Custom & Specialist UK Builders

Graingerguitars · October 2017

WezV said:

Graingerguitars said:

Grainger Guitars

Do you have a website link for the guitars? I see the one for the parts.

I hear we share some mutual friends in the guys from Eagles Vs Drones

Hey fella, our website is still under construction so the best place to see our work is on our Facebook page....

Sounds like it’s a small world

Stillman · November 2017

A quick very favourable mention for Flame Guitars linked on page 1 - I recently took my Gordon Smith LP for a setup, fret dress and rewire, it now plays (and sounds) like an absolute dream! David is a really nice guy and wants to get the best for you from whatever guitar he's working on. I'm taking my 1984 Tokai Goldtop next week after he worked wonders on Gordon.

Flame_Guitars · January 2018

Stillman said:

A quick very favourable mention for Flame Guitars linked on page 1 - I recently took my Gordon Smith LP for a setup, fret dress and rewire, it now plays (and sounds) like an absolute dream! David is a really nice guy and wants to get the best for you from whatever guitar he's working on. I'm taking my 1984 Tokai Goldtop next week after he worked wonders on Gordon.

Just noticed this post. Thanks, it was a pleasure, and I hope you move to a new area went well

Winny_Pooh · February 2018

Turnstone guitars

pariahrob · February 2018

Shamelessly plugging Redman Guitars and amps. 2018 is the year I go full time with my guitar making business so expect to see a lot more of me here. I'm currently working on my site, so once that is up and running I'll post again here but...

Although most of my work has been one off customs I'm starting a limited number of my own models: a Strat based one, a single cut and a jazz style bass. All three will come with various 'trim levels' from finishes to body style (drop top or full carve etc). There will also be an ergonomic guitar which will have more options, including multiscale, headless and so on.

More to come!

Guitartwin · January 2019

A couple of serious contenders missing from the list, Chris George Guitars up near Newark, and Guy Harrison near Pontefract. Both of these guys have previously had guitars reviewed really positively by Guitarist magazine, and I have had one made by each of them. Both guitars are amazing, both actually cost me less than the equivalent “standard” guitar would have been from any of the big brands, and in both cases the quality of materials and craftsmanship is at least the equivalent of the big brands custom shops, which would have cost at least double what I got my guitars for.
There are lots of pros and cons for custom builds, cons first. 1. You don’t get to try it before you choose. 2. The secondhand value might not be as good as an equivalent named brand. 3. For some people the lack of a brand name is a non starter.
Number 1. True,but these guys know what they’re doing. They lead you through the whole process to ensure you get exactly what you want, and they use the very best materials and components.
Number 2 is the one that gets thrown up most often, but the fact is that almost nobody ever sells a custom built guitar as there is no reason to, therefore 2nd hand value argument is largely irrelevant.
Number 3. If you can’t get past this fact then you will simply be missing out on an amazing experience.

Now the pros.
1. You get exactly what you want, no compromise.
2. You get a guitar built with love and care by a craftsman, not something off a cnc machine.
3. The materials are the very best, not something from “regular” stock.
4. You can usually get the equivalent of a big name custom shop guitar for the same or lower price than a big name standard guitar
5. Using a Les Paul as an example, if you work back from the shop price, take off everybody’s profit, all the taxes, all the shipping, etc etc, it must cost Gibson less than $500 to actually make a standard production Les Paul that costs around two grand in the shops. With a custom build in the U.K., if you are paying two grand you are getting two grand’s worth of materials and craftsman’s time. It’s a complete no brainier which one of these is the better “value”.

I am very lucky and have a small but nice collection of custom build guitars, but for anybody who wants good equipment, you should investigate what a custom builder can do, you might be very surprised.

grinder · June 2020

Any experiences with Shoreline Guitars in Aberdeen?

M1ck · August 2020

Guitartwin said:

A couple of serious contenders missing from the list, Chris George Guitars up near Newark, and Guy Harrison near Pontefract. Both of these guys have previously had guitars reviewed really positively by Guitarist magazine, and I have had one made by each of them. Both guitars are amazing, both actually cost me less than the equivalent “standard” guitar would have been from any of the big brands, and in both cases the quality of materials and craftsmanship is at least the equivalent of the big brands custom shops, which would have cost at least double what I got my guitars for.
There are lots of pros and cons for custom builds, cons first. 1. You don’t get to try it before you choose. 2. The secondhand value might not be as good as an equivalent named brand. 3. For some people the lack of a brand name is a non starter.
Number 1. True,but these guys know what they’re doing. They lead you through the whole process to ensure you get exactly what you want, and they use the very best materials and components.
Number 2 is the one that gets thrown up most often, but the fact is that almost nobody ever sells a custom built guitar as there is no reason to, therefore 2nd hand value argument is largely irrelevant.
Number 3. If you can’t get past this fact then you will simply be missing out on an amazing experience.

Now the pros.
1. You get exactly what you want, no compromise.
2. You get a guitar built with love and care by a craftsman, not something off a cnc machine.
3. The materials are the very best, not something from “regular” stock.
4. You can usually get the equivalent of a big name custom shop guitar for the same or lower price than a big name standard guitar
5. Using a Les Paul as an example, if you work back from the shop price, take off everybody’s profit, all the taxes, all the shipping, etc etc, it must cost Gibson less than $500 to actually make a standard production Les Paul that costs around two grand in the shops. With a custom build in the U.K., if you are paying two grand you are getting two grand’s worth of materials and craftsman’s time. It’s a complete no brainier which one of these is the better “value”.

I am very lucky and have a small but nice collection of custom build guitars, but for anybody who wants good equipment, you should investigate what a custom builder can do, you might be very surprised.

I agree with everything guitartwin said and give another thumbs up for Chris George Guitars, both Chris and his wife Muriel are very nice people and so easy to talk to it made the whole (daunting) experience so much easier.
Chris’ attention to detail is amazing, I had a Strat style guitar built by him recently and absolutely love it, I would have no hesitation recommending him to anyone thinking about a custom built guitar.
Chris George Guitars
http://www.chrisgeorgeguitars.com/

The guitar he built for me is top left on the gallery/electrics page (at the time of writing)

http://www.chrisgeorgeguitars.com/gallery_electric.html

I should also take the time to give a big shout out to Doug Wilkes, Wilkes Guitars. I have a telecaster built by him some 40-ish years ago (Not for me!) and while it is showing its age a bit, it is still a very capable guitar and at the age it is it is testament to the quality of the build and to Dougs skills as a builder, Doug is another that is easy to talk to and recommended to speak to if a custom guitar is wanted.
http://wilkesguitars.co.uk/

I guess at the end of the day it will depend on where you are and how far you are willing to travel, (Chris is much closer to me than Doug) there is no right or wrong - they are both very capable of building a high quality guitar that meets your requirements.

russpm · October 2020

blueskunk said:

Brian Eastwood http://www.brianeastwoodguitars.co.uk/
PS thanks for the link2thisplace T

Brian builds great guitars, I have one from 2000 and it doesn’t go out of tune

Mudcrutch · November 2020

Dan is getting a good reputation.

https://scott-guitars.co.uk/

dsgb · January 2021

I eventually managed to get my hands on one of Andy Guyton's creations two years ago, in my favourite colour too. It was first commissioned by Forever Queen tribute band guitarist Craig Farley but he sold it on to a mutual friend who sold it on to me. I use it for its intended purpose - I transport it on holiday! The first two images are Andy Guyton's, not mine.

Brian May uses a red RS Transporter as his backstage warm up guitar. The run was limited to 25 guitars.

Doug

Image: https://dsgbnet.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/guyton-rs-transporter-35.jpg

Image: https://dsgbnet.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/guyton-rs-transporter-45.jpg

Image: https://dsgbnet.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/travel-guitars-1.jpg

Moe_Zambeek · January 2021

That is a very cool travel guitar!

H150 · February 2021

Hiya, before I go trawling through the list at the start, does anyone know of a UK based maker that does San Dimas/superstrat/Charvel style guitars? I’m sure most good luthiers could do this but wondered if anyone had any recommendations. Thanks!!

Toe_Knee · February 2021

H150 said:

Hiya, before I go trawling through the list at the start, does anyone know of a UK based maker that does San Dimas/superstrat/Charvel style guitars? I’m sure most good luthiers could do this but wondered if anyone had any recommendations. Thanks!!

Stormshadow maybe?

Deijavoo · February 2021

H150 said:

Hiya, before I go trawling through the list at the start, does anyone know of a UK based maker that does San Dimas/superstrat/Charvel style guitars? I’m sure most good luthiers could do this but wondered if anyone had any recommendations. Thanks!!

Not exactly Charvel style but I can't recommend Hadyn's work any more more highly: https://williamsguitars.co.uk/

Rkphilpot · May 2022

Not sure if anybody has mentioned Jon Shuker. He built me a completely custom T-shape guitar. Everything was specified even down to the truss rod type. He is a master craftsman and a charming man. The guitar is incredible and im going back in November to do an S Type Self build.

Here's the full spec

25.5” scale

22 fret

neck dimensions as your strat neck

Maple neck

Maple f/board

headstock signature

two way truss rod (heel adjust, can be allen or spoke wheel)

carbon fibre reinforcement

black tusq nut

medium fretwire (most likely), stainless steel

satin neck lacquer

3mm blue luminlay markers on top edge

no dot markers on face

Schaller tuners black

Alder body, flat top and back, as on normal tele

Black binding front and rear edge

Reduced heel and recessed fixings

polyester basecoat

Satin Artic white finish coats

Matt black s/plate and matt white s/plate (if available)

routed for 2x humbuckers

black hum bucker surrounds

Black Evertune bridge

Seymour Duncan pearly gates in the neck, duncan custom in the bridge

Schaller straflocks (provided)

Recessed Black electro socket, switchcraft jack

3-way toggle (LP style), killswitch and master vol (back to front), CTS pot (500K) Switchcraft Black toggle

Black control plate (i’ve just checked and i can get a blank tele plate to do this, available in matt black chrome or possibly in gloss from the states, so it can be drilled to suit)

Black hardware.

https://imgur.com/a/LKLKrrI

Strumit · February 2023

Not sure if these guys have been mentioned? Just down the road from me:-

https://www.munsonguitars.com/

lilliancatcarter · March 2023

Hiya, I have a guitar which was a hand-me-down and has recently got a split in the neck. Anyone know where I can find a Gibson Epiphone explorer neck I can replace it with?

Longjonlebon · August 2023

Ivison (https://www.ivisonguitars.com/) and pjd (https://www.pjdguitars.com/) could go on the list maybe?

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