I also had two bikes made by an out of state builder who didn't measure me. I had ridden my two previous bikes long enough to know exactly what I liked and hated about them. If you don't know what you want for a certain measurement TELL HIM, don't make up a number because you don't want to look bad. Let him tell you what he thinks.

In my case I have shorter legs and longer torso than most guys my height. My driving force behind a custom was longer top tube. If I were to specify a level top tube my measurements would be a 51cm ST (c-c) and 54.5cm TT, and that's with a 12cm stem.

I specified ST & TT length, ST & HT angles and left the rest up to him after telling him my height/weight and how the bike would be ridden - fast recreational and fun rides. He advised tubing, BB height, chainstay length, fork rake. He made a track bike for me also with stems for each.