hand made guitars
| Below are some intersting guitars from Gary's past |
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1977 Parlour Guitar
This is the first steel string guitar that Gary made. It is based on a 1902 Ditson Martin and was constructed during Gary’s first year at the London College of Furniture.
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London Guitar Gallery
After leaving the London College of Furniture, Gary was “Luthier in residence” at the London Guitar Gallery making a range of acoustic guitars to order. Three of his guitars are shown here in their catalogue. |
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3/4 size Electric Guitar (Luke's 6th Birthday)
Gary made this 550 mm scale length electric guitar for his son's 6th birthday. The guitar features a Brazilian Tulipwood top and split-coil humbucker. The brass tremolo unit was also made by Gary.
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Classical Guitar
This is one of six classical guitars that Gary made whilst working at the London Guitar Gallery. All of the guitars were made with Indian Rosewood back & sides and Swiss Pine soundboards. |
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Reverse head "Strat" (Luke's 14th Birthday)
Ash body with maple neck, two humbuckers. The guitar reflects trends of the day with its Hendrix reverse head and Stevie Vai style handle in through the body.
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Classical Guitar circa 1980
Gary was delighted to receive news (Feb 2007) and a photo of one of the
classical guitars mentioned above.
“I've just found your website, and am delighted to see that you are still making
guitars. You built me one while you were working with Rick Manning in Lavender
Hill, and I played it for a couple of hours a day for several years. Then, along
came my family, and it sat in its case for years. I have just restrung it and am
hoping to find time to play it again. It still sounds beautiful, and is a
pleasure to play.
Keep making beautiful instruments”
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12 String Electric (Luke's 21st Birthday)
A maple straight through neck and maple semi-solid body. The Kent Armstrong pick-ups were chosen as they do not have individual pole piece, making them suitable for the double courses of a 12 string.
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12 Fret Neck Cutaway
This maple guitar was built as a prototype. It proved to be very successful and three further rosewood versions were built.
12 String Electric Guitar Re-build
The above guitar proved to be too heavy to play for a prolonged amount of time.
Gary re-built the guitar in 2007 using a smaller "SG" style American Black Walnut body. The head is now faced with burr walnut to complement the body. The instrument is French polished.
Single cutaway jumbo in Indian Rosewood; another LGG commission. There was a
Flamed Maple version built. Gary was building acoustic guitars with cutaways
long before they became mainstream.
Archtop Guitar
This archtop guitar was the 7th guitar that Gary built. This instrument was constructed during his second year at the LCF. Gary has had the guitar in storage and has been recently studying its design to help with the construction of a new handmade archtop guitar which is being built as a commission. Its progress can be followed on Gary’s blog.
During the late 1980’s I ran a guitar making club at St. Paul’s School in West London. The boys built some really exciting solid body electrics; they were all so enthusiastic and keen to incorporate their own ideas.
If any of you Old Pauline guitar makers are out there, I’d be delighted to hear from you!
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