Latest News
Posts tagged bailey guitars
Bailey Custom Guitar Build – Part 1 – Exotica Left Handed
Apr 25th
Simon’s custom Exotica – ‘thru neck’ style.
Simon came to visit in March to design his guitar and choose his wood, parts, etc. Since then I have been making very good progress – it is almost starting to look like a guitar. I have taken so many pictures that it was difficult to choose just a few for the blog so I had an idea to make a slideshow- a new format for keeping you updated with my custom builds…why did I not think of that before? Now you can hear one of my guitars being played while you watch another one taking shape – How fantastic is that. (Please feel free to make a comment.)
It took a little longer to put the slideshow together but I hope you will agree it is a better way of showing more of what goes on in the Bailey workshop.
In case you are wondering- it is a left handed guitar but it has a right handed headstock, very cool…next job is to glue the wings on – can’t wait to see it myself!
The music is from ‘Paligap‘ a great Scottish band with an outstanding guitar player who goes by the name of Anderson Council. Recorded ‘live’ on his own Bailey custom, it is their tribute to one of the founding fathers of electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix – enjoy!
If you are interested in having your own custom guitar made especially for you – contact us with your requirements or have a look at some guitars in our online shop.
BUILD YOUR OWN GUITAR Part 1- continues in June
Apr 18th
Location: Bailey workshop
Fri April 13 2012 - 10:00 AM
Sun April 15 2012 - 5:00 PM
Kevin, Martin, Graham and Jon
-
- Jon is making a 4 string thru neck bass
-
- Graham is making a bolt on 6 string
-
- Martin is making a single cut set neck with chambered body
-
- Kevin is making a Bootlegger acoustic
-
- End of Day 1
-
- Installing the abalone rosette
-
- Checking the fretboard shape
-
- Carving the neck
-
- Marking out the body
-
- End of day 3
Build Your Own Guitar/Bass course
This is a split, two weekend course, for people who are unable to come for a whole week and want to make something with more options than the Build your First Guitar Course. It also enables acoustic makers who need more time to pick and mix weekend dates over a longer period. Carol is a logistical genius and somehow manages to keep us all on track – contact her here for available dates.
Kevin
Kevin is starting his fourth guitar on the course – I don’t seem to have a photo of his first one (Send me one if you can Kevin!) but previously he made a single cut with an f-hole, and then this particularly attractive Bass. This time he is making an acoustic based on the original Bailey Bootlegger.
Martin
Martin is making a set neck, single cut, 6 string guitar with chambered body. He chose a Flamed Maple cap with a mahogany back. The neck is also Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard.
Graham
Graham is building a bolt on style guitar with a drop top and has chosen a beautiful piece of Australian Blackwood for the front which contrasts beautifully with the Ash back. His neck is Birds Eye Maple with an Ebony fretboard.
Jon
Jon is making a thru neck 4 string fretless bass. The five piece neck is made from three Flamed Maple and two Walnut laminates glued together. His body wings are Basswood and he chose some Maple for the cap.
Three days later…
After three days a lot of progress has been made. Martin, Graham and Jon have all but completed their necks and have all made a start on the bodies.
Kevin was booked onto one of our extra ‘secret’ dates, normally reserved for our local builders, so he stayed an extra day – see next post…
This course will continue in June.
More Courses | Check Prices and Availability
Bailey Guitars Featured Artists – Mark Wynn – Guitar Man Improvistion
Apr 9th
“Mark Bailey- He’s a Guitar Man” – Improvisation by Mark Wynn
Mark came and played at Acoustic Bliss, our open mike night in Ayr. We put him up for the night in Bailey World and in the morning I fixed the dodgy jack socket on his guitar- No not one of mine, if you are wondering…
I asked him to play a few tunes on my guitar and recorded him with my camera, but I have to say that I never expected this!
I am just glad the record button was pressed in to capture this fantastic piece of improvisation and thumb picking at the same time.
The song is about me which is pretty weird I know but I love it!
I’ll be uploading some more original tunes from the amazing Mark Wynn as soon as I am able, meanwhile if you think this is good head over to his website to hear more.
If you are interested in the guitars please visit the Bailey Website.
Enjoy!! (I did!)
Design Your Own Guitar – 1 Day Course
Feb 27th
Saturday 25 Feb 2012 at the Bailey Workshop
-
- Guitar design workshop
-
- A full course
-
- six new guitar designers!
-
- Allan
-
- Alex
-
- Ian
-
- Steve
-
- Nick
-
- James guitar-design
Design Your Own Guitar – 1 day course
Ever wanted to design your own guitar? Or get a custom guitar but don’t know where to start? Want to build your own dream guitar?
Design your own Guitar is our newest course and is rapidly becoming a favourite. It is a great way to get a feel for the workshop and decide whether to come back on another course to actually build it, or have me do it. Of course there is no obligation, some of our ‘designers’ just want to make a drawing and leave it at that. You could even have the guitar made elsewhere, or build it at home under your own steam, in your own time, either way this course is an excellent starting point. But if you do decide to go ahead and commission your design we will deduct the price of this course from the total price.
The idea is to begin with a blank sheet of paper and work through the entire design process, making vital decisions as we go, to finish with a custom guitar drawing of your very own. We try and pack in as much useful information as humanly possible including answering any questions as they arise.
The course covers all aspects of the design including discussions on construction styles, wood, hardware, bridges, tuners, pickups and electrics. All participants leave with a working drawing. The course also includes our Guitar Magic DVD and Bailey T Shirt to take away with you, and a work shop tour including a visit to the wood room.
It is worth pointing out that three of our participants this time had been bought the course as a gift, another increasing trend we are finding, and what a present to get!
There is much myth and confusion around the world of guitar design, this course aims to fix that.
Make it real!
This time it looks like four of the designs will eventually be made into guitars.
Allan is considering commissioning me to make his design for him. Nick and Alex have already themselves booked on our build your own guitar course.
James came to find out more about guitars and to get to know us a bit better, he is Nick’s father.
Ian also wanted just to learn, but by lunch was talking about signing up to build his own, and left with that familiar glint in his eye.
Steve has already built a few guitars at home on his own and wanted to fill in a few gaps in his knowledge.
Overall it was a very enjoyable day, and considerably less stressful for everyone as no wood was cut – a great introduction to the world of guitar making.
Design your own guitar ¦ Check Prices and Availability ¦ Other courses
Newsflash – Seymour Duncan Preston Reed and Bailey Guitars
Feb 7th
Preston Reed Turns The Acoustic Guitar into a Journey (from Seymour Duncan’s Blog)
Preston plays his Signature Bailey Baritone
Seymour Duncan have published a blog about Preston Reed using their D-tar pick-up in his new Signature Jumbo acoustic. The Jumbo is the second in the Preston Reed Signature series guitar after the Baritone which is now his main instrument.
