M.B. GUITARS // The Official Thread

MikeBowes

Something Ive not shown much here is the amount of work I put into my necks, which is the most important part of the guitar for me and what makes my guitars special.. so photos below which capture the dark rosewood fingerboards, aged clay dots, heavily rolled fingerboard edges, dressed fret ends, smooth 'played in' backs and a selection of timbers I've been using lately!


'63-S 'Veneer' rosewood board and Birdseye maple neck:



Flame maple!

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Tomo's '64-S Neck.. qtr sawn plain maple and period correct 'veneer' curved rosewood board:


..note the narrow dot spacing at the 12th fret, typical of mid 60's Fenders


Well done for making it this far.. 1 more photo to go! 

Beautiful dark rosewood and aged clay dots.. check out those heavily rolled fingerboard edges.. maximum comfort!
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Thanks for looking! Be sure to check out my Instagram & Facebook for more frequent updates on what I'm working on!

M.B.

MikeBowes

Almost forgot the group shot!

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MikeBowes

Some more recent builds!

'62-S Sonic Blue:
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Twins! '62-S Sunburst:

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'62-S Black & Tort:

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'62-S Burst with Tort Guard:

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CloudNine

Mike makes an incredible guitar folks. Picked up one of his S shapes recently and it is right up there with my favourites for feel and tone, and ahead of quite a few vintage and masterbuilt Strats I have owned. The chunky ‘62 C profile is an absolute dream. Highly recommend checking one of his guitars out if you get chance.

MikeBowes

CloudNine said:

Mike makes an incredible guitar folks. Picked up one of his S shapes recently and it is right up there with my favourites for feel and tone, and ahead of quite a few vintage and masterbuilt Strats I have owned. The chunky ‘62 C profile is an absolute dream. Highly recommend checking one of his guitars out if you get chance.

Thank you! Hope you're enjoying the guitar!
M.B.

MikeBowes

A lovely review from JamesOnGuitar, and worth a watch if you've been looking to buy one of my guitars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0O-HuPlc6Y

JamesOnGuitarYT

Thanks for posting that here Mike!

tone1

Watched it, loved it & the guitars look stunning 

monkey42

Great review. Had the pleasure of trying a few of Mikes guitars…and I will definitely be purchasing one in the near future

MikeBowes

tone1 said:

Watched it, loved it & the guitars look stunning 

Thank you!

MikeBowes

A '62-S in Fiesta Red, and a '52 Blackguard, a lightly aged pair just finished up for the very talented Kfir Ochaion.

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MikeBowes

A pair of '62's now available from my EU dealer at Guitars Rebellion:

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MikeBowes

1962 sure was a good year! Here's an M.B. '62-S in Sonic Blue that recently headed out to a customer in Japan:

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MikeBowes

A pair of '62-S types in oly white and lake placid blue 'gone green':

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Svennn

Really enjoy viewing this thread, some real eye candy for sure. Has me, a definite modern taste guy wondering could I gel with one of these.

swiller

these really do put fenders own custom shop to shame, purely on the aesthetics as its all i know. Sure they play and sound as good as they look, perhaps better. The best "relic" jobs ive seen. 

MikeBowes

Svennn said:

Really enjoy viewing this thread, some real eye candy for sure. Has me, a definite modern taste guy wondering could I gel with one of these.

Thank you!
M.B.

MikeBowes

Thanks so much! Lots of work goes into getting playability and sound as good as they can be, as well as the aesthetics. 
M.B.

MikeBowes

TWINS! All completed and now with a very happy customer is this pair of '59 spec, swamp ash bodied guitars.. a hardtail Strat and a double bound tele:

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MikeBowes

John Mayer vibes featuring a rather beautiful Spitfire tort guard!

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