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I started making guitars about ten years ago, beginning with trial and error and for a short period under the tutelage of David Oddy. David is a fine maker who is based in Exeter, and he passed on some vital skills and a certain philosophical approach:
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My passion is the classical guitar, and I have borrowed ideas from the great masters. I model the body on Ramirez, the fan braces on Hernandez y Aguado, the brace dimensions on Romanillos and the fingerboard on Contreras. The neck is based on Farre, my headstock is my own and although I use a range of rosettes, my purflings and bindings are of my own design. |
| Picture courtesy of Express and Echo Group (Exeter). To see scanned image of two page article, click HERE. | |
| I pay great attention to playability and sound. This means the greatest of care with the string length, the set up, the overall dimensions, the action and indeed with each individual fret. All backs and sides are thicknessed to 2mm, and the front tapers from 2.5mm on the treble side to 2mm on the base with a gradual reduction over the width of the front from one side to the other. | |
| I have become friends with Paul Brown of Pacific Rim Tonewoods where I buy exceptionally fine quality Engelmann spruce for my fronts. This spruce produces a rich and sonorous sound that does not have the harshness of Sitka or cedar. Backs and sides are of Brazilian rosewood, Indian rosewood or cypress depending on customer requirements. | |
| When making a guitar I offer two services; either a customer can come to my workshop and try the few that I hold in stock, (normally no more than four), or I will make to requirement. Either way, I stay with a customer until they are one hundred per cent happy with the instrument; making all the necessary adjustments to ensure that this happens. | |
| I am also prepared to consider other instruments as indicated in the gallery, where there are examples of mediaeval fiddles, dulcimers and lutes. I do not normally hold these in stock, but will make to order. | |