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Meet the maker - Leila Sidi of Tunatone Instruments

Meet the maker - Leila Sidi of Tunatone Instruments

If you've followed the Home of Tone for any length of time, I'm sure you'll have noticed my admiration & appreciation of luthiers who forge their own path through guitar design and their approach to building. I love seeing a luthier display influences from outside of the guitar world, and I particularly love to see a designer & builder's own personality apparent in their final works. After all, so many of those early guitar designs that have been coveted so much since their inception started this way, with perhaps Leo Fender being one of the greatest examples of this. His iconic designs originated from the mind of a non-musician, a designer and inventor who felt like he could contribute to the music world, and that he certainly did. So with that being said, we still need those people who think ahead, the people who wish to think outside of the traditional box whilst being respectful of it to help keep the guitar world exciting and innovative. Someone who has appeared to me to encapsulate that from following her work for a while now, has been Leila Sidi of Tunatone Instruments. So it seemed fitting for me to get back to my 'meet the maker' blog series by reaching out to Leila and speaking about her work!
04 December, 2019 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Guitar design Guitar maker Guitar makers Interview Leila Sidi Leila Sidi Tunatone Luthier Luthier interview Meet the maker Mid Century Mid-Century design Tunatone Instruments
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Michael Watts' 'Luthier Stories', with Ervin Somogyi

Michael Watts' 'Luthier Stories', with Ervin Somogyi

I absolutely urge you to spare 37:55 of your time and enjoy this video. If you haven't ever happened to have heard the name Ervin Somogyi prior, he is a true icon of the guitar world and luthiery. Our friend Michael Watts visited him at his workshop and put together this inspiring video talk with Ervin and I loved every second. For anyone who is a fan of luthiery, guitars, design and even outlook on life, this is well worth a watch. Thanks for recording it Michael!
08 January, 2019 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Acoustic Guitar Ervin Somogyi Luthier Michael Watts
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Meet the maker - Nicolai of Schorr Guitars

Meet the maker - Nicolai of Schorr Guitars

In recent years, I've really craved the unique. The guitar is a wonderful tool and outlet for musical creativity, but as the years go by and I see more and more of the same iconic guitars hanging in shops and at guitar shows, my desire to seek out 'different' is really becoming an obsession. The guitar has become more than just a tool for musical creativity to me. I was introduced to Nicolai's guitars by Florian of Millimetric Instruments, and I was captivated by the design and unique approach to every detail. It was clear there was more than just a guitar based background in Nicolai's designs and after being lucky enough to attend the Holy Grail Guitar Show this year and seeing his guitars in person, I knew I had to get him involved in my 'Meet the maker' series to learn more. So I welcome Nicolai Schorr of Schorr Guitars!
27 June, 2018 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: luthier luthier interview Meet the maker meet the maker interviews Nicolai Schorr Nicolai Schorr guitars Nicolai Schorr interview Schorr Schorr Guitars Schorr Guitars interview
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Holy Grail Show feature - Jghg - Meeting a Jersey Girl, from Japan

Holy Grail Show feature - Jghg - Meeting a Jersey Girl, from Japan

Jghg (Jersey Girl Homemade Guitars) describe their instruments as compositions, and now I have had the honour of holding them in my own hands, I can see why. They're as fluid and creative as a beautiful musical composition, and executed with absolute finesse and perfection. I've been following this 4 luthier team from Japan for a while, out of pure awe for their unique looks. But upon finally seeing the three 'compositions' they had on display at the Holy Grail Guitar Show '18, I don't think I was quite prepared for just how exquisite their work truly is. This is the next level surely? 
08 May, 2018 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Holy Gra Holy Grail Holy Grail 2018 Holy Grail Guitar Show Holy Grail Guitar Show Berlin Holy Grail Guitar Show coverage Holy Grail Show Holy Grail show coverage Jersey Girl Guitars Jersey Girl Homemade Guitars Jghg Luthier
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Meet the maker - Tom Sands

Meet the maker - Tom Sands

This series is somewhat self indulgent of me, I love discovering brands and guitar makers I've not come across prior, including that of the aspects of guitars I'm perhaps not familiar with either. I enjoy hearing about all the different luthiers approaches and influences, from a guitar geeks perspective it's really quite insightful. But one thing the series was lacking so far, was an acoustic guitar maker's thoughts.

Rewind about a year, and Nick Pourfard of Prisma Guitars asked me if I knew Tom Sands, an acoustic guitar maker friend of his. I hadn't sadly, and to my surprise he was UK based, and I was hooked instantly after a look at his website and media content. You could tell there was more than just guitars that Tom was influenced by. Super clean designs, that seemed to balance beautifully between pure functionality and getting the very best from each aspect of the instrument, to being incredibly aesthetically pleasing and unique. Over the course of the time first hearing of Tom's work, to speaking with him a little over social media, I knew he had to be the first acoustic guitar maker to join the Meet the Maker series and luckily he was keen too! So let's find out more about Tom, his influences, processes and work...
12 March, 2018 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Ervin Somogyi Guitar making Interview Luthier Luthier interview Meet the maker Tom Sands Acoustic Tom Sands Acoustic Guitar Tom Sands Guitar Tom Sands Guitars Tom Sands Guitars interview Tom Sands Interview
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Meet the maker - Florian Bouyou of Millimetric Instruments.

Meet the maker - Florian Bouyou of Millimetric Instruments.

The work of Florian Bouyou first came to the attention by the tip off from a friend via the visual social world of Instagram. I wanted to note this in particular as the visual aspect of that media platform is reflective of what perhaps demands your attention when first gazing upon a Millimetric Instrument. Handbuilt in Canada by Florian, A hypnotically simplistic style and design greets you, and it is clear that there are so many more influences than just the guitar world behind these instruments and the Millimetric brand aesthetic.. I was really keen to learn more about that. I've personally been infatuated ever since, keen to see more of his work and to learn more of the brand, so I knew at some point I had to get Florian involved in my Meet the maker interview series. Luckily for me, Florian was happy to speak with me! So let's delve in, as I'm itching to learn more!
02 March, 2018 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Florian Schneider Florian Schneider interview guitar maker home of tone home of tone blog luthier luthier interview meet the maker meet the maker interviews millimetric millimetric guitars Millimetric instruments millimetric interview
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Meet the maker - An Appetite for Perfection, John Ambler of Ambler Custom Guitars

Meet the maker - An Appetite for Perfection, John Ambler of Ambler Custom Guitars

Over the years of playing the guitar, one thing that has increasingly sparked my interest almost more than playing in some instances is the skill of a great luthier and the work they create. 
One which really stood out to me, was UK luthier John Ambler of Ambler Custom Guitars. From the rough and ready 'Junk Yard Dog' model featuring a real metal coating, full of character and patina, to the absolutely stunning figured woods used on a range of his other models. John is truly a maker to watch, as already early on in his career, the quality of work is right up there with the very best and often surpasses!
In our series of Meet the Maker interviews, we caught up with John to chat about his work!
11 June, 2017 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Ambler Custom Guitars Ambler Guitars Ambler Interview British guitar luthier british guitar maker British guitars british luthier British made guitar british made guitars Guitar Guitar Builder Guitar maker Handmade Interview John Ambler John Ambler Guitars John ambler interview Luthier Made in the UK Meet the Maker Peak District UK guitar maker
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Meet The Maker - Social Distortion to Luthiery, a chat Drew Walsh of Walsh Guitars

Meet The Maker - Social Distortion to Luthiery, a chat Drew Walsh of Walsh Guitars

I began to notice a bit of a transition in the guitar market over over the last few years. One that saw guitar buyers yearning for something a little different to the norm. Instrument designs that perhaps break the conventional molds, and I think the times we are in at the moment, those alternative choices available have never been better. 
02 September, 2016 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Boutique boutique guitars Guitar Blog Guitar Build Guitar Mag Guitar magazine guitar maker Guitar Talk Guitarists Anonymous Home of Tone Home of Tone Blog Home of Tone Doxa Home of Tone Walsh Guitar Home of Tone Walsh Guitars James' Home of Tone James' Home of Tone Blog Japanese Guitar Les Paul Les Paul Custom Live Music luthier luthier interview mcnelly McNelly Pickups UK Music Blog Product Test Relic Strat Stratocaster Sunburst Telecaster tonemob Walsh Walsh Demo Walsh DOXA Walsh Guitar Walsh Guitar Demo Walsh Guitars Walsh Guitars Doxa Walsh Guitars Review Walsh Tele Walsh Telecaster
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