As long as I can remember I have always had a Guitar in fact several over the years often thinking that I should have kept my first one which was a Jazz Guitar bought for me by my Father who was an accomplished Banjo player playing with Tarrant Bailer Jr. on many gigs, records and films. His professional name was "Ronaldo" and he is on the left in the Film. He died many years ago but I still have the Banjo that he is playing.
He encouraged me to play even sending me for lessons but because they depended greatly on theory I rapidly became bored and gave them up eventually starting a Group (The Planets} playing electric guitars when I could.
Over the following years I learned to play, but not that good, but always had a love for Guitars and music.which was encouraged after I went on a course at EMI Records in the 60s, visiting Abbey Road Studios and attending many great "gigs" which eventually encouraged me on retirement to France to take up Guitar building.
FRANCE
We were fortunate in France to purchase a House with a large Barn that I set up as a simple workshop firstly building and finishing Kit Guitars and secondly, building one from scratch which I must admit was crap. However I concentrated on finishing Kit built guitars investing in spray equipment and compressor. I became quite good at his and even fixed a dent and sprayed the rear door and panel of a friend's Mercedes which - even not being a Guitar - built on my expertise of spraying. I was even asked to spray someone Classic MG Sports car which my good Wife forbade me to do "just in case".
After a few years messing and building several Guitars and after some health problems it was decided to return to the UK.
THE UNITED KINGDOM
On returning to the UK reluctantly eight years ago (2018) we were amazed at the prices of property here eventually settling in a beautiful part of South Wales near the Brecon Beacons. The House is small and the only space I had where I could set up a workshop was the Garage and slowly over the years I have built a comprehensive workshop now including a CNC machine where I can cut my Guitars - once I have made a prototype that I am happy with - as many times as needed.
You will see in other areas of this website how I have learned along the way to not just learn how to make Guitars but what hand tools to buy and how to look after and sharpen them if required. All this adds to your knowledge and as mentioned previously I keep certain Guitars as reminders of my journey.
My passion for Guitars also started me collecting them and with these, and the ones that I have built, I have over 100 Guitars.
This has taken me many years, many years of happiness and frustration, but ended with a passion for Guitar building. I will never learn everything as not a day goes by when I do not learn something new but this has stopped me going mad, stopped me vegetating and given me a great hobby that has kept me "young" (I wish!)
If you have an interest in Guitars this can become a great Hobby teaching you skills and creating something that you will be proud of. You will never stop learning and possibly always criticise your work but remember if, like me, you take this up in your retirement - I am in my 80s - not only will it keep your brain working and get exercise keeping nimble, but stop you just watching some rubbish on the TV. You will be creating something that is from within you.
Go for it!
He encouraged me to play even sending me for lessons but because they depended greatly on theory I rapidly became bored and gave them up eventually starting a Group (The Planets} playing electric guitars when I could.
Over the following years I learned to play, but not that good, but always had a love for Guitars and music.which was encouraged after I went on a course at EMI Records in the 60s, visiting Abbey Road Studios and attending many great "gigs" which eventually encouraged me on retirement to France to take up Guitar building.
FRANCE
We were fortunate in France to purchase a House with a large Barn that I set up as a simple workshop firstly building and finishing Kit Guitars and secondly, building one from scratch which I must admit was crap. However I concentrated on finishing Kit built guitars investing in spray equipment and compressor. I became quite good at his and even fixed a dent and sprayed the rear door and panel of a friend's Mercedes which - even not being a Guitar - built on my expertise of spraying. I was even asked to spray someone Classic MG Sports car which my good Wife forbade me to do "just in case".
After a few years messing and building several Guitars and after some health problems it was decided to return to the UK.
THE UNITED KINGDOM
On returning to the UK reluctantly eight years ago (2018) we were amazed at the prices of property here eventually settling in a beautiful part of South Wales near the Brecon Beacons. The House is small and the only space I had where I could set up a workshop was the Garage and slowly over the years I have built a comprehensive workshop now including a CNC machine where I can cut my Guitars - once I have made a prototype that I am happy with - as many times as needed.
You will see in other areas of this website how I have learned along the way to not just learn how to make Guitars but what hand tools to buy and how to look after and sharpen them if required. All this adds to your knowledge and as mentioned previously I keep certain Guitars as reminders of my journey.
My passion for Guitars also started me collecting them and with these, and the ones that I have built, I have over 100 Guitars.
This has taken me many years, many years of happiness and frustration, but ended with a passion for Guitar building. I will never learn everything as not a day goes by when I do not learn something new but this has stopped me going mad, stopped me vegetating and given me a great hobby that has kept me "young" (I wish!)
If you have an interest in Guitars this can become a great Hobby teaching you skills and creating something that you will be proud of. You will never stop learning and possibly always criticise your work but remember if, like me, you take this up in your retirement - I am in my 80s - not only will it keep your brain working and get exercise keeping nimble, but stop you just watching some rubbish on the TV. You will be creating something that is from within you.
Go for it!