Bespoke musical instruments from the North West of England

I will only link with sites that come with good provenance and reputation.

Luthiers and luthiery

The Luthiers Forum A superb web based forum for all things luthiery. Run and mainly populated from the USA but plenty of international input as well. Get your questions answered here.

www.milburnguitars.com/frenchpolish.html

ASIA Association of stringed instrument artisans

Musical Instrument Makers Forum

Frank Ford  This is a fantastic site full of free information

Ukuleles by Kawika    David Hurd who runs site this is the author of the excellent "Left Brain Lutherie". A really good book for the scientists and engineers to get into.

Guild of American Luthiers    If you haven't been to this site yet, then go now.

R&F Charle    For Gypsy guitar lovers this site is a treasure. They sell a very detailed set of plans for a Selmer /Maccerferri cutaway.

Suppliers

StewMac   Box 900, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA.  Good postal service to UK

Touchstone Tonewoods Ltd. 44 Albert Road North, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9EZ   Tel. 01737 221064 Excellent timbers at reasonable prices.   

D Dyke, The Hall, Horebeech Lane, Horam, Heathfield, TN21 0HR  Tel. 01435 812315 All manner of luthery woods and supplies.

Small Wonder Music, 2 Summerhill Cottage, Chapmans Town, Rushlake Green, Nr Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9PS.    Pearl and shell supplier.

Craft Supplies, The Mill, Millers dale, Nr Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8SN. Tel. 01433 622550 Good local supplier of timbers.

LMI, PO Box 774, 412 Moore Lane, Healdsburg, CA, USA.

Hobgoblin Music    Mainly instruments but has a small range of spares and hardware etc

Morrells woodfinishes   Headquarters is at Wellington Works, Mill Lane, Woodley, Cheshire, SK6 1RN Tel. 0161 406 5300. But use the Trade counter, based at Trafford Park, Manchester.

Brandoni Guitars    Good for spares, specially EKO brand instruments.

Axminster Tool Centre, Western Road, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5PB, Tel. 0800 371 822

The Music Room, 35 Bradford Lane, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 3JN  Tel. 01274 879768

L Cornelissen &Son, 105 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3RY  Tel. 020 7636 1045 Artists supplies.

Lee Valley Tools Ltd., 814 Proctor Avenue, Ogdensburg, N.Y 13669-2205, USA.

Allparts UK Ltd., 35 Jackson Court, Hazlemere. High Wycombe, Bucks. HP15 7TZ  Tel. 0870 442 3336

Dick Fine Tools, Donaustr.51, 94526 Metten. Tel. +44-991 910030

Roman Blinds Ltd., For fibreglass rod any length, ideal for Go-bars

Colleges

MANCAT contact David Lim the course supervisor for details. Apart from bring an excellent luthier and tutor David plays uilleann pipes with bands in the North West.

Newark and Sherwood college of music

Miscellaneous

Brent Santins Bodhran site       Excellent how to site on making a bodhran

Bodhran construction                 An equally good practical explanation of bodhran construction

The James Westbrook collection, see his very informative site and wonderful collection of 19th Century guitars as well as some autographed Sor manuscripts)
 

Alan Waterhouse and Philippa Barstow, French Polishers, Unit H3, Newton Business Park, Talbot Road, Hyde, Cheshire, SJK14 4UQ,  Tel. 0161 368 4075

Warrington Male Voice Choir  A very welcoming and friendly choir. Always on the look out for new members, so why don't you come along and give it a try. Contact Ian Scholes, the choirs secretary, for details.