Customised Classical and Flamenco Guitars

Standard classical and flamenco guitars do not suit everyone's needs and for that reason renowned makers offer a range of custom build options. Alternative scale length, finish, neck profiles, fret materials, pickups and pickguards; these and more are all available. Prices are surprisingly reasonable.

You can find out more about the customisation options available from Alhambra here, and from Hanika here. Please phone to talk through which of the various options available may suit you best.

Special Set Up for Yamaha NCX & NTX series

We have successfully set up Yamaha NX series guitars to give a brighter tone and lower action than they come with as standard. ...more

"thanks for your time and advice on saturday, the guitar [Yamaha NCX900FM] sounds fantastic" Stephen Woodman, November 2009

Savarez Cantiga Strings

Gitane Cigano Maccaferri/Django Guitars back in stock

A new consignment of the oval soundhole GJ-10 and D-soundhole GJ-15 guitars has arrived.

Excellent sound- and build-quality for the price.

Hannabach Hand-made Strings

We have just increased our already wide range of Hannabach classical and flamenco strings.

There are now the eco-friendly "GreenLine" strings and the new high and medium tension Titanyl strings.

Don't miss some extraordinarily special bulk prices on PSP polished recording strings.

Readers' guitars for sale on our discussion forum

• 2 guitars by Yuichi Imai being offered by the members of the Duo Guitartes
• A Santos Martinez SM650 cutaway electro classical.

The forum itself ("Classical Guitar Conversations") has many classical guitar question and answer postings too. Have a browse and feel free to participate.

New from Blackbird

We thought we'd try something completely different this year and so we took on the Blackbird range of Carbon Unibody guitars.

The first small consignment arrived August and we were sold out within 2 days. That first time we took

• Blackbird Nylon - Carbon Fibre Small Body Nylon String Travel Guitar with MIDI RMC Pick-up
• Blackbird Rider - Carbon Fibre Small Body Acoustic Travel Guitar
, and
• Blackbird Super OM - Carbon Fibre OM Size Guitar fitted with Fishman Infinity Matrix.

Comments from our customers included -

• "Beautiful...stunning..."
• "...better than I'd expected..."

Have a look at what these guitars offer.

Open Classical Guitar Discussion Forum

Before the Summer we set up Classical Guitar Conversations - an open discussion forum for classical and other guitars.

The postings have attracted many 1000 viewings in these first few months.

Please feel free to contribute or just browse.

The Largest Range of Cutaway Classicals, Electro-Classicals, and Crossover Nylon String Guitars - Anywhere(?)

We have been expanding our stock of electro-classicals and electro-flamenco guitars steadily over the last 3 years and now carry examples for the beginner, for the professional, and everyone in between

Alhambra crossover models blazed the trail for the steel string guitarist wanting to move into nylon string playing.

Yamaha have caused ripples in the pond with their 2009 NCX-electro-cutaway-classicals and their NTX-crossover ranges

Hanika offers some truly professional quality electro-classical-cutaway models.

Some great cutaway guitars can be found from other Spanish makers too - Esteve, Paco Marin/Guisama/Prudencio Saez.

We think that the Water Mill WG210CWE is the best-sounding entry level classical-cutaway there is.

Semi-Pro Authentic Maccaferri reproductions from Acoustic France

Some of the best Maccaferri (Manouche Jazz / Gypsy Jazz / Django style) guitars, and these are actually made in France by luthier Serge Gallato and his small but enthusiastic team.

There is also their entry level Django model - astounding quality and price, made in China to Serge Gallato's design.

Choice and Availability!

December census results - this is exactly what we found in stock -

In total there were 152 different models and of these

• 88 different models of classical guitar
• 27 different cutaway/electro-classical guitars
• 14 different flamenco guitars, including some cutaway/electro- models
• 9 different acoustic steel string guitar, including many with cutaway and/or pickup
• 8 different Maccaferri style jazz guitars

We also have 100s of different strings for classical, acoustic and Maccaferri guitars - probably a far bigger range than any other UK guitar shop. Finally there are a lot of different guitar accessories including hard and soft cases, humidifiers, protectors, amplifiers, etc.

Special Offers

Blueridge BR-163 "OOO" and BR-160 specials

Just back in the UK - Blueridge BR-163 "OOO" and BR-160 dreadnought guitars with the traditional finish and free cases.

(Many other Blueridge guitars in stock too.)

Smaller-Sized guitars

For younger students and for adults who like something a bit more manageable, we have managed to build up our stocks again of some of the best-sounding smaller sized guitars we can lay our hands on

• At the top of the list for sheer sound quality must come the all-solid-wood, 615mm scale Liikanen I62C
• New to us the very highly recommended Martinez range (from 520mm to 630mm)
• And from Spain there is a choice of popular guitars from Alhambra.

Liikanen Double Top

Autumn arrival - another of the new Liikanen Double Top guitars with cedar soundboard and Indian rosewood back and sides arrives. Beautiful, powerful luthier-built guitar. Have a look and a listen.

Camps Guitars

Very pleased to say we have been appointed as dealers for Guitarres Camps of Spain.

Now in stock - a selection of their beautifully made entry/mid-range classical guitars, specifically designed for ease of play.

As well as their signature Primera flamenco guitars.

Visitors to our shop said...

"Talking to another musician makes such a change" Jonathan, 1/6/2010

"You have so many more (cutaway electro classical) guitars to choose from than any of the major London stores I visited last month"
Wendy Partridge, February 2010

"...thank you for excellent service and for selling me a fantastic guitar. ... you were very welcoming and allowed me to try out the instruments without ever trying to sway me in order to make a sale."
Paul Trudgian, February 2010

Professional and Helpful Service

I personally -

• Check and play every guitar when it arrives and ask our suppliers to sort out any problems I find
• Spend time with everyone who comes to try guitars in our small studio

If you are unhappy in any way with anything you buy from us then please phone and ask for me. I will do my very best to sort things out.

Recent Feedback

"Thanks for your time and advice on Saturday" Stephen Woodman, November 2009

"All-in-all a very enjoyable purchase, with excellent communication throughout. I won’t hesitate to recommend your online store whenever the opportunity arises." Roger Dalton, November 2009

"Really enjoyed coming down to meet with you and have the chance to play several different guitars before settling on the first one I played!!!" Mike Hall, November 2009

"Thanks for setting it up for me, it plays like a dream" Jeff Dingman, California, October 2009

See what our customers have said about us.

Yamaha NCX7OO Cutaway Electro-Classical

Late January 2011 Yamaha announced the new NCX700 and we have these very-good-value guitars in stock.

The guitar has the same design and electronics as other NCX guitars but comes in at a lower price with its Nato back and sides.

This looks like a very positive economy to us (and our Custom Set-Up is available just as on all other Yamaha nylon string guitars).

Free Checkup!!

Bring your guitar in. We will check -

• neck relief
• neck alignment
• tuners
• frets
• nut
• saddle
• action
• strings
• pickup/preamp (if fitted)

And answer any questions you have. Please phone (01363 881174) to agree a day and time.