color, and character of that natural aging process.

Beyond the Rust-O-Matic, Trussart offers finishes ranging from gleaming chrome and antique silver to engraved skulls, roses, and tribal patterns, as well as bodies inlaid with genuine alligator and snakeskin textures. The visual language of a Trussart guitar draws from classic cars, Cajun folklore, African tribal art, and American roots music, and no two instruments ever look exactly alike.

The Tone

The steel body is not just an aesthetic choice. It fundamentally transforms the way a Trussart guitar responds under the fingers, delivering exceptional sustain, a distinctive midrange richness, and an articulation that rewards nuanced playing with extraordinary detail. Standard electronics are Arcane Inc. custom pickups built specifically for Trussart's instruments, with options available from Seymour Duncan, TV Jones, Lindy Fralin, and Tom Holmes depending on the model and configuration.

The Models

SteelCaster — The model that started it all and remains the heart of the Trussart lineup. Built around a Telecaster-inspired silhouette with a hand-formed steel body, the SteelCaster delivers the snap and twang of the classic single-cut format with the added sustain, resonance, and tonal complexity that only a steel body can provide. Available in an enormous range of finishes from chrome and Rust-O-Matic to engraved roses, alligator skin, and custom patterns.

SteelDeville — A hollow-body design inspired by the classic ES-335 format, the SteelDeville combines the warmth and openness of a semi-hollow instrument with the unique sustain and resonance characteristics of Trussart's steel construction. The result is a guitar with extraordinary depth and body, equally at home with clean jazz tones and driven blues as it is with heavier, more experimental playing.

SteelMaster — Trussart's take on the offset body format, bringing the angular, asymmetric silhouette of the classic Jazzmaster into the Trussart universe. The SteelMaster carries all of the brand's hallmark construction qualities in a shape that adds a distinctly adventurous edge to the lineup, and is available in the full range of Trussart finish options.

SteelPhonic — The most acoustically adventurous model in the range, featuring a resonator-style design that blends the world of acoustic resonance with the tonal character of Trussart's steel body construction. The SteelPhonic is the choice for players who want something that bridges the gap between electric and acoustic in a way no other instrument can.

SteelTop — A thinline semi-hollow design with a steel top over a wooden body, the SteelTop offers a slightly warmer, more organic character than the fully steel models while still delivering that unmistakable Trussart resonance. Peter Stroud, longtime guitarist for Sheryl Crow, has called his SteelTop with TV Jones pickups unlike any guitar he has ever owned, a keeper for life.

Played by the World's Greatest

The list of artists who have made Trussart guitars central to their sound reads like a hall of fame: Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Jack White, Joe Perry, Tom Morello, Billy Corgan, Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes, Charlie Sexton, Daniel Lanois, Marc Ribot, Sonny Landreth, and members of The Roots, among many others. James Hetfield of Metallica collaborated directly with Trussart on a dedicated signature model, the Steel X.

These artists didn't choose Trussart guitars because of a marketing deal. They chose them because there is nothing else like them in the world.

Browse our full selection of James Trussart electric guitars, and reach out if you'd like help finding the right model or finish for your playing style.