Who do you consider to be the UK's top guitar builders?

FelineGuitars

WiresDreamDisasters said:

I see a lot of people mentioning Feline, but when I had dealings with him, I took my Gibson R8 in to get some new pickups, and I somehow ended up with a Thomann Les Paul copy! I was livid, but too polite to say anything, so I just took it away. @FelineGuitars Can you please check your customers parts box for my guitar please?

and worst of all it turned right handed when I wasn't looking

WiresDreamDisasters

FelineGuitars said:

WiresDreamDisasters said:

I see a lot of people mentioning Feline, but when I had dealings with him, I took my Gibson R8 in to get some new pickups, and I somehow ended up with a Thomann Les Paul copy! I was livid, but too polite to say anything, so I just took it away. @FelineGuitars Can you please check your customers parts box for my guitar please?

and worst of all it turned right handed when I wasn't looking

I wondered why it had some cavities on the back!

WiresDreamDisasters

Oh btw, @Scatterbrain is my mate, and I like his guitars. Yes I'm biased, coz he's a mate and he has a great big bushy beard.

This is one of his latest.

skullfunkerry

I've been looking up the makers people are recommending in this thread, and b I e just found these:

http://daemonessguitars.co.uk/project/twin-bog-oak-viking-cimmerians/

Oh. My. God... I'm in love! 

JayGee

Wonky said:

I own a Jon Case guitar which is a really wonderful creation, truly a perfect guitar in many ways.  Does everything from Zeppelin type stuff to Joe Pass (neck with the tone on 3) and even some proper shred into the right amp.  The Bareknuckles in it are wonderful too and obviously British made.  

Jon Case deserves serious consideration just on the basis of his totally mad, insanely beautiful arch top semi-hollow take on the Flying V. It’s not easy to take a design like that, make it utterly and emphatically your own, and make it uniquely elegant but that guitar nails it...

FelineGuitars

JayGee said:

Wonky said:

I own a Jon Case guitar which is a really wonderful creation, truly a perfect guitar in many ways.  Does everything from Zeppelin type stuff to Joe Pass (neck with the tone on 3) and even some proper shred into the right amp.  The Bareknuckles in it are wonderful too and obviously British made.  

Jon Case deserves serious consideration just on the basis of his totally mad, insanely beautiful arch top semi-hollow take on the Flying V. It’s not easy to take a design like that, make it utterly and emphatically your own, and make it uniquely elegant but that guitar nails it...

Jon makes some awesome looking guitars and is a nice guy to match . 

NelsonP

@elkay Have you picked up the pickups yet?

digitalscream

NelsonP said:

@elkay Have you picked up the pickups yet?

Indeed. I think we need photos to celebrate The Great Handover.

elkay

NelsonP said:

@elkay Have you picked up the pickups yet?

No, unfortunately mum's in hospital, and I have to spend a lot of time to-ing and fro-ing therefrom. Perhaps I'll pm Feline to beg his forgiveness and indulgence, and ask him if he could post them to me if I sent him the cost of doing so.

Pittster

Seth Baccus. One of the nicest people on the planet, and makes a mighty fine guitar too. 

Wonky

JayGee said:

Wonky said:

I own a Jon Case guitar which is a really wonderful creation, truly a perfect guitar in many ways.  Does everything from Zeppelin type stuff to Joe Pass (neck with the tone on 3) and even some proper shred into the right amp.  The Bareknuckles in it are wonderful too and obviously British made.  

Jon Case deserves serious consideration just on the basis of his totally mad, insanely beautiful arch top semi-hollow take on the Flying V. It’s not easy to take a design like that, make it utterly and emphatically your own, and make it uniquely elegant but that guitar nails it...

I think you're right about the V, really lovely and individual looking.
I'm gonna get another Jon Case guitar in the future, not the V though as I don't get on with them for practical reasons, they don't fit me well.  I really like all his designs if I'm honest.  His take on making the classics better is my kind of thing and the finishes are stunning too.  Top work.

AlexHunter

I’ve tried, borrowed or bought:
Feline
Eggle (early and later PJ Eggle)
Rob Williams 
Haydn Williams
Manson
Seth Baccus
Gray
Fidelity
Waghorn 
Crimson
Bravewood 
Blackmachine
Eternal
Flame
Andrew Guyton
Jaden Rose
Martyn Booth

Horses for courses and all that, but they were all great at their own thing and I prefer them all to the big 3 for quality, fit and finish.
Les Paul: I’ve kept the Feline, would buy a Baccus (if it had the deep c carve neck profile)
Strat: I’d buy the Gray or a Bravewood
Tele: I’d buy the Eternal 
Anything else: Martyn Booth or Manson

Ive heard good things about Probett but have never managed to try one. I think I’ve also played an Ivison but it could well have been the original 50s reference guitar (which is Kudos to Ivison if it wasn’t).

Hootsmon

Hootsmon said:

Since we are on the subject.here's another question....

LP Junior CS 57 guitars keep their value much better compared to the regular USA LP Juniors, how do the UK builders guitars fit in with regard to resale/value?

^ Anyone?

AlexHunter

Hootsmon said:

Hootsmon said:

Since we are on the subject.here's another question....

LP Junior CS 57 guitars keep their value much better compared to the regular USA LP Juniors, how do the UK builders guitars fit in with regard to resale/value?

^ Anyone?

I don’t really agree with the initial statement. CS Juniors are now about £3k new and used fetch anywhere between £1000-1500. I sold mine for that and there was a refin guitar going round the forum members a couple of years ago for around £900. You could previously pick up standard juniors for between £400-900 and they’re probably still fetching that used depending on age and condition.

As for UK luthier resale value, there is undoubtedly an initial hit if you’re buying new but no worse than the CS example above. The challenge with resale in this instance is the pool of people that will have sufficient capital to buy the guitar and be into the detail enough for an independent build is significantly lower than the audience that have capital and want an investment or something to display etc. So if you want a quick sale you’ll have to drop the price, if you hold out for the right buyer you’re likely to get a decent price.

IvisonGuitars

Hootsmon said:

Since we are on the subject.here's another question....

LP Junior CS 57 guitars keep their value much better compared to the regular USA LP Juniors, how do the UK builders guitars fit in with regard to resale/value?

It’s an interesting question and one I was asked recently in an enquiry for a build. As far as I’m aware, I’ve not seen any of my builds on the secondhand market yet, which is heartening but doesn’t give an answer to the question of course!

I think, from my point of view as a builder and as a customer, if I was thinking of resale going into a build with any luthier, then having something built bespoke to my own spec would kind of be pointless, as you’ll inevitably take a hit if what you have spec’d isn’t exactly what someone else wants or doesn’t have a wide appeal.

With regards to more ‘standard’ builds, I think the reputation of the builder, the quality of the guitar and his output (if you’d be jumping a considerable waiting list) all play a part in second hand value.

elkay

digitalscream said:

NelsonP said:

@elkay Have you picked up the pickups yet?

Indeed. I think we need photos to celebrate The Great Handover.

I wasn't able to pick up the pickups, but Feline very kindly posted them to me, huge kudos to them. They're in incredibly good condition for 20-year old pickups, like new old stock. I'd post a picture of the 20th Anniversary re-union if I could get Imgur to work for me. Don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Moleman

Martyn Booth

horsehead

Got to be @IvisonGuitars for me, Neil is the king!
I love probett and otherwise nothing grabs me