Oscar Clinton "Clint" Bear, age 74, of Madison, Indiana, and the son of Oscar Charles "OB" and Norma Louise (Pulliam) Bear, was born December 22, 1949, in Madison, Indiana. He was the grandson of Oscar C. and Mary A Bear and Herman and Zoe Pulliam.

He was united in matrimony to the former Nancy Perry on June 17, 1972 at the First Christian Church in Madison. This union, of fifty two years, was blessed with two daughters, Christi and Sarah.

Clint graduated in 1967 from Madison Consolidated High School and in 1972, from Purdue University, with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He owned and operated Bear's Landscaping and also built many houses, including two for his family. He was a Rural Mail Carrier for many years. Clint also worked for DNV Healthcare as a Physical Environment Surveyor traveling to a number of hospitals across the country. He began building guitars and started OC Bear Guitars 22 years ago. He was in the process of building his 145th guitar before his passing. He had built beautiful guitars for musicians around the country and in Europe. He donated many guitars for local festivals and even for the Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund, raising over $13,000. He was a co-founder of Indiana Fingerstyle Competition and awarded an O.C. Bear guitar to the winner for several years. In 2016, he received an Indiana Artisan Designation from the Indiana Arts Commission. He was honored last year by the Madison Area Arts Alliance with the 2023 Artist of the Year.

He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church where he served as Junior and Senior Warden. He also was a member of the Elks Lodge and EBOR. He had been a member of Habitat for Humanity in years past and enjoyed contributing his building/construction skills to build the houses. When he wasn't working on guitar building, he loved to cook and could make a fantastic gourmet sandwich that was enjoyed by any that were fortunate enough to be around for the plating. He also loved trips to the beach where he fished and basked in the sun. When it was time to relax, he would grab his current book to enjoy. He was a voracious reader!

Clint Bear passed away November 26, 2024 at his residence in Madison, surrounded by his loving family. O.C. Bear Custom Guitars

Base Price - $4,450 + Shipping & Insurance

Standard Steel-String Features

  • All top woods are AAA Grade or Better
  • Top - Sitka or Englemann Spruce or Red Cedar
     
  • Back/Sides -American Cherry, E. Indian Rosewood, Mahogany, Maple, or Black Walnut
     
  • Fingerboard and Bridge - Ebony or Rosewood
     
  • Binding on body - Hardwood or Ivoroid -White, Black, Ivory, or Tortoise
     
  • Tuners - Nickel or Gold Waverly, Nickel or Gold Gotoh, Grover, or Schaller
     
  • Neck - Mahogany and/or Hardwoods with adjustable truss rod. Bolt-on mortise and tenon neck join and dual carbon fiber reinforcement rods in the neck.
     
  • Nut and Bridge - Bone
     
  • Bridge Pins - Bone with shell dot
     
  • Rosette - Pearl or Abalone with wood or wood fiber of Herringbone
     
  • Finish - Water Based Acrylic Lacquer or Varnish. Gloss or Satin.
     
  • Bracing - Hand Carved Spruce - Sloped or Scalloped
     
  • Scale Length - 24.75", 24.9", 25.4", 25.6", or custom
     
  • Case - TKL Hard-shell - Black
     

Custom Options

Option costs are added to the base price of $4450 + Shipping and Insurance. Please contact us for current prices.

Top Woods

  • Adirondack (Red) Spruce 
  • German or Italian Spruce
  • Carpathian Spruce
  • Redwood

Back and Side Woods

  • Curly Mahogany
  • Highly flamed Maple
  • Lacewood or Padauk
  • Cocobolo
  • Curly Koa
  • Malaysian Blackwood
  • Brazilian Rosewood
  • Madagascar Rosewood
  • Amazon Rosewood
  • Other Exotic Hardwoods available - Please inquire.
     

Neck
3 or 5 piece curly maple - $200

Tuners
Waverly -  (Custom wood or pearl buttons, inquire)

Cutaway Body
Single Soft-Curve (Venetian) - $300
Sharp-Curve (Florentine) - $300

Custom Inlay
Inquire

Rosette

  • Custom Pearl - Inquire
     
  • Abalone - Inquire
     
  • Exotic Woods - Inquire

Nut, Saddle, and Bridge Pins

  • Fossil Ivory - $300
Cases 
  • Cedar Creek or Calton (inquire for price)


I will be glad to discuss any specific wood or parts options with you. No request is too strange (almost). I want to build a guitar that is unique to and for you!

Limited Lifetime Warranty

I guarantee O.C.Bear Guitars to be free of defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty is given to the original owner and is non-transferable.

Limitations to warranty

1. Unauthorized modifications or alterations made after the guitar leaves O.C.Bear Custom Guitars.

2. Damage caused by excessive heat, cold, humidity, or dryness.

3. Damage from incompatible chemicals, solvents, or liquids.

4. Damage from accidents or misuse.

5. Normal wear and tear, natural cracking of wood parts or finish shrinking.

The owner is responsible for shipping and insurance fees to and from O.C.Bear Custom Guitars. Repairs will be limited to materials and parts that are available at the time of repair; to be as closely matched to the original as possible, at the discretion of O.C.Bear Custom Guitars.

This is the only warranty of O.C.Bear Custom Guitars. No other oral, written, express or implied warranty will apply. We disclaim any liability for consequential or incidental damages.