M.B. GUITARS // The Official Thread

MikeBowes · December 2020

Hi All!

Just wanted to set up a thread to showcase my hand made vintage spec builds to anyone who may be interested.

I will be posting a few pics each time I complete an instrument, full pics, info and specs are always available over on my website also.

First off is a couple of S types.. a fiesta red '63 spec, and a sonic blue '62 spec... enjoy!

Thanks!
M.B.

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vincechu89 · December 2020

I’m pretty sure that posting porn is not allowed here....

(Amazing work, have a wow!)

digitalscream · December 2020

Nice work

Also...moved to the Made in the UK section

brucegill · December 2020

These look amazing. Sent you a pm!

MikeBowes · December 2020

digitalscream said:

Nice work

Also...moved to the Made in the UK section

Thank you!

MikeBowes · December 2020

A pair of recently made double bound T types.. a '59 sunburst and a '62 spec lefty blonde with black binding, Tuxedo style.

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Teyeplayer · December 2020

Phwoar those teles look great. Loving the tuxedo style blonde.

dangriffiths · January 2021

The lefty is mine and it is a cracking guitar - really pleased and am going ahead with something else with Mike too this year.

grappagreen · January 2021

That '59 Sunburst... wow..

Fuengi · January 2021

That's better!

Lovely work Mike.

MikeBowes · January 2021

Latest build.. a '59 spec hardtail 'S' in Blonde!

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*Aaron* · January 2021

Those guitars look great. Love the hardtail strat

MikeBowes · February 2021

Latest build heading out the workshop door soon! A lightly worn '55-S Hardtail in blonde.. Master grade quarter sawn flame maple neck, 9.5" radius and 6150 frets, chunky vintage C neck profile, two piece lightweight swamp ash body, super deep 50's body cuts and contours, super thin nitro finish, bakelite covers and knobs (with correct size text and numbers). A very cool guitar!

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grappagreen · February 2021

Magnificent!

rlw · February 2021

Good grief. There's two in there that I really like - and I hate relics

MikeBowes · March 2021

Latest build is finished, a '63-S in aged lake placid blue. Flame maple neck with vintage correct curved/veneer dark vintage reclaimed rosewood board, clay dots with correct narrow spacing at the 12th fret, exact vintage retro tremolo with Callaham saddles, Radioshop 60's pickups, all vintage correct wiring components loaded to a real NOS nitrate guard with wide beveled edge. A super cool guitar!!

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MikeBowes · April 2021

Hi all, one for all the offset fans out there.. a left handed '59-JM style in aged cadillac green, the second guitar I have made for @dangriffiths ;

This one has a qtr sawn master grade flame maple neck with my vintage reclaimed rosewood slab fingerboard with clay dots, 9.5" radius, 6105s and a vintage C profile, the body shape and contours are a direct copy of my original '59 Jazzmaster, Gotoh machine heads, Lollar pickups, left handed taper pots with correct reverse numbering on the knobs, Mastery bridge and tailpiece (incredible!), rare 9 hole vintage celluloid tortoiseshell guard with a wide bevelled edge all kitted out with vintage spec wiring and fully shielded.

A very very cool guitar, feels and plays like butter and sounds fantastic!

(Pics were taken before the guitar was set up so pickup height, intonation etc was set after)

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MikeBowes · May 2021

A few recent hand made vintage replica builds heading out soon.. a '62-S in olympic white and a '55-S hardtail in blonde with gold guard. Full spec and more pics over on my instagram page as always.

Thanks!
M.B.

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MikeBowes · May 2021

..and a group shot showing the above two S types plus another '62-S in aged Lake placid Blue.

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Philly_Q · May 2021

This will sound weird, but they really are exceptionally curvy. It's very noticeable. No hard edges anywhere.

MikeBowes · May 2021

Philly_Q said:

This will sound weird, but they really are exceptionally curvy. It's very noticeable. No hard edges anywhere.

Im glad you noticed, I spend a huge amount of time shaping my bodies, making sure all the contours are super deep and nicely rounded so they flow consistently, it really adds to the look and is something you don't see often on vintage replicas. I posted some pics on my Instagram recently of an S type body that I had just sealed after sanding and it really highlights how curvy and rounded it is. If you get a chance go and have a look.

M.B.

MikeBowes · May 2021

One for all the blackguard fans! A handmade '52-T blackguard in aged white blonde.. lots of small details correct to this era that are often missed.. correct contours and rounded headstock edges, body routing including the router hump, round string tree, correct slotted screws throughout, real bakelite guard with a more rounded edge and nitro lacquered, heavy knurled domed knobs, and a '52 serial numbered neck plate. Goth machine heads, Callaham compensated bridge and pickups are easy 50's spec by Radioshop.. lovely! Sounds and plays beautifully!

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MikeBowes · June 2021

Another build complete.. this ones a cool one, based on John Mayer's original '64 sunburst Strat, and built to mid 60's specs including a veneer rosewood board neck. This one features a few differences to Johns.. a hardtail bridge, birdseye maple neck and pearl dot inlays, all to the customers specs. Its a thing of beauty!

As always, more pics over on my Instagram page. Happy weekend folks!

M.B.

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MikeBowes · June 2021

A super cool trio of 1962 spec S type replicas fresh off my bench! Click on the pic to enlarge for details.

M.B.

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MikeBowes · July 2021

A beautiful '59-S in candy apple red. This one is very lightly aged.. no dings or wear, just lots of lacquer checking and lightly oxidised hardware. Played in but well loved! Super thin nitro finish on a lightweight swamp ash body, my special vintage reclaimed indian rosewood slab board on a qtr cut flame maple neck, aged clay dots, real NOS nitrate guard with a wide beveled edge, exact vintage retro tremolo and Ron Ellis pickups.

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rsvmark · July 2021

Ooooo I say. That is lovely

MikeBowes · July 2021

Hello! Here's a sneak peek of a recently handmade 1962 spec S type in aged olympic white.

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MikeBowes · August 2021

Hello! Its been a while since I last posted. Lots going on and lots to share, head over to my Instagram page to see what Im up to daily, but for now heres a sneaky peek at a '62-S I've just finished up in three tone burst, one of five of my hand made vintage replicas available at Coda Music soon!

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MikeBowes · September 2021

Fifties fun.. a '52-T Blackguard and a '55-S hardtail, two of five recently headed to Coda Music in Stevenage, where you can now go to try out my guitars!

Both of these hand made vintage inspired builds feature super lightweight swamp ash bodies, master grade qtr sawn flame maple necks with my vintage soft V profile, Jescar 6150 frets and a 9.5" radius with super played in and comfy rolled edges. Both feature Callaham hardware and my Radioshop 50's spec pickups, wound specially for me.. all as standard on my guitars!

Head over to the Coda Music website for more info and pics of these and some lovely early 60's spec S types.

M.B.

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MikeBowes · October 2021

More blackguard fun! A 'Keef / Micawber' inspired build.. based on a '52 Tele. Lightweight swamp ash body, 1 piece maple neck with a fat 'baseball' neck profile, 6150 frets and a 9.5" radius board, with beautifully finished rolled and played in fingerboard edges as I do on all of my builds. Radioshop PAF humbucker in the neck and a '52 single coil in the bridge. Callaham bridge with compensated saddles for correct intonation, heavy knurled dome knobs, correct slotted screws and real nitro lacquered bakelite guard all made and aged in house.. lovely!

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Greatape · October 2021

My god, I think I've gone blind. These are too nice, and I'm definitely relic-averse. That red strat....

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M.B. GUITARS // The Official Thread

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