M.B. GUITARS // The Official Thread

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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    One for all the blackguard fans! A handmade '52-T blackguard in aged white blonde.. lots of small details correct to this era that are often missed.. correct contours and rounded headstock edges, body routing including the router hump, round string tree, correct slotted screws throughout, real bakelite guard with a more rounded edge and nitro lacquered, heavy knurled domed knobs, and a '52 serial numbered neck plate. Goth machine heads, Callaham compensated bridge and pickups are easy 50's spec by Radioshop.. lovely! Sounds and plays beautifully!

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    Another build complete.. this ones a cool one, based on John Mayer's original '64 sunburst Strat, and built to mid 60's specs including a veneer rosewood board neck. This one features a few differences to Johns.. a hardtail bridge, birdseye maple neck and pearl dot inlays, all to the customers specs. Its a thing of beauty! 

    As always, more pics over on my Instagram page. Happy weekend folks!

    M.B.

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    A super cool trio of 1962 spec S type replicas fresh off my bench! Click on the pic to enlarge for details.

    M.B.

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    A beautiful '59-S in candy apple red. This one is very lightly aged.. no dings or wear, just lots of lacquer checking and lightly oxidised hardware. Played in but well loved! Super thin nitro finish on a lightweight swamp ash body, my special vintage reclaimed indian rosewood slab board on a qtr cut flame maple neck, aged clay dots, real NOS nitrate guard with a wide beveled edge, exact vintage retro tremolo and Ron Ellis pickups. 

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • rsvmarkrsvmark Frets: 1373
    Ooooo I say. That is lovely
    An official Foo liked guitarist since 2024
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    Hello! Here's a sneak peek of a recently handmade 1962 spec S type in aged olympic white.

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    Hello! Its been a while since I last posted. Lots going on and lots to share, head over to my Instagram page to see what Im up to daily, but for now heres a sneaky peek at a '62-S I've just finished up in three tone burst, one of five of my hand made vintage replicas available at Coda Music soon!

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • Fifties fun.. a '52-T Blackguard and a '55-S hardtail, two of five recently headed to Coda Music in Stevenage, where you can now go to try out my guitars! 

    Both of these hand made vintage inspired builds feature super lightweight swamp ash bodies, master grade qtr sawn flame maple necks with my vintage soft V profile, Jescar 6150 frets and a 9.5" radius with super played in and comfy rolled edges. Both feature Callaham hardware and my Radioshop 50's spec pickups, wound specially for me.. all as standard on my guitars!

    Head over to the Coda Music website for more info and pics of these and some lovely early 60's spec S types. 

    M.B.

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    More blackguard fun! A 'Keef / Micawber' inspired build.. based on a '52 Tele. Lightweight swamp ash body, 1 piece maple neck with a fat 'baseball' neck profile, 6150 frets and a 9.5" radius board, with beautifully finished rolled and played in fingerboard edges as I do on all of my builds. Radioshop PAF humbucker in the neck and a '52 single coil in the bridge. Callaham bridge with compensated saddles for correct intonation, heavy knurled dome knobs, correct slotted screws and real nitro lacquered bakelite guard all made and aged in house.. lovely!

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • GreatapeGreatape Frets: 3490
    My god, I think I've gone blind. These are too nice, and I'm definitely relic-averse. That red strat....
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  • I recently made a '52-T blackguard replica for the incredibly talented Tomo Fujita, who has been following my work for a year or so now. Tomo is a guitar Professor at Berklee College Of Music and students include the fabulous John Mayer amongst others. Some pics below of the guitar, and Tomo has recently posted a great demo video which I will link below. 

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    Here is the demo video for anyone interested!

    Thanks
    M.B.
    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • rsvmarkrsvmark Frets: 1373
    Good god Mike, that really does sound good
    An official Foo liked guitarist since 2024
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  • hoopshoops Frets: 223
    Sounds and looks amazing!
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  • LebarqueLebarque Frets: 3755
    Tomo's guitar sounds incredible, Mike. Which Radioshop pickups does it have in it?
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  • Thanks all! Pickups are the Radioshop '52 Tele set, which I use as standard in my blackguard builds. 
    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • A stunning pair recently finished and now available from my U.S dealer Amelia Island Fine Guitars in Florida.. a '62-S in funky fiesta red and a '52-T blackguard in white blonde:

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • There's a few guitars of mine over at Coda Music, here's a demo video of a '55-S hardtail, demo'd by the wonderful Ramon Goose. 

    More guitars heading there in the new year!



    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    Hi all! Here's a recently completed '64-S in aged Lake Placid Blue. Flame maple neck, dark reclaimed rosewood veneer fingerboard with clay dots, real nitrate vintage guard with wide bevel and all my usually correct vintage details throughout. Callaham Tremolo and my Radioshop MB60's pickups. A lovely guitar!!

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    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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  • MikeBowesMikeBowes Frets: 335
    It's been a while since I last posted here! Its been a busy few months! I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for supporting my work here on the FB, or my social media pages (Instagram or Facebook).. lots of amazing builds coming up!

    Here's four guitars I recently finished up for my Swedish dealer 'These Go To 11'. Two '62-S styles in olympic white and sonic blue, a '55-S gold guard in desert sand, and a super cool '59-JM gold guard in nicotine blonde!








































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    If you don't already, please follow my Instagram or Facebook pages as I update those a few times a week with insights into what Im working on. Thanks all!

    M.B.
    Mike Bowes, M.B. Guitars
    www.mbguitars.co.uk
    INSTAGRAM
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