Traditional Methods

Over 100 years ago, Antonio Torres Jurado ("Torres") laid the foundations for what we now know as the Classical Guitar. This design has morphed into most of the guitar styles that we know today and it's a fine testament to him that his construction methods have stood the test of time.

Modern luthiers such as Jim Redgate, Stephen Hill and James Lister continue his work and I see no reason why solid-bodied electric guitars shouldn't be built to the same standard and use the same techniques. Careful joint construction, thoughtful use of woods and an avoidance of synthetic materials all come together in a guitar that feels alive against the body.

Oil and wax, shellac, or bare wood are retained wherever possible to keep the guitar feeling natural and a "string through" design that anchors the bridge to the body, when combined with a scarf joint behind the nut,  keep the string energy contained within the scale length of the guitar, thus maximising sustain by reducing the natural wicking action of the neck.

Select Hardwoods

Guitar manufacturers face a dilemma when selecting wood for their instruments as the use of traditional Mahogany and Rosewood is becoming impractical, expensive and morally suspect.

​

I have decided to use abundant and renewable woods, primarily from the UK, in the construction of my guitars. I don't have to compromise on stability, beauty or tone when crafting a guitar from English Sycamore, Laburnum, Walnut or Apple.

​

I also reuse hardwoods from donated sources when available. A Mahogany table or bedframe might be 100 years old and seasoned to perfection, providing a wonderfully stable and resonant body or attractive headstock veneer and saving these glorious hardwoods from the scrapheap.

"Straight Wire" Circuit

Designers of audio hardware have long understood that to deliver the purest output, one must have the purest input. This is achieved by keeping components in the signal chain to a minimum, so minimising the amount of interfaces between these components.

This is the "Straight Wire" concept, the idea being that the best connection between the sound source and loudspeaker would be one continuous cable.

I've made the decision to build my guitars with a single high quality pickup providing the signal thus removing all switching hardware, and to only use the finest components from CTS and Switchcraft. The result is a circuit that provides exceptional clarity of tone, sensitivity, and signal strength throughout the guitar's audio spectrum.

Construction Standards (the blank canvas)

​Scale Length:
Nut Width:
Nut:
Neck:

Fretboard:
Body:
Pickup:

Tuners:

Fretwire:

​​

650 mm.
43 mm.
Bone or Brass.
Hard Rock Maple or reclaimed Mahogany.
Laburnum, Maple, or reclaimed Rosewood, or Ebony.

Four piece. Cut and matched front and back.
Bare Knuckle (Range).

Schaller M6 or Gotoh (Range).

Dunlop Medium/Medium.