Willis Guitars

Willis Guitars

All of the instruments that I make are hand crafted from the finest of hand picked materials. Each part is fashioned with the love and attention that produces the fine instrument that the discerning player desires.Remember the instrument that you order is hand made just for you.

The process of creating a new instrument usually begins with the customer visiting the workshop to select the timbers and other components of their instrument. At this time the final dimensions and specifications are settled and a non refundable deposit of 25% is paid.

All Classical guitars,Steel String guitars,Mandolins and Ukuleles are available in left and right handed versions. The steel stringed guitars are additionally available in either 12 or 14 frets to the body.All guitars can be made with a cut-away for an additional charge.

Each instrument is custom made to the requirements of the player. Scale length, fret board width and cross sectional shape of the neck is tailored to the player's own playing style during the final stages of construction.

There is a wide selection of timbers available, including AAA Brazilian Rosewood. There is also a choice of shellac or lacquer for the finish.The finishing materials used on my instruments, whether it is lacquer or shellac are supplied from Morrells, the pre-eminent manufacturers of wood finishing products the UK.

Every instrument is fitted with Rotosound strings and is supplied in a Hiscox flight case where available.

Willis Guitars can now supply the full range of Rotosound strings and accessories along with Hiscox flight cases to suit most musical instruments. I recommend Headway pickups for my own instruments and can retro-fit them to most instruments.

Please be patient with this site as I am very busy in the workshop making fine guitars or as I sometimes do I super glue myself to the bench, at least not as often as I used to. As I get the time I update the web site. Please do check back regularly.

Dates for exhibitions and folk festivals in 2008 that I will be showing guitars at are on the news page.

My book on guitar making "Step by Step Guitar Making" is still available. Ordering information on how to order is on the news page. Sorry due to bank charges I don't accept credit cards, though PayPal is OK.The book including the plans for a steel string cutaway is Ł13.50 including P&P for UK addresses.

I will have copies of my book available at the shows this year priced Ł12.50 if collecting in person.

Have you recently purchased a copy of my book Step By Step Guitar Making? Did you purchase it from either Amazon. com or Amazon.co.uk? If so I would appreciate it if you could leave feedback about the book on the relevant sites. Thank you in advance for your time.

If you were fortunate to receive a copy of my book for Christmas, remember its not just for Christmas you can read it anytime. If you have any questions please contact me via email and I will endeavour to help.

I also offer a full workshop service for the repair and renovation of stringed instruments. Servicing includes neck re-sets, bridge repair, body repair and re-lacquering/shellacking and fitting of under saddle pickups for most instruments. Pricing is commensurate with the work to be done.

Steel String Guitar Plans and Kits are now available, with Classical guitar and ukulele plans soon to follow and of course my book. For more information please e-mail Willis Guitars .

Image page now contains images of new guitars as well as some repair jobs done recently in the workshop. All photographs uploaded before June 2006 were taken on a Canon Powershot S45 after that date the camera used was my Canon PowerShot Pro 1, still a great camera. .