As far as luthiers here in the Philippines go, Max Rufo is among the household names you should definitely consider when taking your guitar for repairs, or if you would like him to modify an existing one, or customise you one from scratch. He's very popular in the local music industry and known for his work on electric guitars for several personalities in the music industry. He's also known internationally for creating his own, patented, noiseless pickups for guitars.
His shop is quite a challenge to find, as Mang Max doesn't exactly do marketing and he's a bit under the radar. Here's a landmark: it's a small, small shop that's located on the corner of one of the subdivisions on Victoneta Avenue. If you get lost, ask around the area as he's quite known.
Being inside his shop was definitely a new experience, as I've never set foot in an actual guitar workshop, seeing deconstructed guitars, jars of paint, work-in-progress guitars, and guitar encyclopedias. You can tell how this place has served him for many, many years. Just tell him what kind of guitar you have in mind, and he will create it for you (at reasonable prices, too). Very nice and accommodating fella. read more