This is a little bit about me...

and my passion

 

Way back when I was at school (in the 1960s) I fell in love with music and everything about it. I started playing guitar, mandolin and banjo at the age of 14. I loved folk music (who didn't in those those days?) and was in awe of people like Davy Graham, John Renbourne, Bert Jansch and players working a jazz element into traditional folk music. Bob Dylan just blew me away; to this day I have no comprehension how someone could write so many incredible songs. I learnt old time frailing (clawhammer) banjo, bluegrass three-finger picking 5-string banjo, bluegrass mandolin, flatpicking guitar rags. But like Dylan, eventually I sold my soul and got an electric guitar and struggled to learn how to control the beast. I deputised in many country bands playing banjo, mandolin and guitar and learned how to work with bass and drums and learnt my craft. I also had to spend an enormous amount of time setting up band members' instruments.

 

As a 15 year old school boy, I loved woodwork and my dream was to make musical instruments. Eventually after a thirty year professional career as a psychologist involved with education, I was able to turn my life long passion into my living. So I am an experienced player and teacher of the whole range of instruments that I make, and I therefore understand players' individual needs. I love music and have spent my whole life in learning and teaching. The work that I now dedicate the whole of my life to, allows me to be in peace with my wife, my dogs, my music, my students and my customers.

 

 

I now split my time evenly between making instruments, carrying out customer repairs, teaching (both music and the making of musical instruments) and playing, recording and and making my own music.