Luthiers capable of archtop re-build/repair in SW UK?

[bananafist]

Cosidering acquiring an old archtop that will require some repairs and possibly neck re-set and/or trussrod install. I live in Cornwall, and there appears to be a dearth of skilled, properly trained archtop luthiers. Any suggestions or recommendations in the Southwest UK?

[bananafist]

Yes..........well, pretty definitive answer there !!!!! There are NONE! Oh well, now I know.

[David B]

Would you consider a road trip to Bristol?

Alex Bishop Guitars in Bristol. He builds beautiful guitars, mostly in the jazz manouche style, and is a fine jazz player himself. He does great-looking repair work - his Instagram page has a number of posts showing him doing a neck reset and restoration of a '59 Byrdland amongst others.

He’s currently doing a neck reset on a vintage Gibson L7 for fellow
forum member Garybaldy.

Alex Bishop Guitars | Luthier Bristol | Alex Bishop Guitars, Easton Road, Easton, Bristol, UK
Alex Bishop // Guitar luthier // Handmade instruments (@alexbishopguitars) • Instagram photos and videos

[bananafist]

Thankyou for the suggestion, I will bear him in mind. I'm getting a bit old now (81), and Bristol is a bit far for me nowadays. The guitar I was interested in purchasing for restoration has been sold elsewhere in the meantime - possibly just as well according to Mission Control(!)

[garybaldy]

Would you consider a road trip to Bristol?

Alex Bishop Guitars in Bristol. He builds beautiful guitars, mostly in the jazz manouche style, and is a fine jazz player himself. He does great-looking repair work - his Instagram page has a number of posts showing him doing a neck reset and restoration of a '59 Byrdland amongst others.

He’s currently doing a neck reset on a vintage Gibson L7 for fellow
forum member Garybaldy.

Alex Bishop Guitars | Luthier Bristol | Alex Bishop Guitars, Easton Road, Easton, Bristol, UK
Alex Bishop // Guitar luthier // Handmade instruments (@alexbishopguitars) • Instagram photos and videos

And it's going extremely well!

[bananafist]

I watched the vid Alex posted, and I was impressed, nice clean work, and a young man who clearly knows what he is doing. Nice guitar too! He is certainly the go-to guy if I find myself in that situation again. Thanks for the recommendation.

There is a guy down here in darkest Cornwall who calls himself Dr, but who's knowledge, or rather, the lack of it, was made very apparent when I entrusted a Martin 000-45 to him for re-fastening loose binding. Enough said.

[garybaldy]

Cosidering acquiring an old archtop that will require some repairs and possibly neck re-set and/or trussrod install. I live in Cornwall, and there appears to be a dearth of skilled, properly trained archtop luthiers. Any suggestions or recommendations in the Southwest UK?

Off topic but I played in Looe for the Looe Luggers Regatta last July. It coincided with my college band's 50 year reunion. I hadn't seen the drummer for 48 years! Three of the guys have settled in Cornwall, one of whom was originally from Looe. He currently plays in a pub band called Off The Wall.

[Zack]

Can I suggest you have a chat with [email protected]

He is based in Lewisham
He is an experienced guitar builder.
I met him first time a couple of months ago when I brought him my old Ibie for a refret and couple of other little things incuding a bew nut etc...
That refret was a tough one to do, as the neck has a binding covering the frets'nibs.
Very tricky and I never thought he'd offer to do it but He did! And you'd never know looking at it. Which is Wizardry!! And!... Very reasonably priced.
So, that is all I can tell.