| 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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| John Ainsworth | Lancashire | www.ainsworth-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Simon Ambridge** | Dartington, Devon | www.ambridgeguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Kevin Aram* | Torrington, Devon | www.aramguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Les Backshall | Nr. Aylesbury, Bucks | www.backshallguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Brett Barrett | Skipton, N Yorkshire | www.barrettclassicalguitars.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/ | ||||
| Anthony Dixon | Mansfield also acoustics | ww.guitar-maker.com/ | ||||
| Eco Guitars (Andrew Page) | Newark, Notts (also acoustics) | www.eco-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Stephen Eden | Ringmer, East Sussex | www.edenguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Paul Fischer** | Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire | www.paulfischerguitars.com/ | ||||
| Tom Johnson | also acoustic, electric and ethnic | www.tjohnsonguitars.com/ | ||||
| Saul Leslie | Feltham, Middlesex | www.saulleslieguitars.co.uk | ||||
| James Lister* | Sheffield | www.jameslisterguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Rohan Lowe | Lewes | www.loweguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Adrian Lucas | also acoustics | www.lucasguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Ben Maddock | Abergavenny. Also flamencos | www.benmaddockguitars.weebly.com | ||||
| Earl S Marsh* | Boston Lincs | www.earlsmarsh-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| David Merrin* | Olney, Bucks | www.davidmerringuitars.com | ||||
| Stuart Mewburn | London | www.mewburnguitars.com/ | ||||
| Rik Middleton | Coventry | www.rikmiddletonclassicalguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Colin Morison* | Angus, Scotland | www.morisonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Oren Myers | Goring-on-Thames | www.myersguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Gary Nava | West London | www.navaguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Michael P Nalysnyk | Bradford | www.historicalguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Richard Newman | Ascot, Berks | www.richardnewmanguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Shaun Newman | Devon | www.shaunnewmanguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Purnell Guitars (Jake Fuller) | Reydon, Suffolk | www.purnellguitars.com | ||||
| 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/ | ||||
| Trevor Semple** | www.sempleguitars.com/ | |||||
| 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 |
| Alan Arnold | Surrey, also electrics | www.alanarnoldguitars.co.uk/ |
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| Atkin guitars | Canterbury | www.atkinguitars.com/ | ||||
| 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/ | ||||
| Martin Cole | Bude, Cornwall | www.martincoleguitars.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/ | ||||
| Gosden Guitars | Acoustic & electric lap steels, & acoustic guitars | www.gosdenguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Robin Greenwood ** | Wimborne, Dorset. Also classicals | www.greenwoodguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Dave Gregory | York. Also all other types. | davegregoryguitars.com/ | ||||
| Gosden Guitars | Mainly lap steels, also standard models | www.gosdenguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Derek Halliday* | East Stour, Dorset | www.hallidayguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Thomas Handley | Charlbury Oxfordshire | www.HandleyGuitars.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/ | ||||
| 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/ | ||||
| Richard Nice | Portsmouth. Also classicals and electrics. | www.richardniceguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Killy Nonis | Selmer/Maccaferri style. Nr Canterbury. | www.killynonisguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Northworthy | Ashbourne, Derbyshire | www.northworthy.com/ | ||||
| Oakwood Instruments | Leeds | www.oakwoodinstruments.co.uk/ | ||||
| Olivewood | Newark, Notts | www.olivewoodparlourguitars.com/ | ||||
| Osborne Guitars | Lewes, Sussex | www.osborneguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Ov Guitars | Abergavenny. Also electrics | www.ov-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Graham Parker | SE London. Also electrics | www.grahamparkerluthier.com | ||||
| Patrick James Eggle | Oswestry, Shropshire | www.eggle.co.uk/ | ||||
| Pickard | Market Rasen, Lincs | www.pickardacoustics.com/ | ||||
| Ken Powell | www.powellguitars.com/ | |||||
| Balazs Prohaszka | Belfast, Northern Ireland | www.prohaszkaguitars.com | ||||
| David Antony Reid | London | www.darluthier.com | ||||
| Stephen Sedgwick | Kent. Specialises in harp guitars | www.stephensedgwick.co.uk/ | ||||
| David Simmons | W Sussex. Also renaissance intruments, electrics. | www.davidsimmonsluthier.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/ | ||||
| Mike Vanden | Argyll | www.vanden.co.uk/ | ||||
| J White | Farnborough, Hants | www.jwhite-guitarworkshops.co.uk/ | ||||
| Alex Willis | East Sussex, also classicals | www.willisguitars.co.uk/ |
| Black Machine | London | www.blackmachine.co.uk |
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| Black Carbon | Huntingdon | www.blackcarbon.co.uk/music/ | ||||
| Blackspot | Bristol. Also acoustics | www.blackspotguitars.com | ||||
| Martyn Booth | Sudbury, Suffolk | www.martynboothguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| The Creamery | Manchester. Also pickups | www.at-the-creamery.co.uk | ||||
| Case Guitars | Birchington, Kent | www.caseguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Coley Guitars | Carmarthenshire, Wales | www.coleyguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Crimson Guitars | Somerset/Dorset border | www.crimsonguitars.com | ||||
| DM Guitars | Southend-on-Sea | www.dm-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Tito Dalmedo | Preston, Lancashire | www.dalmedoguitars.co.uk/. | ||||
| Patrick Eggle** | Birmingham | www.patrickeggleguitars.com/ | ||||
| Enfield Guitars | Basses. Ashford, Kent | www.enfieldguitars.com/ | ||||
| Ethos | Redditch | www.ethosguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Eve Guitars | Dundee | www.eveguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Feline | Croydon | www.felineguitars.com/ | ||||
| Flame Guitars | London | www.flameguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Fliski Guitars | London | www.fliskiguitars.com/ | ||||
| GB Guitars | Makes basses! Brighton | www.gbguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Gj Guitars | Nr Aberdeen | www.gjguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Ged Green | Manchester | www.gedgreen.co.uk/ | ||||
| GMR Basses | London | www.gmrbasses.com | ||||
| Tom Grindle TMG | Dorchester | www.tmg.me.uk/ | ||||
| Gordon Smith | Partington nr Manchester | www.gordonsmithguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Grollman Guitars | www.grollmanguitars.com/ | |||||
| Gus Guitars | www.gusguitars.com/ | |||||
| Andrew Guyton | Bungay, Suffolk | www.guytonguitars.com/ | ||||
| Jaden Rose Guitars | Cambridge | www.jadenroseguitars.com | ||||
| Jay Dee Guitars | www.jaydeeguitars.com/ | |||||
| JJ | www.jjguitars.com/ | |||||
| JXG | Newcastle | www.jxgguitars.com/ | ||||
| Kemp Guitars | Cornwall | www.kempguitars.com | ||||
| Dominic Kendall | Guernsey | www.kendallguitars.co.uk | ||||
| KGB | Wirral | www.kgb-music.co.uk/ | ||||
| Simon Lee | www.simonleeguitars.com/ | |||||
| 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/ | ||||
| MPL Guitars UK | Devizes. Also acoustics | www.mplguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Necx | Dudley W Midlands | www.necx-guitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Operation Strat | Vintage Strat copies | www.operationstrat.co.uk | ||||
| Organic Guitars | Cambridgeshire | www.organicguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Overwater Basses | Carlisle | www.overwaterbasses.com/ | ||||
| Philipp Porter | Stockport | www.philipporterguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Probett Guitars | Farnham Surrey | www.probettguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Clive Rees | Cambridge | www.rees-electric-guitars.com | ||||
| Paul Richardson | Durham | www.prguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Sei Bass | Basses, London | www.seibass.com/ | ||||
| Nathan Sheppard | Somerset | www.nathansheppardguitars.com/ | ||||
| SimS | Parts, LEDs and custom build | www.simscustom.com/ | ||||
| Solwayer | Cumbria | www.solwayerguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Sovereign | Wootton Bassett, Swindon | www.sovereignguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Dave Stevens | Bristol | www.stevenscustomguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Status** | Colchester, Essex | www.status-graphite.com/ | ||||
| Storm Shadow | Sheffield | www.stormshadowguitarworks.com/ | ||||
| TJC Guitars | Stevenage | www.tjcguitars.com/ | ||||
| Tomson | Wigan. Also acoustics. | www.tomsonguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Trevor Usher | Pwllheli | www.soundsinscale.com/ | ||||
| Vanquish Guitars | www.vanquishsounds.co.uk | |||||
| Wafer Guitars | Plymouth | www.waferguitars-custom-guitars.hostwebs.com/ | ||||
| Wal Basses | High Wycombe | walbasses.homestead.com/index.html | ||||
| Kim Webber | Bridgewater, Somerset | www.kimwebberguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Hj Williams | Cumbria-N'thumbria border | www.williamsguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Robin Williams | Birmingham | www.robwilliamsguitars.co.uk/ | ||||
| Lindsay Wilson | Barnstaple, N Devon | www.Lindsaywilsonguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Peter Woodman | Isle of Man | www.petewoodmanguitars.com/ | ||||
| Graham D Wright | Cannock | www.gdwguitars.co.uk | ||||
| Accusound | retro-fitted instsrument mics. | www.hebdensoundgroup.co.uk/ |
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| Amp Covers Online | W Yorks | www.amplifiercoversonline.com/ | ||||
| Audio Kitchen | Amps (West London) | www.audiokitchen.co.uk/ | ||||
| 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/ | ||||
| Bulldog Pickups | West Yorkshire | www.bulldogpickups.com/ | ||||
| Burford FX pedals | www.projectguitarparts.co.uk/ | |||||
| Buster Cases | Bury | www.bustercases.co.uk | ||||
| Britpicks** | Guitar plectrums (plectra!) | www.britpicks.co.uk | ||||
| Calder Originals | Hand made cases - Buckfast, Devon | www.calderoriginals.com/ | ||||
| Castle Cases | Flight cases, pedal boards and more | www.flightcasefactory.co.uk | ||||
| Classic Guitar Boxes | Dorset | www.classicguitarboxes.com/ | ||||
| Coopersonic | FX pedals Nottingham | www.coopersonic.com | ||||
| Cornell Amplification | Southend on Sea, Essex | www.dc-developments.com/ | ||||
| Cornford Amplification** | www.cornfordamps.com/ | |||||
| Dycem | Non slip gadgets and mats | www.dycem-ns.com/music.php | ||||
| East UK | (Mainly bass) onboard pre-amps | www.east-uk.com | ||||
| English Valve Amps | Norfolk | www.englishvalveamps.co.uk | ||||
| GigRig | Pedal accessories | www.thegigrig.com | ||||
| Guitar Stool . Com | Custom made guitar stool, Wiltshire | www.guitar-stool.com/ | ||||
| Hanson Clarinets | Marsden, West Yorkshire | www.hansonclarinets.com | ||||
| Hard Case | Cases | www.hardcase.com/ | ||||
| Hardman Guitar amps | Cambridge | www.hardman-guitar-amplifiers.co.uk | ||||
| Hayden amplification | Maldon Essex | www.haydenamps.com/ | ||||
| Headway Acoustic pickups | Some products imported | www.headwayelectronics.com/ | ||||
| Heavy Air Pickups | Bristol | http://www.heavyair.co.uk/ | ||||
| Hebden Sound ** | Studio microphones | www.hebdensound.co.uk | ||||
| Highwood Drums | West Yorkshire | www.highwooddrums.co.uk/ | ||||
| Hiscox cases** | www.hiscoxcases.com/ | |||||
| HiWatt amplification | Doncaster | www.hiwatt.co.uk | ||||
| Pete Howlett | Ukuleles, Wales | www.petehowlettukulele.co.uk/ | ||||
| Flynn Amps | Glasgow; amps and FX. | www.flynnamps.co.uk/ | ||||
| Gemini Pickups | www.geminipickups.co.uk/ | |||||
| JMI | Doncaster; amps and FX | www.jmiamplification.com/ | ||||
| Kerry Whistles | www.kerrywhistles.com/ | |||||
| Kress Drums | bodhrans and similar drums | www.gurtmint.co.uk/ | ||||
| LA Audio | Audio gear | www.laaudio.co.uk/ | ||||
| Lazy J | Amps | www.lazyjprojects.com/ | ||||
| Logarhythm | Foot-stomping rhythm box | www.log-jam.co.uk | ||||
| Lovetone | FX pedals | www.lovetone.com/ | ||||
| Matamp Amplification | Huddersfield | www.matamp.co.uk/ | ||||
| Maughan Amps | WallsendTyneside | www.maughanamps.com/ | ||||
| McGregor Amplification | PA gear. Distributed by MTR | www.mcgregoramps.co.uk/ | ||||
| MJW Amps | Formally Martamp. N Derbyshire | www.martamp.com/ | ||||
| MTR Audio | Studio and PA gear | www.mtraudio.com | ||||
| Moon Phase** | FX pedals. Cambridgeshire | www.moonphaser.co.uk/ | ||||
| Norman Concertinas | Shrewsbury | www.acnorman.co.uk/ | ||||
| Newtone strings** | www.newtonestrings.com/ | |||||
| Orchid Electronics | Pre amps, DI boxes etc. Exeter | www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/ | ||||
| Owen Electronics** | FX pedals | www.owenelectronics.co.uk/ | ||||
| Pegasus Cases** | Pitlochry | www.pegasus-cases.com/ | ||||
| Percussion Plus | Tuned percussion only produced in UK | www.percussionplus.co.uk | ||||
| Picato Strings | www.picato.co.uk | |||||
| Pilgrim Harps | Surrey | www.pilgrimharps.co.uk | ||||
| Pinz | Brass Guitar Bridge Pins | www.pinzuk.com | ||||
| Precision Devices | Speaker transducers. Distributed by MTR. | www.precision-devices.com/ | ||||
| Pro Release** | Guitar strap accessory | www.pro-release.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rare Breed Guitars | Bridges, saddles, knobs | www.rarebreedguitars.com/ | ||||
| RaxX | Rack systems | www.raxx.co.uk | ||||
| Robson Tuners | (Formally Blake Robson) | www.robsontuners.com/ | ||||
| Roger Mayer** | FX as per Jimi | www.roger-mayer.co.uk/ | ||||
| Purple Chili | Amplification (and basses) | www.purple-chili.com/ | ||||
| Rogers Tuning Machines** | Leicester | www.rodgers-tuning-machines.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rothwell | FX pedals and power supplies (and hifi) | www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/ | ||||
| Rotosound strings** | www.rotosound.com/ | |||||
| Roqsolid | Amp covers | www.roqsolid.co.uk | ||||
| Rycote | Mic shockmounts | www.rycote.com | ||||
| Sheldon Amps | Solihull, W Midlands | http://www.sheldonamps.com/ | ||||
| Sidewynder Pickups | www.sidewynder.co.uk/ | |||||
| Silent Peaks | Acoustic Treatment. Distributed by MTR | www.silentpeaks.com/ | ||||
| George Stevens | Early instruments, Kent | www.gstevensluthier.co.uk/ | ||||
| Stompcase | FX pedal board/case | www.stompcase.co.uk | ||||
| Stone Deaf FX | FX pedals | www.stonedeaffx.com | ||||
| 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/ | ||||
| Vision Pedal Boards | www.visionpedalboards.co.uk/ | |||||
| WiaMUSIC** | Guitar hangers, partial capos | www.wiamusic.com | ||||
| Wizard Pickups | Carmarthenshire | www.wizardpickups.co.uk | ||||
| Wheatstone Concertinas | Stowmarket, Suffolk | www.wheatstone.co.uk/ | ||||
| Wolftone Amplication | www.wolftone.co.uk/ |
