Bespoke Luthiers

John Le Voi Guitars
John is a Luthier based in the UK specialising in custom-built fine quality gypsy jazz guitars - Established in 1970
(Paul) - he made me a wonderful guitar some years back and is a superb Luthier with whom I still keep in touch. I retain a great deal of respect for his work, having owned or played guitars from most of the other serious instrument makers over the years.

John regularly shows his guitars at the Samois Sur Seine Festival, France and at the Gossington Festival in the UK

THE WORKSHOP, WEST STREET, ALFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE,
LN13 9EZ, UK TELEPHONE +44 (0)1507 463341

Godefroy Maruejouls Guitars

R J Aylward Guitars

Powell Guitars-
38 Hillary Road
Newton, Cheshire
SK14 4EA
I build mostly steel string "fingerstyle" guitars with the odd strange order for cittern's and mandola's. All hand made with the best woods I can get, mainly from America, I have trouble getting the quality over here. My guitars are not Martin copies like 95% of the steel string guitar market. I have done a lot of research and experimenting and ended up with my own bracing pattern and a consistent guitar sound which people are starting to like and appreciate. I exhibited for the first time at the Cheltenham Guitar Festival in September this year and saw Paul perform with another guitarist and a bass player. I didn't manage to get the names of the other two players or to ask Paul if he had any recordings. On the Sunday I had more time in the morning to look at the other festival exhibitors and came across the Manouche guitar stand. It was there I got Paul's name and I have only just got around to an internet search. I did manage to see Martin Taylor back Stephan Grappelli many years ago in Southport and the memory lingers. I do play guitar mainly contemporary type bordering on American folk style, but I have always loved the Django style and do have some CD's of the Hot Club of France. So I am really looking forward to hearing Paul's CD 'Duets for Django' . I have seen a few guitarist over the years but Paul has the feel and he is a very clean player not like some who go for speed and maximum number of notes per second!! - Ken Powell

David J Hodson Guitars

It is with great sadness that we learned that UK Luthier David Hodson has passed away. Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with his family.

David Austin Guitars
Longwick, Bucks 01844 347162
David Austin hand makes acoustic guitars. After training at the Totnes School of Guitar Making David now has his own workshop. Commissions can be undertaken to achieve the style and tone that the guitarist requires. The design of the guitar is flexible; either an existing Austin design tailored to your requirements, a guitar based on an unavailable older model from plans or a completely new design. Please feel free to ask any questions or discuss your requirements and ideas with David at davidaustinguitars@yahoo.co.uk.

Doug Kyle
Gypsy Jazz, and Arch-Top Jazz Guitars.
Fursdon
Moretonhampstead
Devon TQ13 8QT
England

Shelley D Park Guitars
Shelley’s craftsmanship and deep appreciation for the subtleties and qualities of fine wood, combined with her affinity for acoustic music led her naturally to a career in lutherie. Her love of the music of Django Reinhardt further focused her lutherie skills, constructing guitars based on the original designs of Mario Maccaferri and the Selmer Co of France. Shelley D. Park has now been building fine guitars in Vancouver British Columbia since 1991.

a maker of Selmer/Maccaferri Guitars. Chris has been a full time Professional instrument maker since the mid 60's. Starting as an apprentice and later became a full time Violin Maker. During the 70's he did a lot of work for Louis Gallo including making 8 Maccaferri Guitars from original parts that Louis acquired from the old Selmer Factory. He also met Mario Maccaferri at this time who checked out the Instruments and gave his full approval. He also gave permission to make new Guitars using his designs. Chris called this range 'The Paris Jazz Guitar' an exact replica of the 'Speciale' alongside a whole plethora of other formats he continues to make to this day. http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/

http://harmsworthandwillis.co.uk/

Killy Nonis Guitars

Klaus Roeder Guitars - Germany

Jean Barault has achieved a delicate balance between stinging highs and rounded lows. Most guitars favour one or the other while this one has a biting high end when you need it for lead, but at the same time there are all these thick lower mids that make the chords sound super fat! The guitar is very full and satisfying yet still projects just as loud as a Dupont Vieille Reserve. In contrast to Duponts, the Barault is more "open" in tone....it has a swirling complexity that is really unique. A somewhat "boxy" sound whereas a Dupont is ultra dry and direct.

Barault is one of the very few luthiers today actually making Selmer copies with a real 'pliage'. He uses the method that Selmer did...the top is bent with a hot iron which creates a fold, or "pliage," in the top just under the bridge. 99% of Selmer copy's being made today have forced tops which generally don't have the punch, volume, and quick attack that the 'pliage' tops have.

Barault makes phenomenal instruments....one of the few makers of GJ guitars utilizing a true pliage in the top. I know Dupont and Park guitars don't offer that option unless you purchase their priciest instruments.

Mail jazzmaster@jazzeddie.f2s.com with questions or comments about the format of this web site. Last modified: 13/09/2011

Mail jazzmaster@jazzeddie.f2s.com with questions or comments about the format of this web site.
Last modified: 13/09/2011