About:

In 1983 I set up my own workshop in Nottingham specializing in 19th century guitars, the only maker specializing in this field at that time.I have researched, and continue to research and document many instruments from around the world. I have worked on many public and private collections, including those at Edinburgh University, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Paris Conservatoire and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

In 1991 I received a grant by the British Council to study guitars in Russia, and spent many fascinating weeks in Moscow and St Petersburg studying collections and talking to makers there at a time when Russia, or the USSR, was not easily accessible to the rest of the world.I have worked with many leading guitarists who perform 19th century music.

I have written articles and lectured about period guitars, and have acted as a consultant for other makers and collectors interested in this period.I began to shift my focus to modern guitar making in 1992 with my own concert guitars and started developing my ‘A Series Guitar’ with David Starobin. I have been making Hauser guitars for Julian Bream since 1995, and I have been working closely with John Williams developing systems for amplifying nylon string guitars. Most of my work schedule is now taken up with making my A Series guitars, with occasional work on historical guitars and special commissions.

Contact:

Southwell Guitars, UK