I build the very finest quality acoustic guitars (flat-tops, archtops and resonators) plus some 'state-of-the-art' electric guitars. I also repair, customise and set-up all types of guitars and other fretted string instruments.
My Guitars are handmade from solid tonewoods, carefully selected to make each guitar sound and look stunning. By using the best quality materials and construction methods, I can build guitars with exceptional clarity of both tone and sound that will enhance anyone's playing as well as being things of beauty to be admired.
Click for my Standard Range Guitars,
Custom Made Guitars and
Guitars For Sale
Checkout the new Interactive Guitar Woods page - let me know if you like it.
NEWS UPDATE:
Autumn 2024:
Closed and Now Retired.
I am now "officially" retired and no longer doing
repairs or new builds.
I've loved building guitars for people, but my hands are no
longer as good as they used to be.
Take care everyone.
Alan.
Alan Arnold Guitars,
Carbrooke, Thetford IP25
Acoustic Guitars
My handmade acoustic guitars range from
small bodied 12 fret guitars, through Baritone
guitar giants (in size and sound!) to the AB49
acoustic bass guitar, that actually does what it says
on the tin! There are also resonator guitars
- with biscuit bridge or spider bridge -
ideal for slide and blues.
Whether you play finger-style,
flat-pick, or you need a
rhythm guitar to accompany your self-penned
masterpiece that will one day make your fortune - there is an
Alan Arnold guitar that is the right guitar for you!
Archtop Guitars
Archtop guitars, for you jazz guitarists, are
considered to be the ultimate test of the guitar makers'
art. The fine tuning of the top and back plates, is the key to
the tone and timbre of these remarkable handmade guitars, where the
delivery of the note needs to be clear and distinct, as an
individual instrument, and to 'cut through' when being played in
a group setting.
I love building these guitars, using hand and eye to give
the carved top and back of an archtop guitar its gently
flowing curves is one of my top satisfactions.
Electric Guitars
These are guitars fit for session
guitarists. When Big Jim Sullivan commissioned me to
build a 2nd very special electric guitar for him, it was just
impossible to say no! So after long design consultation, the
BJS Legend EMA Guitar was born (EMA =
Electric; Midi; Acoustic).
There's a description of this guitar on a separate page,
about Jim and his Legend guitars, so I won’t give tech
details here. However, I will say here, what a great honour and
pleasure it was to build it for the “Session Legend” himself !
Custom Built Guitars
Customising the build of your new guitar is something
that can take many forms. Whether its choosing exotic
ornate woods for your guitar, or having that
inlay design you’ve always wanted on your
guitar, I’m ready to guide you through the process of
having a guitar custom made for you. You might have an idea
for a different type of guitar or part of the construction of a
guitar that you would like to discuss. Whatever your
needs or requirements, I am happy to talk to you about what
would be best for you AND your guitar!
Repair / Restoration
Alan Arnold Guitars offers a full repairs service.
Whether you need a
refret to your beloved guitar of old; the
saving of a snapped headstock
to your Mandolin; or maybe your guitar has
suffered from the infamous baggage handler syndrome. Yikes!!
It may of course just be an annoying
switch noise on your Strat that needs sorting - no job is too
small and I’m always interested in both you and your guitars. Note - I do repairs to nearly
all fretted string instruments.
Set-up / Servicing
Whether it’s a set up on a new guitar that’s “straight
out of the box”, or a guitar you’ve been using for years, it’s
always good when it’s playing the way it really should, and the
way that you want it to!
I’m always taken by surprise at the way some players put up with
bad playing actions, sharp fret ends,
poorly fitting nuts ( ouch!), gunged up fretboards,
buzzes,
rattles and hums! Things that
can easily be fixed and make the guitar a joy, instead of hard
work.
Feel free to contact me - I am always happy to talk about guitars.
And I take this opportunity to thank all the people, both
guitar makers and players, who gave me their help along the way.
In return, I promise to give my help, where I am able, to help
others along that same way!