I'll update this page every couple of months and will keep you informed of the latest developments in the world of my workshop!

Finishing a batch of guitars - Dragonfly cedar and Indian rosewood cutaway, a Dragonfly mahogany and sitka spruce and a Lacewing - a new 00 shape with Indian rosewood and sitka spruce. Photos to follow. I would also like to welcome Cameron, my new workshop assistant who's helping out for a few hours a week.

Lee (below) has just recorded an album with the guitar. He played with a quintet of double bass, violin, cello and flute and it was recorded in the crypt of Lancing College. Am looking forward to the results and will post some snippets when I get them. Am also looking forward to some recordings from guitarist, Martin Byatt who just picked up a Damselfly a few days ago.

Solo player and composer, Lee Westwood picking up his Dragonfly C with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. He is pictured running the pickup gear through its paces. The pickup is a L.R Baggs M1 magnetic plugged into a Baggs Dual source on-board blender with back mounted microphone. This then goes out to a Highlander PAMDI blending pre-amp and a Lexicon reverb unit. A high end setup but the plugged in sound is absolutely awesome! Check out his website here.

This is the cites Brazilian back. Stunning with oranges and greens. Comes from beams in old farm buildings.

Acoustic Guitar Shows. There will be a couple this year. One in Cheltenham and the other in London held by Acoustic Magazine. I hope to be at both so see you there.

FSC Forestry Stewardship Council sustainable mahogany. I picked this up a few months ago from John Boddy Timber. It has a full chain of custody and it is shipped direct from central America. The stuff I have got is for necks and is light but very stiff. I'm looking forward to using it in the future and to hopefully purchasing more from this certified sustainable source.

Spanish guitar pickups. Have recently been fitting the L.R Baggs element for nylon string as a standard undersaddle option. These are EQ'd just right and coupled with a mic and offbaord blender sound great - especially for those wanting to play a more percussive style. - think Rodrigo y Gabriella etc.

Calling all Gypsy Jazzers. Problems with plugged in sound? Can't get the dynamics you need?

Have recently fitted a Baggs Dual source blending pre amp to an Aylward guitar, mixing the already fitted Bigtone bridge pickup in with a foam encased electret mic. Great results with better Bigtone sound coupled with the natural treble clarity of the mic. You have the choice of onboard or offboard blending. This system sounds fantasic in flat tops too with an element undersaddle.

New powered P.A speakers in my workshop!! I now have two Mackie 450's to test pickups through. This is Ideal as many of you out there will be playing through something very similar in small venues.

Evening Classes

I have now moved! My new space is lovely and I am now running two guitar making evening classes on tuesdays and thursdays.

workshop looking new and unused!	a Damselfly on the way	repairs including an early 30's Gibson L30 archtop

Currently in stock

I make relatively small runs of instruments per year and mostly to order. However I do make on spec and have some stock from time to time.

Dragonfly Sitka Spruce and Indian Rosewood. £1950 Sold!!. Lovely guitar made on spec in the last batch. Great all rounder - punchy and yet open in the trebles.

Flat top/back mandolin Walnut / Alpine Spruce. £750. I have now repaired the mandolin with the dent in the binding. You'll have to look hard to find it! A top quality instrument at a cheaper price with beautiful walnut back.

Carved top mandolin Walnut / Sitka Spruce £1450 Sold!!. This is a wonderful mandolin with my new soundhole shape. Fantastic crossover mandolin with loads of harmonic interest yet with a bright and loud woody rasp. Loads of headroom to drive it in sessions and yet with a sweetness for more delicate melodies.

Repairs

I am currently available for repairs and set-ups. I will consider some resoration jobs and some refinishing work but generally pass on large restorations as I don't have time to do them! I also don't do neck resets - sorry! I now have repair days on Thursdays and Fridays. I will always do emergencies outside these days though!!

Strings, accessories and pickups.

I am not set up as an accessories retailer but always have a stock of strings for guitars and mandolins - D'addario, Elixir (phos and bronze) for steel string, Slinky's for electric, Savarez Corum Cristal for Spanish and D'addario, Newtone and Dogal (for bowl back) for mandolins. I also have a small selection for other instruments e.g mandola, bouzouki etc.

New Headway Acoustic Amps

These brand new acoustic amps are designed in the U.K by acoustic pickup maestros, Headway Electronics. I have heard both the 60w and the 120w and as expected have found that they deliver on all levels. They offer natural and sparkling high end and a fat but compact low end with loads of headroom. They deliver a transparency and dynamic range that is unsurpassed and allow a pickup to show it's true colour. (What I mean there is that it won't compress out the dynamics of a good pickup). They both have all the features you need, the 120w including a notch filter and greater EQ range than it's smaller partner. Both have two channels, various inputs for different pickup types and a range of digital effects. A great new product for the acoustic musician whether for at home, band practice or as an on stage monitor. On the surface they lack some of the sleekness in design of some other brands but excel where it matters - on sound. See price list for details

I can now get hold of these great amps - the Unico 180W and the David 80W. Great clear and punchy sound. Compact design and bi amped for loads of headroom. See price list for details | Schertler site

Cases. I can order a variety of cases from gig bags to flight cases including Hiscox and Calton. Call me for details.

Pickups and stuff. I sometimes carry the odd item in stock such as Baggs Para D.I but as most systems require luthier fitting, I order on request. See price page for details.

For other accessories, I can get hold of pretty much anything on request but with small items, I'll only order them in with other goods so there may be a wait.

Mail Order. I can send stuff out at an extra cost for p+p. I don't take credit cards so you'll need to send a cheque or make a bank transfer. Sorry!