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Huge Announcement Tonight 10pm!
No News is Good News…
… we’re still here !
We had hoped to have real good news before now, but we are still trying to buy our wonderful workshop.
Thanks to all the Indiegogo campaign supporters helping us smash our target, PLUS the musicians who donated a track to an awesome unique album… we have the best chance…and we are VERY close to the final stages.
We haven’t had a moment to be idle though, so here’s a round up of what’s been going on here at Bailey’s
Custom Builds and Workshop Courses
This year has been a super busy one for custom guitars – particularly acoustics – and the workshop is often full of the tantalising smells of a range of gorgeous timbers being cut, shaped and sanded. As the folk that commission these instruments will tell you, we don’t (and can’t) hurry things here – making individual unique instruments to a custom spec is something special and each one is given careful attention. It takes time… but we hope worth the wait … we met Roger for the first time when he came to take away the most recently finished custom Tenor Ukulele – here’s what he said
https://www.facebook.com/mark.bailey.guitars/videos/1457855264235152/
Bailey building happens around our monthly programme of workshop courses – 4 so far this year, with folk coming from all over the UK, again mainly to build acoustics, but we have had a few electrics and a bass. There are a few projects started by people who either couldnt make all the dates or who have jobs which make it difficult to take a week off… these will be finished over the coming months… Bill built his bass in 2 sessions – he wanted a spray finish
We have run workshop courses for 18 years, and they are as popular as ever – there are only 3 one week places left this year (in November!) so we are going to release dates for 2018 in the next couple of weeks…get in touch if you’re interested and have particular weeks in mind. What can be built on a 5 day course ? Roland knows..
Build at Home – with your own virtual Mark Bailey
We knew it would be possible for first time home builders if we could somehow give them the same instruction and support as they get in real world courses – but even we are both thrilled and amazed by the results our students are getting home alone. … Creating a step-by-step online course is really time consuming – both the filming and the editing – and thanks to our Access all Areas subscribers we are sharing the journey. It’s closer to it’s end now … one of these students is James Perry
“I completed the build your own electric guitar course last year and was amazed that just by following instructions I produced a very playable instrument of which I’m very proud. It was with great excitement when I heard that Mark was working on a similar course to teach folk to build an acoustic guitar in their shed, garage or kitchen table with only a few easily accessible tools. If I was blown away by the electric course then I’m over the moon with this one “
[full review and more ] He isn’t alone
Help is on-hand !
..and not just with tuition. The supplies shop provides a unique wood prep service for builders who lack bigger tools (or time), including “kits” of wood and parts ready to go to speed up that first build. We want to make it as easy as possible to start a project, and thanks to specialist companies like ToneTech, we are really helping the Guitar Building Revolution move along. Bill Quinn is Tonetech’s founder and is passionate about tools and helping both aspiring guitar makers and one-off builders get what they need. We are working with Bill to identify useful tools to suit all pockets – if you want to know just what basic kit you might need… Mark’s ebook “Essential Tools for GuitarMaking” has answers (and lists) – get in touch if you have any Q’s
If that’s not enough… Acoustic Bliss – The Late Show
We host, film and livestream an open mic event here in Ayr everyweek – and are blown away by the awesome music made by the folk that turn up to play. Technology has made it possible to share that music across the globe… the online audience is still small but the community that watch each week is growing – as far apart as the US and Australia. Apart from the diverse music of the Ayrshire scene, players are travelling to from further afield to get a feature spot, which we cut out into a live EP, and load in full to our YouTube Channel. The whole show is also archived each week on livestream.com
Finally…give a little bit…
We’re getting lots of requests from folk asking how they can give the greatest gift to one they love…
We recommend a design session – one to one with Mark here at the workshop (and a tour !) OR our smashing on-line course (the gift that keeps on giving)
You can gift a hands on BYO course, an online course, a custom build by Mark or any of our models…but you dont have to guess what s/he would like in advance. And paying by installments is something we can arrange !
Some good news soon
So…its been the longest day, and for us it’s also been the longest year…but fingers crossed there’ll be some real, good news soon
If you want to know more about anything contact us by email mark@baileyguitars.co.uk or leave a message on our 24hr office answerphone.
(you can also give FB a go but we check that less often )
Preston Reed’s Summer Guitar Workshop: 10-14 July 17
Want to Learn Percussive Style Acoustic guitar ?
After a few years break, Preston Reed will once again be hosting and teaching a 4 day workshop in his home town of Girvan, South Ayrshire. Preston is the man who invented the integrated percussive style of playing, and influenced many professional players such as Andy McKee and Jon Gomm(see them all playing together on the Guitar Masters Tour )
Preston has been a composer, recording artist and professional musician for nearly 4 decades and now has his own independent record label.
Previous workshops have been extremely popular and people from all over the world have travelled to the small harbour town that Preston has made his home – players of all styles can benefit from the intensive technical training and skills development- compostition, creative thinking, and increasing personal confidence on acoustic guitar. A young Ed Sheeran attended some years ago…it worked for him !
Preston Reed Summer School Boat Trip -Juan, Jocelyn Celaya, Ed Sheeran
Preston Reed Summer School Mark, Gerrit and Matt playing Ladies Night
The Course
The materials for the course will be compositions from Preston’s recordings and concert repertoire (tablature will be provided). Students will learn Preston’s techniques as well as the thinking behind them in both a group setting and one-on-one coaching sessions.
Over the 4-day span students will be encouraged to create their own original compositions using what they have learned.
Goals for the course will be to expand technical skills, composing skills, creative thinking and musicality, and to increase self-confidence on the instrument.
…and that’s not all…
How to get the most out of practicing, developing technical and musical goals, tracking your progress, maintaining enthusiasm and focus, and injury-avoidance will be also be explored, and discussion of road and studio gear, recording techniques, album production, live performance, developing a career as a guitarist and the music business will also be discussed.
The course will also include a trip to the Bailey Workshop !
Want to know more ?
Head over to Preston Reed’s Website
You can see more of Preston in action here
One of our favourites is his most recent videos – The Last Viking – filmed here on our beautiful coastline and featuring Preston’s special Bailey baritone acoustic
The Grenaways go Pan Celtic
Battle of the Celts
Earlier in the year, performers across the celtic world battled to find a song to represent their regions at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland in April 2017 – The Grenaways will be representing Cornwall after winning the honour with their song Ster Kosel (Silent Stars), AND at Brittany’s Interceltique de Lorient in August !
Pan Celtic Festival 2017
What makes this competition special, is that all songs entered must be new, original and must be sung in the Cornish language – and The Grenaways have already showed their love of creating beautiful modern celtic music, producing some absolutely stunning tracks in the past.
The Pan-Celtic festival was first held in Killarney in 1971 and focuses on showcasing the language, music and culture of the Celtic nations. Cornwall has been very successful in recent years in the Celtavision song competition, with several wins to its credit.
Kris Lannen is the lead vocalist and plays a Bailey Moonshiner standard, but the band play a variety of instruments. If you want to catch them live the band will be stopping off at various venues on their way to and from the Festival.
the grenaways mini tour
” The Grenaways will be great ambassadors for Cornwall in 2017 and I am sure they will really enjoy the experience as well” Cornwall Pan-Celtic Committee Chair Dave Crewes
You can find out more about their tour and campaign at Pledge Music
Bandcamp Beauty and the Mighty Beast – Indiegogo Update (at last!)
Mighty Beast Bailey Straps make everyone Happy !
It’s been oh so quiet…
(sorry)
It has been around 10 working weeks since, THANKS TO ALL OUR AMAZING SUPPORTERS, our unbelievable Indiegogo campaign smashed the target.
It became “In Demand” which means the whole campaign stays live and apparently less than 15% of campaigns achieve that status- so totally brilliant! We did alot of public thank you’s online and in person, but then winter & the holiday season hit us, plus a series of ‘natural’ disasters (including needing to replace the entire GuitarMaking site on Xmas Eve so Rudolph could deliver the Air guitars and vouchers for online courses)
This, and getting organised to fulfill everyones’ “perk”, has meant we have been off the radar for longer than we had planned.
The “perks” for supporting the campaign were either digital items, T shirts, Straps, “experiences” or guitars – ready finished or made to order – including our special new model ‘The Bandsman Nantucket’ featuring a Bareknuckle Nantucket P90, available at a special price to campaign supporters (thanks to Dave, George, GrahamMc, Stephen Mc, Tim, Nigel)
Both Bailey and Mighty Beast have been working flat out to try to fulfill all the promises made – and we wanted our first update to be the celebration of the straps and the great collaboration between our creative companies. YAHOOOOO – they are HERE !! (more below)
Not just a crowdfunder
People also contributed in other ways –
- buying guitars and other stock items from our shop or direct: particular thanks to Dave J and Dave Y, Scott W, Ken, & Carl B, ;
- booking BYO courses in advance and paying way more than the normal deposit …Dave H, Theron, Chris M, Bill M, Jacob;
- pre-orders for Design Sessions and new electric and acoustic guitars- Rosalyn, Serena, Dave T, Dave F, Val, Bart, Steve D, Bill , GrahamG
- we had £490 in cash donations and gifts from many people – several just thrust into our hands when we went out – those folk wanted to remain anonymous but thank you (you know who you are);
- Tommy and others who wouldn’t take payment for work done for us,
- and others offered expert help when the time comes to restore the buildings (we won’t forget your names Nick and Paul 🙂 🙂 )
- Moyra T, with help from Tina, even made Xmas cards and sold them tirelessly at gigs…raising £100.01 and giving it all to the campaign… (that one brought a wee tear)
- moral and beyond duty, campaign support with promotions from Fin and Robyn at Pricross (new website coming)
Unbelievable … thank you all.
The Mighty Beast delivers … the first bulk order of Bailey Straps !
Some of you, our brilliant Indiegogo supporters, will have already found a plain flat box on the doormat, containing a brand new Bailey Strap – made in the West of Scotland by Mighty Beast. A few more of you who live further afield (USA and Netherlands), will be getting your box very soon.
Last week, Rachel Robinson (the craftswoman behind the Mighty Beast brand) came down to the workshop with 2 large piles of ready-boxed straps – we were all really excited to see her again AND to take delivery of the special, custom embroidered, Indiegogo perk straps that were made especially for the campaign.
Mighty Beast Bailey Straps
As well as making the first embroidered vegan straps for us, Rachel has been busy working on Outlander (making costumes and corsets) developing new strap lines and working on a range of printed materials.
If you ordered one- its already on it’s way to you – and we have all our fingers crossed you love it ! Both companies would be glad to hear any feedback as this is our first batch & joint venture, so all comments are helpful. We ordered extra ones, and so they are still available through INdiegogo, but will shortly appear in our Bailey on-line shops too. We have already started discussions with Mighty Beast about 2 new Bailey straps …amongst other things.
Your support for us has a double benefit – buying the straps help us AND another handcrafting business, which Rachel hopes to expand over the the coming year. THANK YOU again
The Gift of Song
One of the many, many great moments in the campaign was finding out that Bailey Acoustic Player, Sam Winston, had secretly organised an ALBUM with tracks donated from across the land, and beyond. “Save Bailey Guitars” was the emotional title to an amazingly ecclectic album of mostly original tracks from both Bailey players/friends and folk we hadn’t met – all of whom gave a piece of their music to make up a compilation album available to dowload on Bandcamp.
All the money raised goes towards the fund to help us buy and restore our workshop – it is a beautiful & interesting 28 track collection of music from across the genres, and we cant thank the artists or Sam enough for making it happen. We plan to do more to share this album this year – everyone should hear it !!
Sam is currently here in Ayrshire on a mini tour, gigging and meeting some of the musicians he persuaded to donate… Sam is a great musician and singer – if you are local enough to catch one of his gigs … come along and meet the man behind the playlist, or at least check out his website, watch his innovative videos and his stunning first album “The Fire and the Icicle” mastered at Abbey Road Studios.
Surprise, Surprise…
We had several surprise and super generous heartwarming gifts – 2 totally unbelievable ones from two old friends, which we cant talk about yet (oooo… it’s exciting news coming soon, and much later in the year), and a lump from a wonderful guy from the US who gave because he liked our “vibe”THANK YOU !!! ALSO some of you “old customers who became friends” made us very very generous gifts … and some of the money came from people who we know dont have any spare… when we think about it the wee tear returns…it was so kind of you all…. and of course our anonymous VIP donor who took the total over the target in the last days with £5000… you’ll never know who s/he is but we do and we will be forever grateful !
Money really isn’t everything!
Finally, it wasn’t just about the money
We were overwhelmed by the messages of support, offers of all kinds and the time people put into sharing and writing about it – we felt to be part of a pretty awesome international community of great people – and it confirmed that we want to stay here and carry on doing what we do. It will also mean that the people we work with, team Bailey and our suppliers will still also have work & our custom.
So now we have a deposit, a fast growing workbook that helps us plan into the future, and an even wider circle of people we can now call friends
Words really aren’t enough 🙂
Thank you from us all here at Bailey’s
Mark, Carol, Billy, Fiona and Lewis
We’re Officially “In Demand” !!
Thanks to you all!
We are now officially considered to be “In Demand” by Indiegogo after reaching 118% of our Goal – that’s £25,807 !!
As 2016 finally draws to a close, we just want to say another MASSIVE thank you to all of you who have supported us over the years, and particularly this last month (which has been amazing) We have been ASTOUNDED and so heartwarmed by it, and it now means we will be able to put a deposit down for our wonderful workshop to start the process of securing our premises!
Guitar Revolution Campaign in the top 13%…
Reaching the target and beyond is no mean feat as apparently in 2015 only 13% made it .
Indiegogo recognise this. Projects that make their targets are given the special status of “In Demand”, which means our page stays on the global fundraiser’s site…keeping publicity, perks and guitar bargains available indefinitely. This is GREAT NEWS for us as it keeps us on the global stage, and a BONUS for latecomers to the campaign who can still buy the unique perks/guitars – it’s brilliant as so many links were shared far and wide by so many, and they will still work helping us to spread the word about Bailey Guitars…and the amazing community we have.
More Support & Surprises to come…
We have had so many offers, ideas and suggestions that we weren’t able to do them all within the campaign time. We have a big announcement to make in the New Year and already have plans for more Bailey workshop funding related activities… we have even been offered our own BEER !!!
SO…we can’t thank you all enough for smashing the target… we will be publishing a summary of the campaign & plans for the coming year in early Jan PLUS announcing something super special for 2017 too…
We’ll be in Touch Soon…
Finally, we will be contacting you personally as we start to work our way through the long list of donors, and pack up the perks ready for mailing. If you are waiting for a reply from us already, apologies for the delay…we have a bit of a backlog…but will be fully open again on the 9th January (we hope to have caught up a bit by then !)
One of the truly lovely things in this last month, has been the goodwill and HAPPY spirit we have been shown and recieved by people we know and strangers alike – the sense of community stretched much wider than we imagined, and lots of you said how uplifting it is to see something good unfolding.
Have a Great 2017!
SO…All that remains is to wish you a Happy Hogmanay wherever you are and whatever you do… we will be in our local ‘tavern, raising a glass or two, and dreaming of all the good things we could do’
If you have ever supported us in any way, then we will be raising one of those glass to you, and what you have helped us achieve…
Here is a link to our Hogmanay Blissootenanny Party – your welcome 🙂
Mark Bailey – Documentary by Gordon Doherty
Mark Bailey from gordon doherty on Vimeo.
Mark Bailey – Documentary by Gordon Doherty
Just before we started crowdfunding Gordon contacted us and asked if he could make a film about Bailey Guitars.
We had never met, and he didn’t know anything about what we were doing. It would have made a great pitch video for the campaign, but as usual the timing was a bit wonky – there was no way he could get it done before we launched… but he just sent us the first edit which I would like to share with you guys. Gordon is planning to enter the final cut film into a BBC film festival in 2017!! A MASSIVE thanks to Gordon for creating this – I hope you like it a much as we do (we love it )
If you have supported Bailey Guitars ever – in any way – then I hope this goes some way to expressing how much it means to me.
Save Bailey Guitars -THE ALBUM and press release
ARTISTS UNITE TO CREATE ALBUM IN SUPPORT OF BAILEY GUITARS
“We have been blown away by the generosity of everyone who has contributed to making this AWESOME album- THANK YOU” Mark & Carol
A group of artists have banded together to create an exclusive compilation album in support of Bailey Guitars, one of the UK’s leading artisan guitar-builders and instrument-making tutors.The company has recently been campaigning to take ownership of the building that houses its workshops
These workshops, located on the west coast of Scotland near Ayr, have attracted students from across the world, including places as far away as Tasmania and Brazil. Bailey Guitars are running a crowdfunding campaign – via Indiegogo – to support the campaign to keep their existing workshop space: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-guitar-making-revolution
The appeal inspired musician and Bailey’s aficionado Sam Winston to create a special compilation album, and he secretly contacted a number of fellow Bailey Guitar enthusiasts and others, via social media and other means, to donate a track to the album.
Those who agreed to take part include such acclaimed artists as Little Eye and Preston Reed. In total, 28 artists, from as far afield as Scotland, England France and Canada, have contributed to the album.
The album – priced at £5.50 – is now available for download, exclusively via independent music store Bandcamp: https://samwinston.bandcamp.com/album/save-bailey-guitars-compilation-album
The full tracklisting for the album is:
- Sam Winston – With A Lullabye
- Preston Reed – Funkin’ At The Junction
- Little Eye – We Are The Kings
- John Duffy’s Cafe Orchestra – Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (cover)
- Long Day Living – Then We Start A Fire
- Simon Atkinson & The Foundryman’s Apprentice – The Pawnbroker
- The MidNines – Busy
- Mandy Green – I Don’t Want To Talk
- James Thompson – Bohemian Rhapsody (cover)
- FlewTheArrow / Lee McGilvray – To The Endless Earth
- Sandy McFadyean – Distant Abbey
- MidnightSun – Scheherazade
- John James Appleyard – Harrogate Jones
- Les Glover – Behind My Lens
- Phoebe Jay Appleby – Glass Heart
- Daniel Russell & Tom Monks – Watch Your Step
- Tom Craven – Beneath The Burning Moon
- Joe Hurworth – I Don’t Know
- Tom Monks – Hallelujah (cover)
- Benjamin Longman – Robins
- James Edge And The Mindstep – Four Two Four
- Bell Lungs – Callanish Stones
- Pete Diggens & Sam Winston – Age Of Change
- Paul Creighton – Seal Song
- Highland Hotclub – Josef Josef (On The Dance Floor)
- Katee Kross – I’m Coming Home
- The Grenaways – Old Mast
- Up In Smoke – Time Just Flies
Sam Winston said “Bailey Guitars not only specialise in handmade instruments – including electric guitars, basses, acoustics, ukuleles, archtops, and even the odd Bouzouki – but are also a green, environmentally-friendly company. They use wind and solar energy to create their instruments. In my eyes, and in the eyes of their many players and admirers, they are truly special.
“The tracks on this album are not only ones by Bailey Guitar players – though there are many, many of them here – but all kinds of generous musicians who have donated special tracks for this one cause, to help Bailey Guitars and their appeal to save their workshop space.”
All proceeds from the album will go directly to the Bailey Guitars appeal. Taking ownership of the property that houses their workshops will allow Bailey Guitars to establish a permanent base for the manufacture of their signature instruments; and to run their popular guitar-making workshops, in which over 400 students have already participated.
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of Bailey Guitars, said: “We have been incredibly touched by Sam’s generosity in giving up his time and energy to support our appeal, and we cannot offer enough thanks to the remarkable musicians who have also contributed their work to help us. Every penny raised by this appeal is being ploughed into sustaining our business, and if we are fortunate enough to exceed our target we will continue to invest in our facilities to the benefit of our students and customers around the world.
“I think that for a really quite small contribution, those who download the album will receive some really great music and do some good at the same time.”
For further information or interviews with Mark Bailey please contact Fin Robertson or Robyn Dale at Pricoss on 0141 or via fin@pricosss.com or robyn@pricoss.com www.pricoss.com
Images are available on request.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Bailey Guitars www.guitarmaking.co.uk
Mark Bailey founded Bailey Guitars with partner Carol Davies, in Coventry in 1998. The company’s first workshop was run from a double decker bus, making the best of whatever materials could be salvaged and re-used. Bailey Guitars was founded on the principles of sustainability and power from renewable energy sources and are now based in Ayrshire, Scotland,
It remains an innovative eco-friendly guitar manufacturing company, utilising wind and solar power, and now operates its own on-site and online guitar making workshops.
Mark has trained with some of the leading guitar makers in the world including Patrick Eggle, Rob Williams, Trevor Wilkinson and Gary Levinson. He now uses his wide-range of manufacturing skills to produce not only his own popular range of signature guitars, but also to run workshop courses that allow anyone, even absolute beginners, to create their own bespoke instrument, completely from scratch. Over 400 students have crafted their own guitar by signing up for one of Bailey’s residential or online course.
In 2015, Bailey launched their Guitar Making Academy, with the intention of inspiring musicians and would-be musicians around the world to create their own custom built guitars and bass guitars. They provide an opportunity for anyone to create their own unique electric or acoustic instruments and attain a level of craftsmanship that would otherwise be beyond their financial means, or might not be commercially available.
During the last 15 years, Bailey Guitars has pursued a policy of only working with renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power, and where possible sustainable materials. Bailey Guitars can claim to be amongst the most environmentally-friendly instrument builders in the world.