Handmade Electric Guitars
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About Me
My Guitars
My Vision
I'm Simon. A middle-aged guy who loves electric guitars and basses. Five years ago I stopped being a media consultant and started training myself to be a luthier. My workshop is two little rooms at the back of my garage. For five years I've spent longer in there than in the house. My wife loves it! I specialise in handmade electric guitars.
My Vision
My Guitars
My Vision
I don't want to get rich doing this: I want to love life. I've taught myself lutherie (I think it is), by making guitars, making mistakes, looking up how to fix the mistakes, fixing the mistakes, over and over and eventually getting it right. I now think I make a pretty special guitar! And I can build to your spec, at a reasonable price.
I don't want to get rich doing this: I want to love life. I've taught myself lutherie (I think it is), by making guitars, making mistakes, looking up how to fix the mistakes, fixing the mistakes, over and over and eventually getting it right. I now think I make a pretty special guitar! And I can build to your spec, at a reasonable price. Take a look at the gallery. You'll see three of my handmade guitars there.
My Guitars
My Guitars
My Guitars
I can make most anything you want. I like to use reclaimed timber where possible (I've just finished a P90 doublecut where the Honduras Mahogany was originally part of a Victorian snooker table). Where it isn't, I source from the brilliant Surrey Timbers. I make my own maple tops, and you can have finishes from nitro, to oil, to polyurethane - any colour. Just call or email, and I'll quote you.
Photo Gallery
My first crack at Honduras Mahogany.
It's CITES-protected, so difficult to get hold of without spending a fortune. This was a bit of an old snooker table (made by Orme and Sons!), that I snagged on ebay. The grain came out perfect for the TV Yellow finish.
I've always had a thing for the DC LP TV Model, and wanted to get the less custardy finish.
The pickup is from Alegree, whose P90s are just superb. This one has Alnico 2s - just the right balance between gritty and clean.
Gary Moore's '59 Burst (no, not that one!)
I was hankering to try a burst finish, with some flame in it. And maybe a bit of 'relic-ing'. And this is what came out the other end. The body is sapele (which is heavier than Honduras Mahogany and needs weight-relieving unless you're Hercules), and the top is bookmatched, rippled sycamore maple. Both from Surrey Timbers. Nitro finish over a yellow stain. I've got to say, I think I got very close! Tonerider Alnico IV Classics in this one.
There were only 40 Korina Explorers made, in 1958. So apparently the few left change hands for upwards of a million pounds. It was fun to work with Korina (which is also called 'white limba'), and a banana headstock. I had a problem with my jointer set-up that meant there's a slight line up the middle of the body. One of the mistakes I learned how to fix afterwards! Iron Gear Blues Engine pickups here. Plays like a dream and sounds awesome. Clear nitro finish.