As far as I can figure out...
...it's partly the time they need to make the guitar, and partly fitting it into their existing workload.

The guy in the shop I ordered it through said to allow a year, but it might be sooner. Suits me, it gives me time to save up! :D




That, or it's made of matchsticks ;)
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Mon 4 Oct 2010, 14:20, 1 reply)

Mostly.
Custom shops also tend to batch jobs into runs plus some processes require time, so your Kelly is likely to end up being cleared along with a bunch of others, especially if it's a UV-accelerated clear.

Things like shaping the neck release internal tensions within the wood which balanced during seasoning. Glueing bits up add moisture and temporary tensions also. Rushing through those to subsequent processes can leave you with wood that has moved, making things non-straight or twisty. Very common.

A year is a short period of time to receive a custom. IIRC, ESP and others aren't too far off that mark either. Try checking the lead time on real boutique luthiers! Up to 14yrs in some case.
(Klangtarnflatchslapper looks just like a Telefunken U-47, Mon 4 Oct 2010, 21:07, closed)

UV accelerated clear?
Yes, the waiting for wood to settle etc was kind of what I assumed.

14 years lead time is KERAZY!

EDIT: Although I bet real boutique luthiers charge a lot more than Jackson... :)
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Mon 4 Oct 2010, 23:45, closed)

A friend of mine is a Luthier
and Lute maker Very rich Arabs will wait up to 15 years for one of his hand made works of art .
www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/gallery.htm
( bane, Tue 5 Oct 2010, 22:48, closed)

There's some truly spectacular workmanshop there
Those multi-tier soundholes are amazing!
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 11:21, closed)