Document 1359897

1
Compact Encyclopedia of
British Bassmakers
Compiled by Jan Berendsen
AC Guitars
Current production of standard & custom basses by
Alan Cringean in Moffat, Scotland.
Models are the Harlot, Skelf and Recurve. Features
are two-piece body with top, set or bolt-on neck,
five piece graphite reinforced neck, Hipshot
hardware, ACG designed FatBass pickups (made by
Aaron Armstrong) and the ACG filter preamp
(developed with John East). This preamp has
separate lowpass filters for each pickup and a
treble control with adjustable frequency. Scale and
woods are determined by the customer.
http://www.arrowheadguitars.co.uk/
Ashbory
Since 1987;
Unique little bass designed by pickup maker
Ashworth Electronics and luthier Nigel Thornbory.
This small bass with a short fretless neck, 18”
scale,silicone(rubber) strings and piezo pickup has
a remarkable doublebass-like sound and is
frequently used by (studio)musicians. First
production by Guild (‟87-‟89) in the US, later
models by bass shop Bass Centre and Korean
production by FMIC under the DeArmond (until ‟04)
and Fender brands.
http://www.acguitars.co.uk
Alan Arnold
Acoustic guitars an basses made by Alan Arnold in
Goldalming near Guildford since 1994.
Pictured is the 34” scale AB49 with special bracing
and offset soundhole. It‟s made out of mahogany,
rosewood and spruce with a graphite reinforced
neck. Headway electronics are optional.
http://www.ashborybass.com
Ashley Pangborn
http://www.alanarnoldguitars.co.uk/
Andy Viccars
Current production of custom instruments by Andy
Viccars in Milton Keynes.
http://www.andyviccarscustom.co.uk
Arrowhead
Current production of custom instruments and
parts by Paul Creedy in Duston.
1980-late 80s;
Standard & custom basses made by Ashley
Pangborn in London. Pangborn has moved to
Hamburg, Germany working for Gibson. His basses
are most known for being played by Mark King in
Level 42‟s early days.
Pangborn has made three basic models, very much
influenced by Alembic. Top model is the neckthrough Warlord. The Chieftain has a bolt-on neck,
the Warrior is a cheaper model.
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Awe
Barrios (BMI)
Custom guitars and basses currently made in
Newton Abbot, Devon.
Mid „00s production of custom instruments by
Barry Owen.
The Barrios electric upright has a seperate body
that can be attached for more volume.
Bassix
http://www.aweguitars.co.uk
Axe
Budget replicas of famous instruments made out of
used parts by The Painted Player and sold through
internet.
One example is a bass just like one of John
Entwistle‟s „70s custom instruments.
http://www.thepaintedplayer.co.uk
Electric uprights, creatively designed since the „90s
by Alan Hatswell in Whitstable, Kent .
Current models are the portable acoustic Mini Bass
and the Hi-Tech RC (a solid EUB). Early models had
a 34”scale, intended to crossover to bassguitarists.
These models include the collapsible Model C and
the plastic Jazza.
Bassurgery
Expensive handmade basses made in the mid „00s
by the retired dental technician Kim Seaubourne in
Worcester.
The Bassurgery (prices from £ 7000) is a
painstakingly handmade bass out of light woods
and featuring Lightwave pickups with options like a
built in tuner and exclusive leather cases.
Bailey
Current production (since 1998) of custom
instruments by Mark Bailey in Maybole, also “Build
Your Own” classes. Mark started out working for
Patrick Eggle.
Bailey has made basses with letter-shaped bodies
(like his „Sex Bass‟) and straightforward Fenderlike models but now offers modern neckthrough
basses.
http://www.baileyguitars.co.uk
Baldwin
Instruments made by Burns were sold under the
label of its American owner, the Baldwin company
between 1965-1970.
The models are the same as the Burns range at the
time: Bison, Baby Bison, GB66, Jazz Split Sound,
Nu-Sonic en Vibraslim. The Shadows signature
model seems to be the most popular model.
Bender
Custom guitars & basses made by Brian Eastwood
who‟s most known for his thematic guitars like his
„Blue Moon‟ guitar.
The 3D shaped Bender Collision looks visually
crooked and distorted but this is done on purpose
to achieve better playability. Other feature is a
series/parallel switchable Kent Armstrong P-pickup.
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Benjamin Guitars
Current production of custom acoustic guitars and
basses (starting at GBP 2750) by Nick Benjamin in
Lewes, Sussex.
Benjamin‟s ABG has a jumbo size body, long scale
and graphite reinforced neck.
http://www.benjaminguitars.co.uk
BR (Black Rose Guitars)
Current production (since 2005) of standard &
custom basses made in Haverhill, Suffolk.
The standard range is all about simplicity with a
choice of four bodystyles (one being axe-like), bolton necks and one pickup. Custom basses range
from vintage Jazz replica to modern active
fivestrings.
http://www.blackroseguitars.co.uk
Bravewood Guitars
Current production of standard & custom guitars
and basses by John Bravewood in Redruth,
Cornwall.
Bravewood used to make modern neckthrough
basses out of exotic woods but since the success of
his Vintage Replicas he now concentrates on
artificially aged Fender copy‟s with a lot of
attention to detail.
www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk
Bridge
Production of (semi-)acoustic bowed instruments
and an EUB. Bridge started in the „90s in Sleaford.
The Electric Bass (2250 GBP)is a hollow instrument
without f-holes made out of carbonfibre and kevlar.
Its neck is one piece maple with an ebony
fingerboard. Co-founder J.Glen makes a wooden
version under his own name.
http://www.bridgeinstruments.co.uk
Broadway
Brand name (late „50s – „60s) of British distributor
Rose-Morris for British made instruments from the
same source as Fenton-Weill, Vox, Dallas and
Hohner guitars & basses. From the early „60s on
Japanese instruments made by Guyatone, also sold
under Antoria and Star brand names. Broadway
was also sold through the Bell mailorder catalog.
There‟s one Broadway bassmodel (#1875),
probably made by Fenton-Weill around ‟61.
Brook
Current production of acoustic instruments by
Simon Smidmore and Andy Petherick in Exeter both used to work at Manson Guitars.
The Otter is an ABG without cutaway and available
in two versions: 010 (1900 GBP) and the upscale
015 (2400 GBP) with bound neck, gold hardware
and detailed inlays.
http://www.brookguitars.com
Burns
Guitars and basses made by James Ormston Burns
(who died in ‟98) starting in 1960. Jim Burns has
been named the British Leo Fender by his fans but
actually his career looks more like that of Mosrite‟s
Semie Moseley. Innovative instruments with active
EQ (1962) or radical shapes (Flyte) did not
guarantee successful sales and Burns had to close
shop more than once. Starting out with his
Supersound guitars in ‟58, teaming up with Henry
Weill in ‟59 and going solo in ‟60 for the most
successful venture, producing several classic
instruments. The 60‟s saw him making Ampeg
guitars too, and after selling his company to the
American Baldwin company also under the Baldwin
brand until closing business in ‟70. After working
on the Hayman range he set up a new version of
Burns bringing in the talents of the Shergold
company (‟74-‟83). The radical designs did
however not catch on. In ‟91 Barry Gibson picked
up the trail with British made and later
Korean(from ‟99) and Chinese (from ‟04)
reproductions of classic Burns designs and even
adding a fivestring model.
The first Burns bass is the Artiste (‟60-‟62),
followed by the Vista Sonic (‟62-‟64) and Burns‟
most successful creation: the Bison. This was made
in different versions between ‟62-‟70, ‟80-‟83 and
reissued since ‟94. The first version has a large
body with a bolt-on neck, bound ebony
fingerboard, 33,5” scale, 22 frets, three pickups
and four inline tuners. Later versions (like the
Baldwin Model 516) have rosewood „boards and
2x2 scrolled headstocks, from the „80s on 34”
scale, no scroll, 2x2 tuners, 21 frets and two
pickups. The Baby Bison (model 560) has a smaller
body and two pickups. These Bison designs were a
great inspiration for the „60s budding Japanese
guitarmakers, both Ibanez and Aria have made
Burns Bison like guitars and basses.
Other models are the G.B.66 ('65-'66), Jazz Split
Sound ('64-'70), Nu-Sonic ('64-'66) and Shadows,
made between '64-'70 for Hank Marvin‟s popular
band. The Vibra-Slim ('65-'70, Baldwin model 549)
has a scrolled headstock and a thin body with three
pickups. Designs of the „80s are the Concorde
inspired Flyte and the Scorpion eith it‟s extreme
cutaways. „90s reissues are the Bison and Scorpion
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basses with the Marquee being a „new‟model based
on the „60s Jazz Split Sound.
Chennell
Standard basses made by double bass maker Toby
Chennell in Bournemouth.
Chennell makes the Arco ABG, a double bassshaped acoustic bass guitar with 34” scale that
can be played arco and pizzicato in upright or
guitar position.
http://www.burnsguitars.com
Burns-Weill
In 1959 Jim Burns and Henry Weill made guitars
and three different bass models with an original
design that would be modern even by today‟s
standards. Burns did the woodwork, Weill worked
the electronics like he‟d done before for Dallas –
Britain‟s first electric bassmaker in ‟57. Burns left
after a year to start his own Ormston Burns
company. Henry Weill continued as Fenton-Weill,
Fenton not being a new partner but a reference to
one of the Burns-Weill guitar models.
Most seen bass is the angular Super Streamline.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tobias.chennell/arco_acoustic_
bass_guitar.htm
Clifton
Limited production (since 1986) of about eight
basses a year by Mo Clifton in Blackheath, London.
The Downright (from GBP 1300) is a five string
bassguitar with 36” scale and Kent Armstrong
pickups, available both passive and active, fretted
or fretless. The Mini-Upright is an EUB with 1/4
doublebass scale, fretmarkers on the side of the
fingerboard and a Realist pickup.
http://www.cliftonbasses.co.uk
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Chris McIntyre
Current production (since the early „90s) of
custom guitars and basses by Chris McIntyre in
London.
Base price is 1350 GBP for a fourstring bass in
Telecaster or J-style.
http://www.mcintyreguitars.com
Coley
Custom & standard instruments currently made by
James Coley in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
http://www.coleyguitars.co.uk
Colin Keefe
Dalmedo
Custom instruments currently made by Tito
Dalmedo in Preston, Lancashire.
De DB has a mahogony body with maple top, bolton neck with ebony fingerboard and optional
Seymour Duncan Electronics. The DC is a J-style
bass with a lot of custom options. Pictured is the
BC Rich-like Gorgo fivestring.
Custom acoustic instruments made by Colin Keefe
in the East Midlands. Keefe has built electric
basses.
http://www.keefeguitars.co.uk/
Crimson
Custom & standard instruments made by Ben
Crowe in Henstridge since 2005. Crowe was
previously associated with Scorpion Guitars Ltd.
Basic models are the Artemis (mahogany body,
maple top, bolt-on neck) and the neckthrough B5
with Basslines MM pickup, sapele body and fretless
wenge fingerboard.
http://www.dalmedoguitars.co.uk/
Dave Meg Music
Custom stringed instruments made by Dave
Megannitty in Burnley, Lancashire. Dave makes
four- to sixstring basses - "any shape you like
(within reason!)" - with traditional woods and
choice of bolt-on or neckthrough construction.
http://www.crimsonguitars.com
Dallas
Instruments made in Britain and Asia between „50s
and „70s. The first British made electric bass is the
Dallas Tuxedo ('57) with pickups and electronics by
Henry Weill (Burns-Weill, Fenton-Weill). Distributor
John E. Dallas & Sons ( “Johnny Dallas”) was
involved with other British made guitars too, like
Shaftesbury (until '65) and Hayman (until '75) and
imported Asian instruments like Jedson. Dallas
made amps (being the owner of Vox in the early
„70s), effects pedals and Hayman drumkits as well
– drums actually being Dallas‟ main business since
the start of the company in 1875. Dallas will be
forever linked with another dealer/distributor: Ivor
Arbiter, owner of Drum City and Sound City (well
known for their own amp range) – setting up
Dallas-Arbiter in the „70s.
http://www.davemegmusic.co.uk/
DM Guitars
Custom guitars since1990 made by Dan
MacPherson in Southend-on-Sea, specializing in
high quality paintwork.
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http://www.freewebs.com/ebasses/
Eccleshall
Custom instruments made since the „80s by luthier
Chris Eccleshall in Buckfastleigh, Devon.
Basic models are an 335 style semiacoustic (as
used by Peter Hook and Simon Gallup) ,the bolt-on
Cruiser bass and the original design Excalibur
http://www.dm-guitars.co.uk/
Dan Armstrong (London)
Though mainly know because of the American
made Ampeg plexiglass guitars and basses Dan
Armstrong spent the early „70s in the UK designing
guitars and effects. The set-neck London Bass
model was made with short or longscale and a
single movable Dan Armstrong pickup (Dan is the
father of renowned pickup maker Kent Armstrong).
http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/
Enfield
Custom basses currently produced by Martin Sims
in Ashford, Kent. Sims entered the guitarmaking
world in „94 with his innovative LED position
markers and quickly expanded in making other
guitar parts. The Enfield name comes from Sims‟
father‟s successful raceboats.
Enfield basses (from GBP 2650) have bolt-on necks
(with graphite option), elaborate active electronics
and the eyecatching “Super 8” pickup which consist
of eight coils that can be split/combined in various
ways.
http://www.danarmstrong.org/
Eastwood Guitars
Custom guitars made by Brian Eastwood,
see: Bender.
E Basses
Standard and custom basses made by Nick Smith
and Ian Hancock in Petersborough since 2000.
Earlier models are the Aztec, Toltec, Crusader,
Saracen, Genie and Hornet, available in bolt-on
(Roadwarrior) or neckthrough (Osiris) versions.
Current model (2007) is the pictured Valiant mk2
with redesigned electronics, Kent Armstrong
pickups and Gotoh hardware, available in several
wood combinations.
http://www.enfieldguitars.com
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Erasmus
Standard & custom basses and guitars formerly
produced by Erasmus Guitars in Swansea.
Models are the angular Trident (as pictured, with
Kahler tremolo and OBL P-pickup) and a fivestring
with three cutaways, wooden bridge, two
humbuckers and complex electronics.
Fingerbone‟s bass is the four- and fivestring
Fastback, made out of mahogany and with Kent
Armstrong pickups.
Frank Usher
Custom guitars and basses made since the „70s by
Frank Usher in Innerleithen, Scotland.
Ethos
Current production of custom instruments since
2004 by Paul Hancox in Redditch.
The pictured Lucky bass is an EB3-styled
neckthrough with a chambered alder body and
active EMG PJ-pickups.
http://www.ethosguitars.co.uk
Feline
VK; 1997-heden.
Custom instruments made by Jonathan Law in
Croydon,Surrey.
Models are the B52 (Telecaster-style) and
Valentine, based on the Spuler/Ibanez Affirma.
http://www.felineguitars.com
Fingerbone
Standard & custom made guitars and basses made
between 1986 – ‟89 by Paul Richardson, starting
out in the former Manson workshop in
Crowborough. Later he joined acoustic builder
Matthew Carter in Brighton. The Fingerbone
trademark was sold to Mark Hammock and
afterwards to a guitar store in Sevenoaks. Leftover
parts have been assembled with secondhand
Westone and Tanglewood parts by Geoff Mason in
‟92.
http://www.frankusherguitars.co.uk/
Finch
Custom guitars and basses made by the London
based luthier Jeff Finch.
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Fret-King
Standard guitars and basses designed by Trev
Wilkinson and made by Patrick Eggle Guitars in
Southport. Wilkinson is known for making high
quality guitar parts and also involved with brands
like Vintage and Italia. Fret-King models are
divided in two series: the limited production British
made Green Label and the imported Blue Label.
The pictured Europa IV has a Thunderbird shaped
korina body and three humbucking pickups. The
Europa Stereo has three P-pickups with separate
outputs for E/A- and D/G-strings.
The Esprit is a similar imported bass with PJ
pickups and a reverse headstock. The Perception
is a Fender/style bass with PJ pickups, also
available in the Green Label series with choice of PJ
and JJ pickups and a ´50s or ´60s neck profile.
cues and came back to full time guitarmaking in
‟96.
Current bass is the Magician (2900 GBP), a 34”
scale fourstring ABG with walnut body, red cedar
and laminated mahogany/walnut/ash neck with
ebony fingerboard. Earlier models are the
shortscale King Toby among others.
http://www.fyldeguitars.com
GB
Standard and custom basses made by Bernie
Goodfellow in Brighton since 1995. Goodfellow was
previously involved with Goodfellow and
Nightingale. All electronics are made in house, all
woodwork is done by hand without CNC machinery.
Models are the neckthrough Rumour and the Bolton Spitfire.
http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/
Ged Green
Basses and guitars currently made by Ged Green in
Cheadle,Chesire.
Ged Green basses feature Villex pickups.
http://gedgreen.co.uk
Giffin
Roger Giffin worked in London until 1988 for
customers like Pino Palladino and John Entwistle,
designed the Steinberger M-series (with Mike
Rutherford) and went on to work for the American
Gibson custom shop. He quit Gibson in ‟93 and
started Giffin USA in ‟97, now in Portland, Oregon.
http://www.fret-king.com/
Fylde
Standard and custom acoustic instruments made
by Roger Bucknall in Penrith. He started making
guitars at 9 years old, went professional in ‟73
setting up a business that made as much as 1000
instruments a year, got sidetracked in making pool
http://www.giffinguitars.com
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Gordy
GMC Basses
Custom basses built by amateur luthier Gareth
Cooper.
http://www.gmcbasses.co.uk
Goodfellow
Standard basses built by Bernie Goodfellow
between the „80s and 1996. In 1992 Goodfellow
was taken over by the Lowden guitar factory who
sold the brandname in ‟96 to Japanese distributor
Shinseido – Goodfellow is now used for a range of
accessories like gigbags and picks. Bernie
Goodfellow continues to make basses under the
Nightingale („90s) and currently GB trademarks.
Best known Goodfellow bass is the neckthrough
Player with Kent Armstrong pickups, pictured is the
bolt-on Classic.
Basses and guitars formerly made by Gordon
Whitham between ‟84 and the early „90s in
Altrincham, Chesire.
Models are the Gordy Headless (based on Status
designs) and the Blueshift range (1, 2, Deluxe)
with angular cutaways, ash body, maple or
rosewood fingerboard, one or two pickups, optional
active electronics and Schaller hardware.
Graham Parker
Acoustic and electric instruments made by Graham
Parker in London. His custom basses feature
neckthrough construction and two piece bodies.
http://www.grahamparker.moonfruit.com/
Gordon-Smith
Gordon-Smith was set up in 1978 by Gordon
Whitham and current owner John Smith. The
company made basses in the early „80s but
currently only produces guitars. Whitham left
Gordon-Smith in ‟84 to start his own Gordy
company.
Top of the range is the active Gemini with XLR
output and tremelo bridge. The pictured Gyspy has
the same mahogany/maple neckthrough
construction and GCS pickups – these are
individual pickups for each string, 90 degrees
turnable for different sounds.The Graduate is a
semiacoustic bass with regular pickups.
Grimshaw
Standard guitars and basses made by Emile
Grimshaw in London between the „50s and the late
„70s. Emile Grimshaw sr. was a famous banjoplayer
in the „30s. Later he started "Emile Grimshaw &
Son" in Londen mainly known for building quality
archtop guitars. When Emile jr. (deceased in '89)
took over business solidbody guitars (Meteor) an a
semiacoustic shortscale bass were introduced.
The pictured SS Deluxe bass has been modified.
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Gus
VK; 1994-heden.
Standard basses and guitars currently (since 1994)
made by Simon Farmer in Old Heathfield,Sussex.
Gus instruments are partly made out of carbon
fibre and finished with chrome and metallic
finishes.
The neckthrough four- or fivestring G3 bass
(introduced in ‟96) has a light, compact,
pearshaped body made from a cedar core and a
carbon shell. The body has a chromed aluminium
tube making for the actual guitarshape.
Fingerboard is cocobolo, electronics are passive
with two lipstick pickups. The G3 Active is an active
version with 3 band EQ. Fivestring models have a
35”scale option, fretless versions an ebony „board.
The G3 MIDI has additional RMC piezo pickups and
electronics for driving Roland MIDI equipment.
Hayman
Standard guitars and one bass model marketed by
distributor Dallas between 1970 – ‟73. Instruments
are designed by Jim Burns and Bob Pearson
(formerly of Vox) with woodwork by Shergold,
assembly by Re-An and finishing by Derek Adams.
After production was stopped similar instruments
were being made under the Shergold brand.
The Hayman 4040was made between '71 - '73 and
based on an earlier design by Pearson
with a bolt-on maple neck, maple „board, obeche
body and two P-style pickups. Distinct feature of
Hayman guitars is the long oversized metal control
plate.
http://www.gusguitars.com/
Harrison Custom Guitars
Standard & custom basses and mainly guitars
made by Guy Harrison in Pontefract, West
Yorkshire.
Pictured is the neckthrough Wolf Bass.
Heart
Standard guitars and basses made by Heart
Guitars Ltd. in Southend-on-Sea during the „80s.
Features are a sixpoint bolt-on neck with
heartshaped position markers, heartshaped
stringtrees, distinct headstock with heartshaped
logo out of wood & pearl, a scalloped brass nut,
Schaller hardware and EMG pickups with rosewood
rings.
Hugh Falconer
Custom instruments made by Hugh Falconer in
Aberdeen, Schotland.
Jay Armstrong
http://www.harrisonguitars.co.uk/
Custom instruments made by Jay Armstrong in the
late ‟70, early „80s. One model is a headless
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neckthrough J-style bass with Kent Armstrong
pickups.
http://www.jaydeeguitars.com
Jim Cairns.
Jaydee
Standard/custom basses and guitars made by John
Diggins in Birmingham since 1977. Jaydee basses
became very popular in the early „80s through the
playing of Mark King. During the „80s a regular
production line was set up but since the „90s John
Diggins returned to small scale quality guitar
building.
Jaydee basses are all called Supernatural – they
were designed for a natural wood look though
many later models have a color finish. All basses
have set neck construction despite the neckthrough
appearance. Necks are laminated mahogany/maple
with 22 frets, bodies are Brazilian mahogany with
a laminated centerpiece for the more expensive
models. Active electronics feature 3 band EQ (10dB
boost/cut), active/passive switching and a low
impedance XLR output. Hardware features Jaydee
own brass bridge with sustain block and Schaller
tuners. Pickups are Jaydee‟s own design (currently
SN2000) in a laminated wooden casing. Optional
are: short scale, 24 frets, passive electronics,
fretless, 5 or 8 strings and neck binding.
Basic models: Roadie (1 or 2 pickups, active
electronics optional), Mark King signature (21 frets,
slap groove to facilitate string popping), the 24 fret
GA, the Calibas and the pictured J-like Celeste with
two slanted pickups. Rare models are the very
expensive Studio and Video editions, Thunderbird
style instruments and J-style basses (made for
Jaco Pastorius).
Jim Cairns has been making custom instruments in
North East England since the „80s. Cairns has
designed pickups for Burns in the „90s.
Jim Fleeting
Custom instruments made by luthier Jim Fleeting in
Ripon since 2006. He‟s a graduate of the American
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery and makes and
repairs a lot of different acoustic instruments.
The pictured Jim Fleeting Custom Bass (from GBP
900) has frets on the E- and A-strings only, koa
top, wenge fingerboard and EMG pickup.
http://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/
J.Glen
Jimi Glenister makes custom guitars and electric
bowed instruments in Kommetjie near Capetown.
He started making jazzguitars in ‟75, moved to the
UK in ‟89 for further education. He was co-founder
of Bridge in Sleaford, maker of carbonfibre electric
uprights. In „04 he returned to South Africa, now
making full wood (Bridge-like) EUBs.
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http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.carling1/
http://www.johnbirchguitars.com/
John Procter
Custom instruments made by John Procter in
London since 1994.
http://www.jglen.co.za/
JJ Hucke
VK; jaren '90-2001.
Custom instruments made by Jens Jurgen Hucke in
Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire since the „90s. In
‟01 the company changed its name to JJ Guitars
and is no longer making basses.
The neckthrough Tower Farm has an alder body,
ogea top, ogea/maple neck and Bartolini pickups
and electronics.
John Bedingfield
Electric upright basses formerly made by John
Bedingfield in Westcliff on Sea.
John Birch Guitars
Standard and custom guitars and basses formerly
made by John Birch („60s – „80s), currently by John
Carling (since 1993). Most „70s instruments are
made by John Diggins who left in ‟77 to start his
own Jaydee company. Birch specialized in pickup
making and developed his line of Flux pickups with
large cobalt steel magnets. In the „90s he also
worked on MIDI pickups.
John Birch basses (from GBP 1499) are mostly
based on the Rickenbacker 4001 and Gibson EB3.
http://www.johnprocter.com/
KGB
Standard/custom instruments currently made by
Keith Bennion in Birkenhead.
KGB makes headless neckthrough basses with
maple bodies and necks.
http://www.kgb-music.co.uk/
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Kif
Legra
Standard electric and acoustic basses and guitars
made since the „70s by Kif Wood in Perranuthnoe,
Cornwall. Kif once worked for Dan Armstrong and
is interested in experimental design. The acoustic
Kif bass is made out of laminated woods, has a 32”
or 34” scale and is fitted with dual piezo pickups.
Electric basses have Kent or Aaron Armstrong
pickups and passive electronics.
Custom and standard guitars and basses made
since 2004 by Bob Johnson in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
Basic model is the B42 with maple body, six point
bolt-on maple neck, ebony fingerboard, Schaller
tuners and active EQ.
http://www.kifguitars.com/
Kinkade
Custom acoustic instruments made by Jonny
Kinkade in Bristol. He made his first guitar in ‟76 –
thirty years later he wrote "Build Your Own
Acoustic Guitar", published by Hal Leonard.
The Mahogany Classic (GBP 2750) is an acoustic
bassguitar with optional florentine cutaway,
mahogany body with rosewood binding, spruce top,
34”scale and ebony fingerboard.
http://www.legraguitars.co.uk/
http://www.kinkadeguitars.co.uk
http://www.dicklevens.co.uk/
Leverty
Joint venture of two Orkney luthiers: Dick LEVEns
en John FogaRTY. They have made a variety of
electric instruments. Fogarty now concentrates on
artistic paint jobs for electric guitars.
Pictured is the Levens designed Elban 4 solidbody
bass. It‟s fitted with a Kent Armstrong humbucker
as well as a Roland MIDI pickup.
14
Les Evans
Custom instruments formerly made by Les Evans in
Liverpool.
Longfellow
Hollow body aluminum guitars and basses currently
made by Ronnie Longfellow in London.
http://www.lucasguitars.co.uk/
Manson
Custom acoustic instruments by Andy Manson and
electric instruments by his brother Hugh, made in
Devon since the „70s. Hugh Manson has built
several instruments for John Paul Jones.
The pictured Merlin was one of Manson‟s standard
models in the „80s along with the Kestrel.
http://www.longfellowguitars.com/
Lucas
A.J.Lucas makes a standard range of acoustic
guitars since 1990 but makes custom basses too.
http://www.mansonguitars.co.uk/
15
McMillan
Moon
Custom basses made by Ernie McMillan at the
Lowden factory. McMillan previously built
Goodfellow basses at Lowden.
Custom instruments made since 1979 by Jimmy
Moon in Glasgow. Moon had a standard line of
basses in the „80s but he now concentrates on
building mandolins and other acoustic instruments.
Electric guitars and basses are built on custom
order only – pictured is a ten string custom bass.
MD (Martin Dixon)
Custom guitars and basses (from 850 GBP) made
by Martin Dixon in Yorkshire since the early „90s.
His speciality is marquetry – refined wooden inlays.
http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/
Morgan Custom Guitars
Custom instruments made by Neil Morgan in
Powys, Wales.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mdguitars/
http://www.morgancustomguitars.com
16
Necx
Newton
Standard & custom basses made by Tony Wright in
Dudley, West Midlands. Wright previously worked
as an engineer and educator.
Standard instruments made by music shop Newton
Guitars in Merstham, Surrey.
Newton basses are the Devolution (P-bass with ash
body, Gotoh hardware and Newton P-pickup) and
Devolution II (GBP 799) with PJ-pickups.
http://www.newtonsonline.com/
Nightingale
http://www.necx-guitars.co.uk
Ned Callan
Affordable guitars of the „70s designed by Peter
Cook and made by Shergold.Similar instruments
were sold under the Shaftesbury and CMI names
with later models being made in Japan. Peter Cook
made custom instruments for John Entwistle and
also ran Cook‟s Guitarworld music shop in London
until the late „80s.
The Ned Callan Cody was nicknamed „Nobbly Ned‟
because of the shape of its cutaways.
Standard/custom basses made by Bernie
Goodfellow (Goodfellow, GB Guitars) and Neil
McDonald in Croydon during the „90s.
Basic models are the Original (mahogany body with
exotic top, five piece bolt-on neck – GBP 895),
Vision (alder or ash body, one piece maple Bolt-on
neck - GBP695), Vision Active (with EQ -GBP795)
and the Fourthru, Fivethru & Sixthru (1150, 1250,
1350 GBP)with fivepiece neckthrough construction.
All models have Nightingale humbuckers and three
band EQ except for the Vision.
17
Northworthy
Overton
Standard & custom acoustic instruments made by
Alan Marshall in Ashbourne,Derbyshire since 1987.
http://www.northworthy.com/
Standard guitars & basses assembled by Freddie
Overton. Overton uses Kent Armstrong and
Brandoni pickups and imported American
woodwork from Custom Parts.
NS (Nathan Sheppard)
Custom guitars and basses made by Nathan
Sheppard in Clevedon,Somerset since 2001.
http://www.exoticguitarwoods.co.uk/
NS Custom (Neil Shoemark)
Custom guitars and basses made by Neil
Shoemark. NS also produces guitar parts and sells
tonewoods.
Pictured is the Moth bass.
Overwater
Standard and custom basses made by Chris May in
Carlisle since 1978. May co-designed the Delta (by
Carslbro) bass amp range.
The first Overwater basses are plain one pickup
models made on a relatively large scale (400).
Simultaneously Overwater developed an original
shaped neckthrough bass (nowadays refered to as
Overwater Original) leading to the C Bass. This was
designed by bassist Andrew Bodnar and has a
36”scale with C tuning (major third below common
bass tuning). Other „80s shapes (with advanced
active electronics) are the Artisan and Fusion. The
Perception is a simpler bolt-on bass made in the
early „90s, succeeded by the Evolution and its
neckthrough counterpart Progress (currently third
generation, as pictured). The Progress III is
available four- to sevenstring, 32”to 38” scale and
four levels of construction. The Expression basses
are semiacoustics with a solid spruce top, bound
mahogany body, maple/walnut neck, rosewood
fingerboard & bridge and Headway piezo pickups
with Overwater/East preamp.
The J-series comprises of four- & fivestring J-style
basses.
http://overwaterbasses.com/
Patrick Eggle Guitars
http://www.nscustomguitars.co.uk/
Organic
Standard guitars and basses made by Duncan
Wales in Thorney near Peterborough since 2005.
Organic basses have four or five strings and J- or
MM-pickups.
http://www.organicguitars.co.uk/
Standard guitars and basses made in Coventry
since 1991. Patrick Eggle (the man) is no longer
involved with this company. The Patrick Eggle
Company is also involved with other brands like
Gary Levinson/Blade and Fret-King.
The Milan Pro IV/V ('92-'97) has a swamp ash
body, bolt-on maple/rosewood neck with rosewood
fingerboard, 24 frets and Sperzel tuners. Two Kent
Armstrong humbuckers are paired with an active
contour control (simultaneous bass and treble
boost). The New York IV (‟95) is a single pickup
version. Between '97 en '03 no basses were made.
The second version (since '03) is called Milan 4/
Milan 5(pictured) with a flame maple body, bolt-on
maple neck, rosewood (fourstring) or maple
(fivestring) fingerboard and 22 frets. Electronics
are two singlecoil J-pickups and 'activator' EQ.
18
Paulman
Standard/custom instruments made by Paul NcNab
in Huddersfield,West Yorkshire.
Models are the four- to sixstring Rex SST (pictured,
from GBP 1000, bolt-on five piece maple/bubinga
neck with ebony fingerboard, mahogany or alder
body with maple top and Goldo pickups) and the
fourstring Regia EUB (GBP 2200) with hollow
poplar body, maple archtop, two piece maple
neck, ebony „board and separate piezo-pickups for
each string.
http://www.patrickeggleguitars.com/
Patrick James Eggle
Standard/custom acoustic guitars made by Patrick
Eggle in Oswestry. He‟s the founder of Patrick
Eggle Guitars, left the company in '95, made
guitars under the Redwing brand and subsequently
moved to Hendersonville, US. Recently he returned
to the UK. His US made instruments (like the
pictured Discus Bass) have engraved aluminium
plates on headstock, bridge and scratchplate engraving courtesy of former Zemaitis-engraver
Danny O'Brien. Currently no basses are offered.
http://www.paulman.co.uk/
Pete Woodman
Standard and custom instruments made by Pete
Woodman on the Isle of Man. He is currently
recovering from a serious illness and expects to be
back in business late ‟09.
Models are ABG, EUB and resonator basses.
http://www.eggle.co.uk/
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com/
19
Peter Byrne
Custom guitars and basses built by Peter Byrne in
Glasgow, Scotland. Byrne also makes acoustic and
semiacoustic basses.
PR Guitars
Standard/custom guitars & basses made by Paul
Richardson in Durham. Paul started in 1988 with
his brother Alan the “A&P Richardson” workshop.
http://www.prguitars.co.uk
Prose
Standard/custom basses currently made by Paul
Rose in Chorley.
http://www.myspace.com/customguitarmaker
Peter Cook
Custom guitars and basses formerly built by Peter
Cook in London. Cook also designed the affordable
Ned Callan range made by Shergold. He
maintained and built several basses for John
Entwistle including the pictured Lightning Bolt as
used on ‟75 album “The Who By Numbers” .
http://www.prosebass.com/
Rees
Standard & custom guitars and basses made by
Clive Rees in Cambridge.
The F-Light (GBP 595) fourstring bass weighs
under 3kg.It has a chambered body, Seymour
Duncan P-pickup and passive electronics. There‟s a
fivestring version (Rees5 Bass, GBP 935) with two
humbuckers. Both have a maple bolt-on neck with
special finish and nitrocellulose lacquered bodies.
20
Gibson and returned to the UK to work for Patrick
Eggle.
Basses are the CJB4 and CJB5: four- and fivestring
Jazz-like with poplar body, maple top and neck,
ebony, rosewood or maple fingerboard. Four string
basses have Woodworm/Rob Williams pickups, the
five string has a single EMG in bridge position and
EMG active EQ. The CJB range is current under
revision.
http://www.rees-electric-guitars.com
RIM Custom
Standard and custom basses currently made by
Robbie McDade. RIM basses are crafted from exotic
woods with high quality hardware and electronics
by Noll, Aguilar, Haussel, Delano and Bartolini
http://www.rimcustombasses.co.uk
http://web.mac.com/robertlloydwilliams/Robwillia
msguitars/
Rob Armstrong
Royal
Custom acoustic (and some electric) instruments
made by Rob Armstrong in Coventry since 1971.
His first instruments were actually all fiberglass but
from ‟74 he quickly gained prominence as a builder
of solid wood acoustic „folk‟ guitars for people like
Bert Jansch. His very first bass was custom made
for Dave Pegg. The pictured fretless neckthrough
bass was custom made for Maartin Allcock in ‟05.
Standard instruments made by Kevin Chilcott in
the „80s. He‟s returned to building guitars in 2002
under the Royale brand but no longer makes
basses.
Most important Royal bass is the Electra,
nicknamed “Swiss Cheese” due to the many holes
in the body.
http://www.kevinchilcott-luthier.co.uk
Ruach
Rob Williams
Standard & custom guitars and basses made by
Rob Williams in Birmingham since 1995, previously
under the Woodworm name. Williams started
working at Jaydee, moved to the US to work for
Custom and standard basses.
Basic models are the pictured Alpha, Turteled and
Omega – all neckthrough basses with exotic
woodwork and Ruach Electronics. Full custom
builds are possible too.
21
Sei Bass
Standard & custom basses made by Martin
Petersen and John Chapman in bass shop The
Gallery in London.
Basic models are the headless Flamboyant (from
GBP 2040) and the pictured Original. Standard
features are neckthrough construction, seven piece
maple/wenge neck, 24 frets, 34”scale, three piece
body with exotic top, ABM hardware, Kent
Armstrong pickups and active electronics. Options
are: 35”or 36” scale, LED position markers, headed
version, fan frets, other pickups (like the optical
Lightwave) and Axon MIDI electronics. The Jazzmodel (four- to eightstrings, from GBP 2100) is a
J-bass with swamp ash body, bolt-on one piece
maple neck, 22 or 24 frets and Bartolini J-pickups.
The limited edition headed 35” Millenium bass
celebrates Sei‟s tenth anniversary and has special
electronics and piezo pickups. A recent addition is a
Singlecut bass.
http://www.ruachbassguitars.co.uk/
Scott
Standard and custom basses built by Peter Scott,
currently on Zürich, Switzerland -previously in
Switzerland and the UK. Scott has been working for
Swiss guitarmaker Rolf Spuler (designer of the
Paradis guitars and the Ibanez Affirma basses).
Basses range from modern to J-style models.
Scrimshaw
Custom and standard instruments made by luthier
Andrew Scrimshaw.
Basic model is the Stonker, a P-bass with limewood
body, Schaller hardware and Kent Armstrong
pickups. Another bass is based on the Ashbory with
a short fretless neck, rubber strings and piezo
pickup.
http://www.mbwebs.co.uk/scrim/
http://www.seibass.com/
SGL
Custom instruments made by Simon Jones in
Swansea since 1988.
http://www.sglguitars.co.uk/
22
Shaftesbury
Brand name used by distributors Dallas (until '65)
and Rose-Morris for instruments made in Italy
(EKO), the UK (Ned Callan/Shergold) and in Japan.
One Japanese model is a Rickenbacker copy though
not based on the famous 4001 bass but on one of
Rickenbackers semiacoustic guitars. Shergold made
Peter 'Ned Callan' Cook designs under the
Shaftesbury brand, a similar model pictured here
(also sold as CMI, another British import label) was
produced in Japan.
electronics with four different passive modules
available (stereo, recording, phasing, bypass) and
one active booster circuit. All passive circuits are
about different combinations of pickups and coils.
Sixstring bass are made too, as well as doubleneck
instruments, popularized by Shergolds most
famous user Mike Rutherford.
The Activator (‟80) is a rare active Shergold with
parametric EQ. The Dutch Van Zalinge electric
upright inspired Shergold to make a similar EUB at
a more affordable price (‟81, GBP 430) with 41”
scale, semi hollow plywood body with obeche core
and a Polytone pickup (Underwood optional).
http://www.shergold.co.uk/
Shuker
Shark Attack
Standard and custom basses & guitars with finshaped bodies made by Andy Moore in Scotland.
Pictured is the Tao Bass.
Shergold
Standard guitars and basses made by Jack Golder
en Norman Houlder in Romford, Essex. They
started out making guitars for distributors like
Rosetti (under Rosetti en Shaftesbury brands),
Barnes & Mullins (B&M) and Dallas (Hayman).
From ‟75 Shergold started their own line of guitars
and basses while still producing for other
companies like Ned Callan and Burns (Flyte model).
During the „80s production was slowed down and
only custom orders were built. In the early „90s
production was set up again but halted when Jack
Golder died in ‟92.
The Marathon Bass (pictured, GBP 187 at the time)
is derived from the Hayman 4040 bass, produced
by Shergold for distributor Dallas between ‟71 – ‟73
and designed by Bob Pearson and Jim Burns). It
has a maple neck, bound maple fingerboard, 20
frets & zero fret, 2+2 headstock with Japanesestyle tuners, hardwood body and one P- pickup in
humbucker housing. The similar Modulator has two
full humbucking pickups and exchangeable
Custom and standard basses made by John Shuker
near Sheffield. Shuker also organizes bass building
classes and has his own Low Winder range of bass
pickups.
The Up 2 (from GBP 1200) is a four- to sixstring
EUB with 34",36" of 41" scale, five piece neck and
walnut body with exotic top. The P and J are
Fender-style basses with several options like
laminated neck, top and active electronics. Het JJ
Burnel model is a signature recreation of his classic
black P-bass. The Artist is a semiacoustic bass with
a spruce top, laminated graphite reinforced neck,
ebonol fingerboard and piezo pickup. The pictured
Singlecut (from GBP 1795) is available in bolt-on or
neckthrough construction with an optional Schertler
pickup. The Bolt-On (from GBP 725) is Shuker's
basic model mahogany or walnut body, five piece
neck, two J-pickups and preamp. De Neck-Through
(from GBP 895) is similar but with neckthrough
construction.
http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/
23
Smiggs Guitars
Simon Lee
Custom instruments made by Ryan Smith in
Kircaldy, Fife.
Modern basses with Smiggs hardware and Seymour
Duncan electronics.
Custom guitars and basses made by Simon Lee.
Pictured is the passive J-style Panola with two Bare
Knucle J-pickups, Badass bridge and maple body
with cherry centerpiece. This maple/cherry/maple
sandwich is bolted together – a concept that Lee
calls „Cyclotron‟ which also involves the use of
recycled plastics on some Simon Lee guitars.
the Spike (by McEvoy)
Mixture of bass guitar and EUB formerly made by
A.McEvoy.
This bass can be played in upright or guitar
position, bowed and plucked and has magnetic &
piezo pickups.
Sid Poole
Custom guitars and some basses formerly made by
Sid Poole who died in ‟01.
http://www.poolecustomguitars.co.uk/
Siggery
Standard & custom guitars and basses made by
Marty Siggery.
Apart from several four- and fivestring updated Jstyle basses Siggery also makes the CR electric
upright. It‟s made out of mahogany with a graphite
reinforced neck and EMG electronics.
http://www.simonleeguitars.com/
Sovereign
Standard & custom guitars & basses made in
Wootton Basset, Swindon.
http://www.sovereignguitars.co.uk/
http://www.siggeryguitars.co.uk/
Simnett
http://www.simnettguitars.com
Staccato
Limited production of the Staccato Mg bass by
instrument designer Pat Townshend and Chris
(Mick‟s brother) Jagger between 1985-‟87 in
Norwich. Shareholders were the Jagger family and
Stones' bassist Bill Wyman.
South African born motor racer Pat Townshend
worked in the US where he came up with the
innovative and oddly shaped Staccato drumkits
made out of fiberglass. In ‟78 Yamaha
commissioned him to develop a new guitar made
out of metal. After trying aluminium Townshend
chose cast magnesium for his guitars which were
made at John Carruthers workshop in California.
Original concept was an interchangeble neck,
allowing quick change from guitar to bass or
twelvestring. 21 were built under the Staccato
name before Townshend moved to the UK where
he designed the Staccato bass in ‟83. With funding
of members of the Rolling Stones a factory was set
24
up in Woodbastwick, Norfolk. From ‟85 there were
about 200 basses made, the most prominent user
being Gene Simmons. Townshend then went back
to motorsports. Currently he offers a limited
number of Staccato Mg basses made from NOS
parts.
The Staccato Mg (GBP 850 at introduction) is an
unique fourstring bass with magnesium neck,
fiberglass body and screwed carbonfibre
fingerboard with cast frets. The fingerboard can be
easily replaced in case of fret wear. Other features:
height adjustable nut, fine tuners at the bridge.
Electronics are two Kent Armstrong humbuckers
(with coil tap) and three band EQ that‟s adjustable
through minipots in the cavity.
Since the early „90s headed “Matrix” models are
offered as well as graphite reinforced wooden
necks (Energy, Shark, Groover). The Stealth and
the Buzzard (John Entwistle signature) are one
piece graphite basses. The Electroline (I, II,
Hellborg signature) are semiacoustics with bolton
wooden necks and piezo pickups. More traditional
are the J- & P-style Vintage series. The Trace Elliot
T-Bass was made in the „90s as limited edition
instrument for this British amp manufacturer. The
model has been revived in ‟07 under Status own
name.
http://www.status-graphite.com
Steve Kendall
Current production (since 1993) of basses &
guitars by luthier Steve Kendall in Oxfordshire.
http://www.staccato-art.co.uk/
Starfish
Custom EUBs made ca. 1997 by Starfish Designs.
Basic models are the Orca and Barracuda (four- or
fivestring) with Ashworth pickup. Scale and neck
profile were custom options.
Status
Standard/custom basses and guitars made by Rob
Green in Colchester,Essex since 1981.The very first
basses were branded “Strata”(‟82-‟84). Most
Status instruments have graphite neck, since ‟98
with trussrods. All basses have Status electronics
and Status Hyperactive pickups. Green also sells
graphite replacement necks for P-, J- en Music Man
style basses. His mid „00s Smart Bass program
allowed online design of basses.
The first Status model (Series II) is a headless
neckthrough with graphite neck and exotic wood
body and Status active electronics. This bass was
very fashionable and was used by many famous
„80s bands. One big name user is Mark King who
currently has a signature model called Kingbass
(pictured). Another recent model is the small
bodied Streamline (‟07).
Older models are the full graphite Series 2000 (late
'80s), the Series 3000 bolt-on with wooden body
(still offered as the Charger – the John
„Rhino‟Edwards signature) and the Series 4000
bolt-on with an injection molded plastic body.
http://www.stevekendallguitars.co.uk/
Street Guitars
Current production of standard guitars & fourstring
basses – standard instruments with a lot of
common( and beyond) upgrades.
The Talisman bass (GBP 1200) is a J-like
instrument with a graphite neck, alder body with a
steel top/scratchplate, EMG pickups and
electronics, rechargeable battery and built-in
wireless system.
http://www.streetguitars.co.uk/
25
Synergy Custom Basses
Tony Revell
Custom basses formerly made by Kevin Hartle in
Birmingham in the early „00s.
Synergy basses (five and sixstring only) feature
neckthrough construction, exotic wood bodies and
Basslines electronics.
Acoustic instruments made in the „90s by Tony
Revell in Newtown, Wales. Revell worked
previously at Overwater.
Tomson Guitars
Trace Elliot
Custom instruments currently made by luthier
Richard Thompson in Wigan, Lancashire.
Limited production of basses by Status for Trace
Elliot. Similar designs are currently offered by
Status and Lodestone.
Vox
http://www.tomsonguitars.co.uk
Guitars and basses marketed by JMI ( Vox
amplification). First offerings (from ‟61) are British
made by furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins &
Co. Low quality led to use of imported Italian necks
(‟62) and full shift of production to Italy (EKO,
26
Welson and Crucianelli) from ‟64. Later Vox basses
(„80s) are Japanese and Korean made.
The first Vox bass was the Symphonic – probably
one of the first imitation P-basses given the fact
that even the Japanese didn‟t turn to copying until
the end of the „60s. Design improved however and
many of the now classic electric guitars designs
(like the pictured Teardrop) were also used for Vox
basses resulting in a long list of different models:
Bassmaster, Panther, Saturn, Apollo IV, Cougar,
Constellation, Delta IV, Hawk, Violin, Phantom,
Mark IV and Wyman (signature) Bass.
Special features on some models are active
electronics (EQ or booster), Gretsch-like
detachable padding on the back of the body and a
tuning note generator (“G-Tuner”).
http://www.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/wal_history.htm
Watkins
Wal
Standard/custom basses formerly made by Ian
Waller and Pete “The Fish” Stevens (Electric Wood)
in High Wycombe. Starting out in 1974 Wal basses
have become well known and highly regarded
British basses. After Waller‟s death in ‟87 Stevens
took over but in 2007 he had to stop working due
to health problems. Former employee Paul Herman
is expected to resume production in 2009.
First models (with distinct leather pickguards)are
custom made for players like John Gustafson, Percy
Jones and John Entwistle – from ‟78 regular
production of a standard line (Pro I),
from ‟83 Custom line with laminated bodies in
Mach 1, 2 and 3 styling and introduction of five- &
sixstring basses. The MB4 is a Wal bass fitted with
MIDI electronics, comparable to the Peavey
Midibase.
Amplification producer WEM of Chertsey, Surrey
(founded by Charlie, Reg & Sid Watkins) have
made guitars and basses between 1957 and the
„80s using the Watkins( „60s), WEM (‟64-‟68) and
Wilson (‟68-‟82) brand names.
The Rapier bass was introduced in ‟65, together
with the two pickup Sapphire. It features a two
piece sycamore neck with duraluminum
reinforcement, 24 frets, and a hand support. RRP
in ‟70 was GBP 47. The Sapphire went for GBP 67.
Other models are the semiacoustic (EB2-style)
SAB2 (GBP 80). In ‟75 the W Bass (Lespaul guitarstyle) was introduced as well as the original
Mercury 4.
http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/
27
WEM
Zemaitis
See: Watkins
Unique handmade electric and acoustic guitars and
basses made by Tony Zemaitis between 19601999. Many have engraved metal tops. Zemaitis
also made acoustic bass guitars. From ‟04
Japanese replicas are built by Kanda Shokai. The
cheaper standard GZ range is made by Greco.
Higher quality models (pictured) are offered under
the Zemaitis brand.
Wilkes
Standard and custom guitars, basses and electric
violins made by Douglas Wilkes in Keele,
Staffordshire since 1972. In the „80s Wilkes was
the largest guitar manufacturer in the UK with a
factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. From ‟92 on
Doug Wilkes returned to small scale custom
building.
In the factory years Wilkes made a standard model
in different versions: the single pickup Standard,
fretless Percussive (with a contact pickup at the
end of the fingerboard to enhance slap-playing),
Supreme, Savoy and the laminated active Alembicstyle GAF.
Some
basses are half fretted (fretted E & A string,
fretless D & G). The Nigthwing is a small headless
bass. Some custom Wilkes‟ basses are copies of
Stingray, Thunderbird or violin basses.
http://www.zemaitis-guitars.com/
Zootbass
Standard and custom basses made by Mike Walsh
of Icenci Music/Bass Merchants.
There are several Zoot basses (Chaser, S4,
Funkmeister) but top of the line is the pictured
neckthrough Deluxe (from GBP 1695) with a 9- to
13-piece neck, 3-piece body, Icenci sustain bridge,
Aero pickups and John East electronics.
http://www.wilkesguitars.co.uk/
http://www.zootbass.co.uk/
Wilson
See: Watkins
Copyright 2006-2009 by Jan Berendsen
jan@aardigsnarig.nl