Thinking about a handmade acoustic...

bermudianbrit · January 2022

Hi all,

I have just been lucky enough to come into an amount of money sufficient to cover one of my dreams - a handmade acoustic.
I'm interested in an OM size or similar. I am primarily a fingerstyle player, but I do use a pick sometimes.
I've played Atkins before, and loved them. I have also heard good things about Kinkade and Brooke.
I love the american type sound and I play with a thumb pick mostly. Its not easy to try before you buy so...how does one decide?
Help and advice gratefully received.

Matt

bertie · January 2022

Im a slightly biased Brook "fan" for obvious reasons, but even so - the style of guitar might not suit, "off the shelf" they come with wide-ish flat-ish necks and not to everyones taste. They're very lightly built , and resonant. You can of course ask them to make one with a bespoke profile neck, but then you need to know what you want and define it to them and of course have a waiting list.

Saying that - I was blown away by the tone of a Furch OM, 5 years ago and bought it on a "whim" even tho the neck is a little uncomfortable now (soft V)

There are brands that some rave about, (cole clarke for instance) but not for me - the two I played had horrible necks/fretboards were very inorganic and utterly sterile and only came alive plugged in (but I believe that's where their market lies over here)

Of course budget will dictate/eliminate some areas

You say its not easy to "try before you buy" can I ask why is that ? my real, honest personal advice would be, go and try try try as many makes and types as you can - you really cannot beat finding the right one yourself

VimFuego · January 2022

when you say handmade, do you mean that or custom made? It is entirely possible to try a handmade guitar (you could visit the maker, or go somewhere with a load of high end guitars). It is harder to try a custom guitar but by visiting the maker you could try out there standard item and talk with them about how your custom tweaks will effect the end product.

Mellish · January 2022

I'm never happy recommending a brand. I'd say, as @bertie, go and try some. Even if it's only one day, it will give you some idea. If I was pressed, I'd say Atkin or Brook. There's also Alan Marshall of Northworthy Guitars in Derby, A.J.Lucas - and if you're feeling flush, Sobell

bertie · January 2022

what were the two Mags had made, German luthier IIRC - lovely instruments, but ££

digitalkettle · January 2022

bertie said:

what were the two Mags had made, German luthier IIRC - lovely instruments, but ££

Was it Wechter?

bertie · January 2022

^^ I think you might be right there mate, very nice jobbies they were too

Tannin · January 2022

Bertie's advice is good.

If you are going for something custom-made (and why not?), I think it is important to play some examples of the builder's prior work, and to work with a builder you feel comfortable with and confident in.

If I liked the American sound (which I don't), Cole Clark would be somewhere near the bottom of my list. On a point of detail, they are not hand made, indeed they are notable for extensive use of CNC. Apart from being only the standard 44mm width, the six-strings have lovely necks, especially the expensive 3-Series models (which naturally have more hands-on craftsmanship than the cheap ones, but are still CNC babies). The Cole Clark 12-string profile I dislike (too flat and too square). The many different models vary enormously because of the wide range of timbers used. This is intentional. They are all different - playing the exact model before buying is essential.

@bertie I'm interested in your comment that Brook standard necks are wide. Their website doesn't provide specs. (I ask because I've been making mental note of makers who offer nice roomy necks as standard. I've pretty much decided not to buy any more guitars which don't have wide necks. I can cope with the standard 44 and 44.5mm widths, but I always play better where my fingers have some room.)

darthed1981 · January 2022

bermudianbrit said:

Thinking about a handmade acoustic...

That a euphemism?

drofluf · January 2022

Tannin said:

@bertie I'm interested in your comment that Brook standard necks are wide. Their website doesn't provide specs. (I ask because I've been making mental note of makers who offer nice roomy necks as standard. I've pretty much decided not to buy any more guitars which don't have wide necks. I can cope with the standard 44 and 44.5mm widths, but I always play better where my fingers have some room.)

@Tannin ;the “standard” Brook neck width is 44mm for a flathead and 45mm for a slothead. But they will make to any width you prefer.

gsix14 · January 2022

This recent series of videos from That Pedal Show might be of interest. They document the process of a Kinkade being made guitar by hand.

Strangefan · January 2022

If i had 5k plus it would be a turnstone without a shadow of a doubt

breezytele · January 2022

Try a Collings..

vivalacoulter · January 2022

gsix14 said:

This recent series of videos from That Pedal Show might be of interest. They document the process of a Kinkade being made guitar by hand.

And what a glorious sounding guitar too.

Tannin · January 2022

Thanks @drofluf

bertie · January 2022

Tannin said:

@bertie I'm interested in your comment that Brook standard necks are wide. Their website doesn't provide specs. (I ask because I've been making mental note of makers who offer nice roomy necks as standard. I've pretty much decided not to buy any more guitars which don't have wide necks. I can cope with the standard 44 and 44.5mm widths, but I always play better where my fingers have some room.)

it might be the "shallowness" of the neck, that makes the fretboard appear "wide" - certainly feels wider than others Ive owned/own/played but not "uncomfortably so - it still feels more "acoustic" than Taylors Ive owned (612 and a 614) that are more "electric trying to be acoustic" if that makes sense

I tend to judge things on "feel" rather than data sheet specs, UNLESS its something I particularly dislike/like then I make a mental note

bermudianbrit · January 2022

It was those TPS vids that inspired this thread actually.

ESBlonde · January 2022

Coda in Hitchin have a dedicated acoustic store with most of the above mentioned brands, that can’t be to far from you in the midlands. Richards guitars too in Stratford are Furch importers but check they have stock before popping over.
for the amount of spend you are considering it is worth putting in the effort to get it right.
It also pays to understand the setup changes that can be done to stock guitars, they tend to have slightly high action for example. It can pay dividends to take a reliable guitar playing friend for advise, calm your excitement and play guitars for you to hear projection and listeners tone. Sorry if you already know all this but I add it for others that may follow you thread.
good luck and enjoy the hunt.

ToneControl · January 2022

I'd recommend calling Avalon

Jez6345789 · January 2022

I am still learning about the high end custom build market but have over the last few years played some of the solo luthier builds in stores that stock them.

I think it’s important to define what you mean by hand built are we talking top end of factory builds say Taylor Martin still a lot of hand building. Or small factory build like Atkin, Beorgois,Collins, Santa Cruz
or the solo artisan luthiers at the top end like Turnstone, Bashkin and a whole host of others I would suggest you perhaps reach out to @carlos of ths parish Istr he has owned and played many a fine luthier built instrument.

At the high end you are usually talking about
a good 2 year waiting list and these guys tend to build 6-12 guitars per year.

I did notice over Christmas that Turnstone have a couple of stock builds of their OM sized model that look very nice and they do make a lovely guitar which would save on the normal waiting list.

https://www.turnstoneguitar.co.uk/tm-indian-rosewood-spruce-acoustic-guitar

As has been said the best thing is to phone around and get out and play a few from the small factory and solo luthiers and see what takes your fancy. The one thing I got was at this level they are all very different tonally and a very different world to a top end factory guitar. Coda acoustic store looks very nice and is on my day out list at some point.

carlos · January 2022

Thanks for tagging me @Jez6345789 but I definitely am not the right person to talk about high end luthier acoustics. You must have confused me with someone else, I'm afraid.

danishbacon · January 2022

carlos said:

Thanks for tagging me @Jez6345789 but I definitely am not the right person to talk about high end luthier acoustics. You must have confused me with someone else, I'm afraid.

He might have meant @Castro ;

echoing @ToneControl make sure to try some of the Irish instruments too (Avalon, McIlroy, Lowden)

Jez6345789 · January 2022

Ha it was late I should of said @Castro sorry.

malcolmkindness · January 2022

If you like the Atkin sound, that's a good place to start. I like the sound of Atkin guitars but their necks don't suit me, so it depends on how fussy you are about these things. Again it depends on how much you have to spend! You will get much better value buying a British made guitar if you are buying new, not so different if second hand.
Finally, I would recommend a visit to TFOA in the Netherlands, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Lewy · January 2022

If you like the "American sound" which I'm interpreting as meaning the classic pre-war Martin sound when it comes to OMs, then I actually think you'd be best served by any of the established small-shop makers who spend all their time chasing that down. Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, Collings, Pre War Guitar Co and Atkin etc. Even the Martin Custom Shop. I'm not convinced that if what you want is a guitar in that vein that you'll get something better from getting a single luthier-built one of the same design. What you can get is an individual luthier's subjective "take" on that design and sound and that may or may not be to your liking.

bertie · January 2022

^^ this - forgot about Santa Cruz, played a couple way back when PMT was Sound Control, lovely guitars very "playable"

If you're specifically looking for "American" sound/looks I wouldn't recommend Brook. tho they do (or did), do an "OM" style model

crunchman · January 2022

malcolmkindness said:

If you like the Atkin sound, that's a good place to start. I like the sound of Atkin guitars but their necks don't suit me, so it depends on how fussy you are about these things. Again it depends on how much you have to spend! You will get much better value buying a British made guitar if you are buying new, not so different if second hand.
Finally, I would recommend a visit to TFOA in the Netherlands, I promise you won't be disappointed.

I talked to Alister at the Guitar Show a couple of years back. From what he said, they would be willing to do something custom on neck profile/width.

They seem to have taken on more staff now, and gone a bit more into a small factory setup, so I don't know if that's still the case.

DavidR · January 2022

This advice a bit left field, but why are you making the jump that having a bit of money to spend means a custom built or luthier built instrument?

The only thing you would gain is that the instrument would be absolutely unique to you and built to your requirements. But what happens if you go through all that and its not your ideal guitar, or you don't like the tone that much? This must happen and I suppose the brave customer would leave the instrument (and their deposit!) with the maker to sell as stock.

If I had an amount of money which had no calls on it apart from guitar purchase, I think I would go to a big store, more probably several, until I hit on exactly the right guitar in terms of aesthetics, tone and playabilty. The guitar would hit me and I'd feel that's the one and I'd buy it. I would fall in love with it straight away and forever. It would probably be a (2nd hand) Brook or a Collings or a Lowden or a Martin new.

(If you do want an instrument which is spec'd by you and built for you alone then all this advice is rubbish and you should ignore it!)

Hope you find what you want. Happy looking!

Smellyfingers · January 2022

ToneControl said:

I'd recommend calling Avalon

These are entirely hand made with no CNC input. My experience of commissioning a guitar from them was v.good.

I believe they produce an 'Americana' series for those specifically looking for that type of sound.

thebreeze · January 2022

I’ve only used this chap as a tech for repairs and set ups etc but his builds do look pretty good. Anyway, he’s extremely nice and helpful so I’m sure he’d be a good port of call for a chat and initial information. He’s based in Abergavenny so not too far from Brum.

https://www.richardmeyrickguitars.co.uk/

bertie · January 2022

OK - from someone who's had a couple of "bespoke" custom guitars made - a small snippet of advice.

If you are intending to get a truly "custom" handmade build - you need to know EXACTLY what spec you want - most importantly neck shape and width, body size, less so wood types etc otherwise you may find that things aren't as you really want/expect and left with a rather expensive white elephant.

I'll say it again - make a real effort to go out and play as many as you can, if not to find "the guitar" find "the specs" that are good for you

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Thinking about a handmade acoustic...

Comments