I hope you will enjoy these series of articles and blog entries. Feel free to email us your thoughts and suggestions as I am always looking for new ideas to expand on this area of our website.
2020-The Year that wasn’t
In January 2020, it became apparent that one of the main walls of our workshop had to be rebuilt. Just a "small" job but everything had to be boxed up. Not great timimg. It got scheduled and was undertaken just as talk of a virus started to dominate the news cycle....
String Tension
Does the setup of a guitar or Top Wrapping affect string tension? The force required to bend a guitar string can be lessened which gives the impression of easier playing characteristics.
Korina Wood in the UK
Korina Idigbo Guitar Tonewood… We all heard about Korina, Afara and White Limba, but what about Black Limba and Black Afara? What does it all mean?
The rule of diminishing return or does my guitar that costs 4 times more, sounds and plays 4 times better?
The quick answer is: Of course it isn't 4 times better sounding or playing just because it costs 4 times more. Between 1894 and 1949, the Speed record for a production car was raised tenfold from 19Kmph (Benz) to over 200Kmph (Jaguar XK120). The record has gradually...
Pricing a Custom Guitar
Never mind the price, how do you even define a Custom Guitar? For our purposes, "Custom" is applied to describe guitars that vary or exceed what standard mass-produced models may offer. The often unique specification of individual guitars is what justifies their...
HB Bridge and P90 Neck Configuration
Back in 1999 when first discussing the possibility of launching a guitar with a P90 in the neck position coupled with a Humbucker in the bridge, it was a novel and unusual combination. The resulting guitars I was involved with, certainly stood out in the shops and...
String Gauge Demystified
When I first picked up a guitar and practiced in earnest, it wasn't the summer of '69 but my fingers did bleed. In due course even casual guitar players develop small calluses on the fingertips that make it easier and less sore to play, but there is very little doubt...
CNC Advantage
Using a Computer Numerical Control unit (CNC) to control the operations from a router is often seen as not "authentic". But the same could be said of other inovations like vaccination, antibiotics, soap and democracy. We have access to tools that allow us to do a...
The art of Fake Binding
There is a real skill in up-selling a feature that costs less to manufacture. Motoring legend Ettore Bugatti was a pioneer of this art form. I have a passion for vintage cars and the Bugatti 35 has to be one of the most iconic Grand Prix racing cars ever designed....
Great British Pickups Round-up 2021
British Guitar pickups, links to major makers and some notes to help you choose.