Thinking about getting a custom built in the UK... Advice?

[DamianL]

Originally Posted by The Acoustic Music Co (TAMCO) UK

Robbie,

You came and played a lot of US and Canadian made guitars. Tell us what you think..

Hey, I also came 18 months ago and played many beautiful American and Canadian guitars...some I liked, a couple I loved (that Tippin Stacatto haunts my dreams..) others, not so much...

I have also owned a few American luthier-builds and a couple of British-Builds..

From all that, and given the question asked, I would concur with SteveH and recommend Taran guitars...

The four I have played stand up in terms of build quality to the American Standard and have a distinctive and definitely British voice...



Clean as a whistle! Ha...

On the flip side, played a few Fyldes, none that has grabbed me...and never played a Brook...

As is always said at times like this YMMV...

[geordie]

Hi Jack, (howz the fiddling)

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Another vote for Colin Symonds here, he will be able to help you arrive at that sound. Steve

+1 for Colin, he's highly respected amongst luthiers both sides of the pond - a master. I'll PM you contact details as he doesn't 'advertise', Ralph Bown would be the other maker I'd consider but he may be outwith your budget.
Geo

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by geordie

Ralph Bown would be the other maker I'd consider but he may be outwith your budget.
Geo

The best OM I've played is a Bown. I'd also highly recommend Brook guitars for something different to the American sound, also Nigel Forster for something Sobell-esque.

David Reid also builds some great custom guitars - his Auditorium model would be within your budget.

[geordie]

lovely pictures of Colin's little 12 fret there.

[Larry Pattis]

I quite like the guitars of Adrian (A.J.) Lucas...

...and I recommend that anyone looking at UK builders get together with Adrian, for sure.

[geordie1]

Originally Posted by Jack Orion

By 'English' sounding I tend to mean guitars that have an element of 'classicalness' to them, maybe even 'lute-esque'.

By which I mean very clear and clean sound, with less 'growl' than a rosewood Martin say, 'bell-ish' in the trebles and upper mids, and defined bass.

I tend to think of an 'english' sound as being more 'polite' than a typical american voiced instrument...

It can be fun to generalise about the sounds that nations tend to produce. It was once said that a Ramirez sounds spanish, whilst a Hauser speaks Spanish with a strong German accent! I think it's also true that Lowdens sound Irish and Fyldes sound English. Getting closer to home, you could then say that Sobell's are English with a strong hint of German (Stefan's is from a German family) whilst my stuff has a soft Northumbrian accent!

Am I taking this too far??? Probably. Have a listen, what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8VniuamtoA

nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/nkfo.../the_book.html

[geordie]

Originally Posted by geordie1

whilst my stuff has a soft Northumbrian accent!
Am I taking this too far??? Probably. Have a listen, what you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8VniuamtoA
nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/nkfo.../the_book.html

Great sounding and looking guitar Nigel, compensated Zero Fret - rockin, is that a new bridge design ? looks the business.

Jack Orion, do yourself a favor and try one of Nigel's guitars.

Back to your - "Am I taking this too far???" - I know of a classical guitar maker who builds in the Granada style and says his guitars have "The Granada Sound' He builds guitars just outside Glasgow and I'm sure I can hear 'The Glasgow Sound' in his guitars.

[nobo]

For the sound you're after, I'd definitely check out David Reid's work. Very different to your Martin!

Adrian Lucas builds a lovely sounding guitar too.

[Steve Kinnaird]

If I could weigh in with another nod, I'd second (or are we up to third...fourth...?) Adrian Lucas. Very impressive work, and a fine chap to boot.
It really is nice to have all these choices, isn't it?

Steve

[Feste]

I would also recommend Brook guitars. Simon and Andy built a enchanting Taw that I have been enjoying for over a year now. I owned a Tamar previous to this Taw. When I visited the shop about five years ago I was impressed with just every guitar in the shop. If you are willing to broaden your range outside of England I would also recommend Dermot McIlroy. He built an AJ25 for me about ten years ago that is still my measuring stick for all other guitars, although my Taw is right there. Between the two I am a very happy camper.

[Welshboy]

Unfortunately I've not had the opportunity to play either a Taran or a Forster, but I can recommend Fylde. I think that Roger Bucknall is currently making some of his best guitars. I have a custom built Falstaff that is superb and very different from my Martins. Brook also make lovely guitars that are reasonably priced and offer excellent value for money.

David Oddy from Exeter (whose instruments are used by quite a number of people, but notably Show of Hands and Chris Woods) makes great guitars too. They tend to be Martin-inspired. but the ones i have don't sound too much like Martins. I particularly like his take on the Martin M or 0000.

David is retired - after a fashion - but still seems to be making instruments, with his son Nick. It might be work giving him a call.

There's also Nick Benjamin in Lewes. I visited him a while ago and loved the tone of the rosewood/spruce jumbo he had inthe shop. With the Manzer wedge that comes as standard on his jumbos it felt like a smaller, more comfortable guitar than i was expecting.