UK Guitar Makers
If you find a broken link, don't just moan and go away - let me know! Some links are missing while I try to track down the current address.
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.

 Classical guitars

Acoustic guitars

Electric guitars and Basses

Amps, strings, cases, pickups, FX other instruments, misc.

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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.

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 Classical Guitars

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 Acoustic guitars

Electric guitars and Basses

Amps, strings, cases, pickups, FX other instruments, misc.

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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    

 

Acoustic Guitars - most also make other instruments such as mandolins, citterns etc.

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Alan Arnold Surrey, also electrics www.alanarnoldguitars.co.uk/    

 

 Classical guitars

Electric guitars and Basses

Amps, strings, cases, pickups, FX other instruments, misc.

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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/  

 

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/      

 

Electric Guitars and Basses

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Black Machine London www.blackmachine.co.uk    

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Classical guitars

Acoustic guitars

Amps, strings, cases, pickups, FX other instruments, misc.

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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    
           
           
           
           
           
           

 

Amplification, accessories, strings, cases, pickups, FX, other instruments

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Accusound retro-fitted instsrument mics. www.hebdensoundgroup.co.uk/    

 

  Classical guitars

Acoustic guitars

Electric guitars and Basses

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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/    

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