| I have owned instruments made by a wide variety of luthiers from both the UK and abroad. In typical English - perhaps I should say, British - fashion, many makers from these Isles are not exactly bold enough in putting themselves forward for consideration. More to the point, many UK players are far too prone to suppose that the only worthwhile instruments are built in the US, Spain - for classical guitars - or Japan. | People who know me will I think always agree that I am far from being a nationalistic, flag waving zealot, but I would like you to know that many guitars (and other musical stuff) made in the UK are at least as good, or better than those from abroad, and customers have the benefit of having easy access to the makers in matters of ordering, specification, and any maintenance or repair work needed in future. And dealing direct you will always get far better value for your cash! I have always found it useful to have guitars from people I could easily get to if the need arises, so have added the geographical location, where relevant and where known. Last but certainly not least, guitar makers are a special breed (they have to be!) so getting to know them personally is always a great pleasure and privilege. |
Remember many makers will make a mixture of different kinds of guitars, even if they are only listed under one category. It wasn't felt possible to list every maker under every possible type. If you are a maker not listed, or know of one, please do get in touch with the URL. | |
| The following links are to sites belonging to or held on behalf of UK guitar makers. This listing does not however constitute an endorsement, because I do not have personal experience of every single one! - merely, quite a few. | OK, so various people have been asking which makers I do have direct experience of. So I have put ** for those whose instruments I have owned, and * by those I know from colleagues, students, exhibitions, workshops etc. | The listing is by alphabetical order of surname or name of business. |
Classical Guitars |
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| Simon Ambridge** | Dartington, Devon | www.ambridgeguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Kevin Aram* | Torrington, Devon | www.aramguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Peter Barton* | Addingham, West Yorkshire | www.peterbartonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Pete Beer* | Gorsley, Herefordshire | www.petebeerguitars.com | ||||
| Stephen Cadney | Didsbury, Manchester | www.classicalguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Brian Cohen* | Guildford | www.soundpost.co.uk/ | ||||
| Christopher Dean* | Kingham, Oxfordshire | www.deanguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Paul Fischer** | Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire | www.paulfischerguitars.com/ | ||||
| Gary Hearne | St Albans | www.garyhearnguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Susan Johnson* | Sleaford Lincs | www.susanjohnsonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| James Lister* | Sheffield | www.jameslisterguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Rohan Lowe | Lewes | www.loweguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Earl S Marsh* | Boston Lincs | www.earlsmarsh-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| David Merrin* | Olney, Bucks | www.davidmerringuitars.com | ||||
| Stuart Mewburn | London | www.mewburnguitars.com/ | ||||
| Colin Morison* | Angus, Scotland | www.guitarmaker.demon.co.uk/ | ||||
| Gary Nava | West London | www.navaguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Michael P Nalysnyk | Bradford | www.historicalguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Shaun Newman | Devon | www.shaunnewmanguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Stephen Rees | Chipping Norton | www.reesguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Michael Ritchie* | Fintry Scotland | www.web.mac.com/ritchieguitars/ | ||||
| David Rouse | Harlow, Essex | www.rouseguitars.com | ||||
| Nicholas Scott | Chesterfield | www.nicholas-scott-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Gary Southwell* | Nottingham | www.southwellguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| David Whiteman | Brighton | www.whitemanguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Roger Williams | Lichfield | www.rogerwilliamsguitars.com/ | ||||
| Philip Woodfield* | www.woodfieldguitars.com/ | |||||
| Zen Guitars (Roger Allan) | Suffolk | www.zenguitars.com |
| Atkin guitars | Canterbury | www.atkinguitars.com/ |
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| Avandel | Ammanford, S Wales | www.avandel.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rob Aylward | Aberlour, Banffshire | www.rjaylwardguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Mark Bailey | (also electrics) | www.baileyguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Matthew John Bascetta | Merseyside | www.mjbluthier.co.uk/ |
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| Nick Benjamin | Lewes, Sussex | www.benjaminguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Brook** | Hittisleigh, Exeter, Devon | www.brookguitars.com/ | ||||
| Thomas Buchanan** | Bradford (mandolin family) | www.folkmandolin.co.uk/ | ||||
| Chris Eccleshall | (also electrics) Buckfastleigh Devon | www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Phil Davidson | Bristol | www.davidsoninstruments.com/ | ||||
| Arum Devereux | Stroud | www.accoustiguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Bill Dinsdale | Keighley, West Yorkshire | www.billdinsdale.com/ | ||||
| Nigel Forster | www.nkforsterguitars.com/ | |||||
| Freshwater** | Beauly, Inverness, Scotland | www.frettedfolkinstruments.com/ | ||||
| Fylde* | Penrith, Cumbria | www.fyldeguitars.com/ | ||||
| Chris George | Tattershall, Lincs - also makes electrics | www.chrisgeorgeguitars.com/ | ||||
| Robin Greenwood ** | Wimborne, Dorset. Also classicals | www.greenwoodguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Dave Gregory | York. Also all other types. | davegregoryguitars.com/ | ||||
| Paul Hathaway | East London | www.paulhathway.com/ | ||||
| Lines Guitars | Reading, Berkshire, | www.linesguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Dan MacPherson | Rayleight, Essex | www.dm-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| John Marlow | Dewsbury, W. Yorks | www.jmarlowstringedinstruments.co.uk | ||||
| Godefroy Maruejouls | London. Maccaferri-type and classical/flamenco | www.godefroyguitars.com/ | ||||
| Dermot McIlroy | Antrim, N. Ireland | www.mcilroyguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Richard Meyrick | Monmouthshire | www.richardmeyrickguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Bill Kelday | Glasgow, also classicals. | www.keldayguitars.com/ | ||||
| Dave King | Reading, Berkshire | www.daveking-acoustics.com/ | ||||
| Kif | Perranuthnoe Cornwall | www.kifguitars.com/index.html | ||||
| Kinkade | Bristol | www.kinkadeguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Lowden | Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland | www.georgelowden.com/lowdenguitars/ | ||||
| Adrian Lucas | Lincoln also makes classicals | www.lucasguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Andy Manson | Crediton, Devon | www.andymanson.co.uk/ | ||||
| Matthew John Bascetta | Wirral | www.mjbluthier.co.uk | ||||
| Moon | Glasgow | www.moonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Northworthy | Ashbourne, Derbyshire | www.northworthy.com/ | ||||
| Oakwood Instruments | Leeds | www.oakwoodinstruments.co.uk/ | ||||
| Olivewood | Newark, Notts | www.olivewoodguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Osborne Guitars | Lewes, Sussex | www.osborneguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Patrick Eggle | Oswestry, Shropshire | www.eggle.co.uk/ | ||||
| Pickard | Market Rasen, Lincs | www.pickardacoustics.com/ | ||||
| David Antony Reid | London | www.darluthier.com | ||||
| Stephen Sedgwick | Kent. Specialises in harp guitars | www.stephensedgwick.co.uk/ | ||||
| Stefan Sobell | Northumberland | www.sobellinstruments.com/ | ||||
| Andy Tobin | Herefordshire | www.tobininstruments.co.uk | ||||
| Steve Toon | Cheltenham | www.toonguitars.com | ||||
| Chris Shaw | Dinas Mawddwy, Wales | www.guitarsetc.co.uk/ | ||||
| J White | Farnborough, Hants | www.jwhite-guitarworkshops.co.uk/ |
| Awe Guitars | Newton Abbot, Devon | www.aweguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Black Machine | London | www.blackmachine.co.uk | ||||
| Black Carbon | Huntingdon | www.blackcarbon.co.uk/music/ | ||||
| Black Rose | Haverhill, Suffolk | www.blackroseguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Blackspot | Bristol. Also acoustics | www.blackspotguitars.com | ||||
| Martyn Booth | Sudbury, Suffolk | www.martynboothguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Case Guitars | Birchington, Kent | www.caseguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Coley Guitars | Carmarthenshire, Wales | www.coleyguitars.co.uk |
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| Tito Dalmedo | Preston, Lancashire | www.dalmedoguitars.co.uk/. | ||||
| Patrick Eggle** | Birmingham | www.patrickeggleguitars.com/ | ||||
| Enfield Guitars | Basses. Ashford, Kent | www.enfieldguitars.com/ | ||||
| Ethos | www.ethosguitars.co.uk/ | |||||
| Feline | Croydon | www.felineguitars.com/ | ||||
| Fliski Guitars | London | www.fliskiguitars.com/ | ||||
| GB Guitars | Makes basses! Brighton | www.gbguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Tom Grindle TMG | Dorchester | www.tmg.me.uk/ | ||||
| Gordon Smith | Partington nr Manchester | www.gordonsmithguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Grollman Guitars | www.grollmanguitars.com/ | |||||
| Jay Dee Guitars | www.jaydeeguitars.com/ | |||||
| JJ | www.jjguitars.com/ | |||||
| Dominic Kendall | Guernsey | www.kendallguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Legra Guitars | www.legraguitars.co.uk/ | |||||
| Longfellow Guitars | London | www.longfellowguitars.com/ | ||||
| Longfoot Guitars | www.longfootguitars.co.uk/ | |||||
| Hugh Manson | Exeter, Devon | www.mansonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Mcintyre Guitars | London | www.mcintyreguitars.com/ | ||||
| Necx | Dudley W Midlands | www.necx-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Organic Guitars | Cambridgeshire | www.organicguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Overwater Basses | Carlisle | www.overwaterbasses.com/ | ||||
| Clive Rees | Cambridge | www.rees-electric-guitars.com | ||||
| Dave Ridgeway | www.ridgewayguitars.co.uk | |||||
| Paul Richardson | Durham | www.prguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Will Scott | Pembrokeshire | www.willscottguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Gordon Smith* | Partington near Manchester | www.gordonsmithguitars.com | ||||
| Nathan Sheppard | Somerset | www.nathansheppardguitars.com/ | ||||
| Solwayer | Cumbria | www.solwayerguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Sovereign | Wootton Bassett, Swindon | www.sovereignguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Status** | Colchester, Essex | www.status-graphite.com/ | ||||
| Tomson | Wigan. Also acoustics. | www.tomsonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Vanquish Guitars | www.vanquishguitars.co.uk | |||||
| Wal Basses | High Wycombe | walbasses.homestead.com/index.html | ||||
| Kim Webber | Bridgewater, Somerset | www.kimwebberguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Robin Williams | Birmingham | www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Peter Woodman | Isle of Man | www.petewoodmanguitars.com/ |
| Audio Kitchen | Amps (West London) | www.audiokitchen.co.uk/ |
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| Bare Knuckles pickups | Falmouth, Devon | www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ | ||||
| Belgarth Bodhrans** | Orkney | www.belgarth.com/ | ||||
| Blake Robson Tuners | Tyne and Wear | www.blakerobsontuningmachines.co.uk/ | ||||
| Blue Moon Bottlenecks** | Ashington, Northumberland | www.bluemoonbottleneck.co.uk/ | ||||
| Burford FX pedals | www.projectguitarparts.co.uk/ | |||||
| Britpicks** | Guitar plectrums (plectra!) | www.britpicks.co.uk | ||||
| Calder Originals | Hand made cases - Buckfast, Devon | www.calderoriginals.com/ | ||||
| Classic Guitar Boxes | Dorset | www.classicguitarboxes.com/ | ||||
| Cornell Amplification | Southend on Sea, Essex | www.dc-developments.com/ | ||||
| Cornford Amplification** | www.cornfordamps.com/ | |||||
| English Valve Amps | Norfolk | www.englishvalveamps.co.uk | ||||
| Hayden amplification | Maldon Essex | www.haydenamps.com/ | ||||
| Headway Acoustic pickups | Some products imported | www.headwayelectronics.com/ | ||||
| Hebden Sound ** | Studio microphones | www.hebdensound.co.uk | ||||
| Highwood Drums | West Yorkshire | www.highwooddrums.co.uk/ | ||||
| Hiscox cases** | www.hiscoxcases.com/ | |||||
| Gemini Pickups | www.geminipickups.co.uk/ | |||||
| Iron Gear pickups | www.irongear.co.uk/ | |||||
| Kerry Whistles | www.kerrywhistles.com/ | |||||
| Kress Drums | bodhrans and similar drums | www.gurtmint.co.uk/ | ||||
| LA Audio | Audio gear | www.laaudio.co.uk/ | ||||
| Lovetone | FX pedals | www.lovetone.com/ | ||||
| Matamp Amplification | Huddersfield | www.matamp.co.uk/ | ||||
| Maughan Amps | WallsendTyneside | www.maughanamps.com/ | ||||
| Newtone strings** | www.newtonestrings.com/ | |||||
| Owen Electronics** | FX pedals | www.owenelectronics.co.uk/ | ||||
| Robson Tuners | (Formally Blake Robson) | www.robsontuners.com/ | ||||
| Roger Mayer** | FX as per Jimi | www.roger-mayer.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rogers Tuning Machines** | Leicester | www.rodgers-tuning-machines.co.uk/ | ||||
| Pegasus Cases** | Pitlochry | www.pegasus-cases.com/ | ||||
| Pilgrim Harps | Surrey | www.pilgrimharps.co.uk | ||||
| Pro Release** | Guitar strap accessory | www.pro-release.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rotosound strings** | www.rotosound.com/ | |||||
| Stompcase | FX pedal board/case | www.stompcase.co.uk | ||||
| Swineshead Pickups | Swineshead, Boston, Lincs | www.swinesheadpickups.co.uk/ | ||||
| Tipton Amplification | www.tipton-amps.co.uk/ | |||||
| Van Damme Cables** | All kinds of cabling inc guitar leads | www.vdctrading.com/ | ||||
| Vintage guitars ** | Bottlenecks | www.vintageguitar.co.uk/ | ||||
| Vision Pedal Boards | www.visionpedalboards.co.uk/ | |||||
| Wizard Pickups | Carmarthenshire | www.wizardpickups.co.uk | ||||
| Wolftone Amplication | www.wolftone.co.uk/ |