Hand made In the UK strat?

brucegill

Who’s making the nicest strats at the moment in the UK? I know of a few partscaster and aging places and some of these look great, but who actually makes them at the moment? 

Any suggestions? Vintage inspired would be more up my street. Light relic is fine. 

Alex2678

@GoldenEraGuitars does full builds afaik, and they look pretty sweet

andy1839

The Eggle 96 Vintage are worth a look, although a little bit off the standard Strat track.

RaymondLin

Gray?

Strat54

My choice...
https://www.mbguitars.co.uk/

Sassafras

Bravewood.
Not sure if he still makes them to custom specs. I think you have to take what you get given.

brucegill

Sassafras said:

Bravewood.
Not sure if he still makes them to custom specs. I think you have to take what you get given.

Ahhh, good choice, forgot about him. A mate has one of basses and loves it - and I know he’s had some amazing basses so it must be good. 

Strat54 said:

My choice...
https://www.mbguitars.co.uk/

Many thanks. Will check these out. 

andy1839 said:

The Eggle 96 Vintage are worth a look, although a little bit off the standard Strat track.

Not even thought of Eggle. Will have a look but not sure these will be up my street, but you never know. 

Alex2678 said:

@GoldenEraGuitars does full builds afaik, and they look pretty sweet

Love his work. Just wanted to start looking at fully handmade and I believe SC are partscaster? Apologies if I have this wrong? I’ll check out where his bodies are made. 

This is all about wanting a strat, seeing the new CS fender prices, not particularly wanting my money going to the US and thinking I should really spend it here in the UK for once!

meltedbuzzbox

Get a used cs strat?

Schnozz

Gotta be that Rob Williams chap surely - His stuff at Birmingham Guitar Show stood out.

Alex2678

Alex2678 said:

@GoldenEraGuitars does full builds afaik, and they look pretty sweet

Love his work. Just wanted to start looking at fully handmade and I believe SC are partscaster? Apologies if I have this wrong? I’ll check out where his bodies are made. 

This is all about wanting a strat, seeing the new CS fender prices, not particularly wanting my money going to the US and thinking I should really spend it here in the UK for once!

You might be right I’m not 100% sure though I have seen him sell some stuff with a caveat that he hadn’t made the neck or body, implying that he usually does, maybe drop him a message he’s a nice bloke 

JayGee

I’m aware there is some controversy over pickup positions, but, since Auden have addressed QA issues, might Gordon Smith be worth a look?

Ben_McCarthy

+1 for Bravewood, I know they're a bit contentious on here but my one is superb. Hard to get hold of though

danishbacon

If you want a full scratch build (ie, cuts all the blanks, paints, winds the pickups, depending sometimes makes his own bobbins), Zero One (Jeff Beer) is worth contacting via Facebook. His prices tend to inch up and the work is top end. 

axisus

danishbacon said:

If you want a full scratch build (ie, cuts all the blanks, paints, winds the pickups, depending sometimes makes his own bobbins), Zero One (Jeff Beer) is worth contacting via Facebook. His prices tend to inch up and the work is top end. 

I was going to mention Jeff. He does lovely aged guitars, if I was in the market for an aged strat or Tele I would 100% go to him. I'm friends on Facebook so I often see his stuff.

brucegill

Thanks guys! Good few on the list that I’d not remembered or heard of. Much appreciated!

poopot

Have a word with @Danielsguitars ;;

heres one he built for Mike Bradley...

https://youtu.be/yz25mH8CxW0

And Ive been dicking about with this one for the past week!... amazing strat!...

merlin

poopot said:

And Ive been dicking about with this one for the past week!... amazing strat!...

Weren't you selling this at some point a long time ago in a galaxy far away?

poopot

merlin said:

poopot said:

And Ive been dicking about with this one for the past week!... amazing strat!...

Weren't you selling this at some point a long time ago in a galaxy far away?

Nope... I had a lpb and a car strat up for grabs...

that sonic blue strat has only recently been built by Darren.

Sync

brucegill said:

Who’s making the nicest strats at the moment in the UK? I know of a few partscaster and aging places and some of these look great, but who actually makes them at the moment? 

Any suggestions? Vintage inspired would be more up my street. Light relic is fine. 

The price point at which the uk custom made 'vintage' strats really do deliver, is too close to a second hand fender cs strat imo. 

And on the quest for vintage light relic, buying a mint seemingly unplayed (albeit potentially an oxymoron) second hand lr fender CS strat makes the most sense. 

Nothing detracting from the aforementioned builders though if that is the way of choice. 

Kalimna

Another vote for Gray guitars. I played an ebony fretboarded blue strat of his at the guitar show in Birmingham this year. Utterly sublime. It may be similar cash to a CS Fender Strat, but that money is going to a small UK builder rather than a vast American corporation.

Adam

Boromedic

Rob Williams does great work, I can vouch for his build quality as I have a drop top style one.