Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In with Google

Become a Subscriber!

Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!

Read more...

Custom & Specialist UK Builders

What's Hot
24

Comments

  • ParkerParker Frets: 960
    Lexie1;2718" said:
    Here is some of Andy Guyton's work for your perusal chaps,<</div>
    And that's without his stunning Brian May RS's!
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Lexie1Lexie1 Frets: 135

    I first meet Andy Guyton back in 2003 when we moved to Norfolk. I had an ES1275 that was in need of some wiring attention and I was recommended to him by Cooke's of Norwich. It turned out that we only lived about 4 miles from his workshop and a mile from where he was living at the time.

    He is one of those guys that you instantly warm to, very self effacing and a thoroughly decent sort.

    Whilst showing him the problem with the wiring, he showed me a few things that he had in for attention and then produced the superb Solid Rosewood Necked Beauty that he had recently completed for himself. Think Double Cut LP Junior ish, loaded with 3 Seymour Duncan P90s, A Roland Synth Pickup, a Hipshot Trem and some of the most beautifully done switching that I have ever seen. Eventually, that became my first Guyton.

    I had become very impressed with all that Andy was doing and thoughts began to turn towards having a guitar built. Andy took tremendous time and care designing the guitar that we had spoken about so much during the previous months, taking great care that all the quirks I had thrown at him where catered for and then some. I wanted a Mahogany Bodied, Maple Capped Guitar that was specifically designed more towards the player who would mainly be seated when playing, I wanted as much of an improvement on upper fret access as was possible, given that we were mainly thinking Single Cutaway. The Guitar had to balance perfectly not only when on your leg, but also when strapped on. The biggest point being that I wanted the neck of my R04 replicated. Yes it was big, but it was also the nicest neck I had ever met.


    image


    Andy drew up a few ideas which we then looked at closely and ended up scrapping them in favour of something that came about by a chance comment I made about a Musicman Access Sport that was in the workshop. So the body ended up looking like that, but lightly more offset so that it would balance better when on your knee. The only thing that I had very definite ideas about was Pickups, Andy was using either Seymour Duncan or Wizard Pickups on just about everything he did so my providing Bare Knuckles Crawlers was something new to him, he is now a Stockist.

    So, Two Humbuckers, Coil Tapped by a Push Push Tone Pot and we were in business. The one thing we had both agreed upon at the outset was that this would be a Wrap Over Bridge. Andy had played my R04 on many an occasion and was really taken with the incredible amount of resonance that the Wrapover produced, so a Tonepros Wrapover would be the bridge of choice.

    Everything was covered in minute detail, he did scratch his head a bit when I said that I wanted something similar to Martin's Snow Flake Inlays, but on hindsight, not only did it work, but I believe that it inspired another customer to have the same style on his build.

    The finished guitar was without a doubt the most resonant that I had ever met. This of course translated into something pretty special when plugged in, The sum of the parts worked really well and the BKP Crawlers were everything that I had hoped for and then some. The Coil Tap engaged on Both Pickups and the selector in the centre position gave an “almost” Piezo Acoustic sound which had to be heard to be believed.

    Interestingly, as mine was being built, another commission came in that was very similar, so it proved interesting to hear the differences between to two guitars once completed. The second one had a much smaller neck than mine, was powered by Wizard Pickups and in addition to Coil Taps also had a Phase reversal switch. They were both similar, but most would agree that “Pyro” as mine became known, had a far throatier sound and for various reasons, but mainly we believed the Wrapover, had considerably more sustain.


    image


    image


    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Lexie1Lexie1 Frets: 135

    As you will have seen from the photos I put up, Pyro gained a Sister, known as China Belle. Same Body and Top, but with a Fender Scale Maple Neck and Board.

    image


    image


    image


    This one featured Andy's own Trem

    design and was powered by BKP Mississippi Queens. This was an out and out Rocker whereas Pyro was a slightly more polite Blues Rocker. Both guitars were everything that I could have wanted and saw quite a lot of action when I was still gigging. They are both now owned by a collector on the South Coast and still get out and about to various gigs I gather.


    image


    I should mention I suppose that it had never been my intention to part with them, but due to a financial crisis of monumental proportions befalling my step daughter, they, along with all of my gear, had to go to raise money to bail her out. The only way to look at this situation is that I can at least say that I “used” to have some truly beautiful guitars etc.

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27343
    Thanks for sharing lexie1.
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27343

    Time for another "my custom guitar" review I think.

    Who's got something from Martyn Booth?

    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • ElwoodElwood Frets: 452
    edited August 2013
    Jaden Rose Series 2
    #10 from the first run

    image
    image

    Spec:
    African sapele body - 1 piece
    Canadian rock maple neck with sapele headstock laminate
    Jaden Rose ceramic pickups with Dimarzio coil split
    Black wax finish

    It has a wide thin neck with 17" radius with 24 frets - almost reuleaux trianges with a rounded top. The body is a slab top andthinner than a strat. It differs from an Ibanez RG because of the radius applied to all the edges.

    The ceramic pickups are hot and suited to hard rock, metal and shread. I have found that it requires a bit of EQ tweaking to get the best out of them. They work well to drive an amp, and crunch tone with an SD jazz turns into a heavy rock two on these pickups without any changes to the settings.

    The action was low and fast. Jaden not only makes excellent guitar but also sets them p brilliantly. The only issues with the fit and finish are some of the edges around the pearl inlays are slightly rough.

    I have not had it long enough (& don't gig) so can't comment on reliability but give the quality of the instrument and simplicity I expect it last longer than the duracell bunny.

    Over all a massive thumbs up. Excellent especially when you take into account it is available from £899 and made in the UK. Various specs are available, as is a Jaden/Hiscox hardcase, and all are option extras.

    All in all 8.5/10 - a workhorse guitar that really impresses.
    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited August 2013
    Alan Knight (Gillingham) makes great looking, sounding and playing relics which are reasonably priced. He has a MySpace page and these are a good alternative to an MJT build.

    Charlie Chandler of CCGX (Hampton Wick) will build you a great Strat or Tele from top notch parts.

    Simon at SVL and Matt Schofield's tech, repairer makes lovely guitars and someone from MR had one of his gorgeous Olympic white Strats..

    Nothing really innovative or original here but great luthiers.

    Sadly, we don't have the great Sid Poole with us anymore and he made some great originals and LP clones.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FelineGuitarsFelineGuitars Frets: 11495
    edited August 2013 tFB Trader
    Costas - you haven't played any of my LP style Lion models lately (you'll be pleasantly surprised

    Sid Poole was a friend and I miss him (and his sarcasm /Sid James laugh) and his work was exemplary to say the least.
    I have worked hard to carry on the mantle of his workmanship with the Lion models we make

    Here is one of mine nestling up to just about the most famous LP of all - Peter Green's/Gary Moore's one

    image


    Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
    Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.

    Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.

      Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com.  Facebook too!

    0reaction image LOL 3reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27343
    edited August 2013

    image


    J - just post the link to the pic without the [url] and [img] tags.

    I had to edit for myself, just so that I could drool over another (2) of your creations.  Every time I see one .... *sigh*.
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited August 2013
    Hi Jonathan, Longtime no speak. You're making some great stuff and I'll swing by for a catchup and to see these beasts! Take care and great pic, Cos
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • IvisonGuitarsIvisonGuitars Frets: 6838
    tFB Trader
    Here's my JXG Guitars '57 Replica, it's absolutely stunning in the flesh:

    image

    image

    image

    image
    http://www.ivisonguitars.com
    (formerly miserneil)
    0reaction image LOL 1reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Phil_GCPhil_GC Frets: 1
    edited August 2013
    I'm lucky enough to own a trio of Feline Guitars. I have 3, 2 on purpose and one from remarkably good fortune. http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t584/Phil_GC/cedfba0d-4ec8-4584-8865-326f5348005c_zps44f37745.jpg These are my twin girls, in the feline world they're called Lions. These two are made from the same bit of wood, unlike traditional LP types they're not mahogany/maple rather they are korina which gives them a slightly different tone. Both loaded with Bareknuckle EV2 pickups. http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t584/Phil_GC/image_zps88c13794.jpg This was my first feline and has been my main guitar for many many years. Love the ebony fretboard and the slim but not too skinny neck profile. Jonathan Law (the genius who made her) thinks she could be the best guitar he's made and it was an emotional tussle for him to even let me take her away, I'm pretty sure she is THE best electric guitar ever made. I've owned 8 Gibson les Pauls over the years. None come anywhere near her. http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t584/Phil_GC/0ec79cc6-e8a5-43c5-a3b5-c7c7d01c47cb_zpsf188f4ec.jpg Her twin sister is a little younger. Acoustic bridge pick up. Rosewood fretboard. Slightly chunkier neck. But ever so beautiful. Both have a neck join like this: http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t584/Phil_GC/image_zps814bea77.jpg Which means access to top frets is beautiful. My third feline was a fortuitous eBay purchase, and the bargain of the decade. A different beast, maple, maple cap, neck and fretboard she's a real players guitar. One volume control. Miracle man pickups and a clever bit of wiring to make her middle pickup selection almost sound like an acoustic, just lovely to play. http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t584/Phil_GC/c3321038-bd56-4789-afe7-cf7906164bb4_zps3be38f4e.jpg Like many of us guitarists I drool over magazines and websites endlessly, always wondering what's next, then I pick up one of these 3 and realize I'm just gonna have to save up a bit more, because no guitars I've ever played make me feel like these do. Got plans for my next one already, who wants to give me the cash for it?
    1reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • JD50JD50 Frets: 650
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • EvilmagsEvilmags Frets: 5158
    As a word of warning, do not buy a guitar from Deubruille. I speak as an owner.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 1reaction image Wisdom
  • JD50JD50 Frets: 650

    Whats the with your guitar?

    I've had nothing but good experiences dealing with him for set ups etc

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • EvilmagsEvilmags Frets: 5158
    It's a bass. Unstable neck and badly cut pocket. He is very quick at setups but there are many better people doing that in London.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • jmasterjmaster Frets: 19
    edited August 2013
    JookyChap said:
    I only noticed these the other day - Roberts Guitars in Bristol. All handmade, £725, think I might have to go and try one of these..

    Roberts Sentry (Hi White)
    Head stock: Solid walnut on Maple
    Machine heads: Quality Roberts fine tune Machine heads
    Neck: Maple with bone nut
    Fingerboard: Solid ebony with custom inlay
    Custom body: Maple
    Pickups: Custom wound Z1 power pro
    Electrics:2 vol 2 tone 3 way, 3 way selector switch
    Parts: Highest quality Korean parts available

    22 FRETS NICKEL SILVER
    *SET NECK
    *HAND CUT BODY, HAND FINISHED
    *HAND INLAID ABALONE CUSTOM MARKERS
    *SCALE LENGTH 650MM
    *NUT WIDTH 44MM
    *D RADIUS DEPTH 19MM 1st FRET
    *FITTED CASE


    image
    Handmade or not, that looks very cool 
    as does this one
     image
    "have a good time, all the time" Spinal Tap
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • breadfanbreadfan Frets: 376
    edited September 2013
    image

    That is stunning!

    How does it sound through the J20?

    I need to get something with a P90!

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • JCA2550JCA2550 Frets: 431
    TTony you ought to add Simon Law's SVL Guitars to the list. I'll post some pics of my SVL 61 #120 after the weekend. Some of you will have already seen/played Iit at a Gear meet in thr Spring.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    This guy: https://www.facebook.com/gallo.amplification
    makes some cracking amps. He's a friend of a friend, based around Sheffield/Rotherham. It's all done by hand, I do believe.. Not sure how much he turns out, but the quality's there, alright..

     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.