Baritone ukuleles

I’ve made a couple of Baritone ukuleles and it’s an instrument that I really enjoy building. Unfortunately, because I build them like small guitars, they take me far too long to make and I can’t compete with price of the best factory built ones; so I don’t think there will be any more built in the foreseeable future.

The first was built for Morgan Nicholls of Muse fame. He supplied the sinker redwood sound board, African blackwood back and sides, pink ivory binding…..oh and the fossilised walrus tusk nut and saddle!

 This one has Brazilian mahogany back and sides and a Sitka soundboard, there’s also a Headway transducer fitted.

Completed in 2019; Engelmann spruce, figured sycamore, cocobolo details 

Parlour Guitars

Although I’ve always had a soft spot for parlour guitars, I just haven’t had the opportunity to build as many of them as I would have liked to! This one is based on 1916 Ditson/Martin and was made whilst at the London College of Furniture in 1977. I still have and play it!

Fast forward to 2010 and we have this one. 

This design is currently offered on my website...........and here’s Phil Hare doing a demo video…..

Archtop Guitars

Here are two archtop guitars that I built, an amazing 33 years apart. I really enjoyed building both of these instruments and would love to do more! This “Gibson” style one was built during my second year at the London College of Furniture (1977) and I still impress myself when I look at the tailpiece that I made! 

The one below, was built as a custom order in 2010, is based on my Model 1 shape; the client was inspired by the Gibson Howard Roberts guitar; hence the oval sound hole. It was design to be used acoustically or amplified; the humbucking pick-up and its volume and tone controls are mounted so that they do not interfere with the vibrations of the top plate, hence allowing for a true acoustic sound.

Adrian's Trio

Here is a collection of matching instruments; a tenor mandola, an octave mandolin and an Irish bouzouki. All three were built for the same musician, the mandola and OM in 2013 and the ‘zouk in 2014. They all match each other, the only difference being, that the extra-long ‘zouk’s neck is made from maple whereas the other two are from sapele. All three have Headway undersaddle transducers.