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Design Your Own Custom Guitar – Chris Meredith

Design Your Own Custom Guitar – Chris Meredith

by | Jun 3, 2014 | , , ,

Surfing Upside Down!

It’s going to be so cool you could surf on it!

Chris loves ‘surf’ music and had an idea for a custom guitar he would like me to build for him – upside down! (not me, the guitar) He came across us on the internet and booked himself in for a design session. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology it is now possible for us to offer this service online using a webcam but most people prefer to visit the workshop if possible, so they can see where it all happens and touch the wood etc….I can understand that..

It normally takes two or three hours to work out a complete design but Chris was very decisive which makes my job a lot easier. There were a few details he wanted to ask me about – ‘zero fret’ or no ‘zero fret’ for instance, and that is what the design session is all about (as he wanted Wilkinson trem I advised against this as it would be another point of friction along the string path, which could prevent the trem from staying in tune). We spent a very enjoyable hour and a half working through all the decisions while listening to ‘The Ventures‘ and this is what we came up with:

Full Spec:

6 string ‘set neck’ guitar with Inverted body shape

Scale Length: 24″

Body: Basswood

Neck: Maple

Fretboard: 22 fret Maple

Pickups: S/S/S 57-62’s

Bridge: Wilkinson Trem

Tuners: Schaller Locking

Hardware Colour: Chrome

Body Colour: Candy Apple Red

Neck Colour: Natural

Headstock: Candy Apple Red

Want to Design Your Own Guitar?

Have your own wild ideas for a guitar build? You found us! Let’s get started…

UPDATE! The Future is almost here…

Last month we did our first “live” on-line custom design session with Mark Screeton – using the webcams meant he could do the same session as Chris but from his home 200+ miles away…and it’ s a great experience in itself…and makes a great gift for the guitar lover in your life.

If that’s not enough, we are delighted to announce that our first complete on-line course will be available by the end of this month – Design Your Own Guitar will be accessible through UDEMY…. more details to be released over the next couple of weeks…watch this space.

It’s all happening!

It’s all happening!

by | May 30, 2014 | , ,

Some highlights from the past month or so…

Apologies if we missed anyone – I promise to get to you all eventually…

News

A few weeks have passed since our biggest ever grand prize draw and our feet have barely touched the ground. We had such an amazing response it has been extremely hard keeping up in the workshop with so many custom orders coming in not to mention stock guitars selling faster than we can make them and of course Build your Own Guitar goes from strength to strength – virtually everyone who comes here for a stock, custom or build your own instrument wants to come back which explains why we are so busy! This is great news and Bailey Guitars is in the best position ever thanks to all you guys and gals. The only down side of all this is that…well there is only so much time and if I am stacked out in the workshop then I cannot keep the blog up to date (nearly a year behind with course guitar blogs!). This is really frustrating for me as I really want you all to see what we have been up to. There have been some spectacular guitars (and basses (and Ukes…etc)) made here in the Bailey workshop over the last year most of which have not yet appeared on the blog. So there will be some changes – first I will endeavor to make more regular posts – (not short of material – just time). I will be aiming for Tuesdays and Thursdays with some extra ones thrown it to help catch up.

More news

Read and write it on Reddit !

Our eagle-eyed web spotter came across this entry last week at reddit.com  –  a guy asking for info about the Bailey guitar experience…if any of you have time to make an honest post we’d be grateful (thanks to Steve Skelcher for his entry )

Made to be Played

We don’t just make ’em… we have been asked to play and do workshops at the Ardrossan Music Experience for the third year running, and some of our Bailey Artists are making great music out there. Check out acoustic composer Preston Reed with his signature baritone and jumbo acoustic;  Duffy’s Gypsy Band with the incredible one off custom bazouki; BYO builder Andy Gelband and the awesome Colourflow ; beautiful singer songwriter and Sweet Pea player Melisa Kelly

If you want to see some Baileys in action, then there’s always the Kirkmichael Music Festival 13-15 June… as many different musicians as you can get in a small space – including Carol and Mark!

Even More News

Coming soon! Can’t wait? Why not check out our Facebook page and subscribe to our youtube channel

First Chance ..Last Chance… Every Chance

First Chance ..Last Chance… Every Chance

by | Apr 5, 2014 | ,

Bailey Kithara Jazz Archtop Guitar

Kithara

First Chance   –  DAY 1 in the Bailey Workshop

Yes…its the first day of our course…welcome to Brian from Henley-on-Thames who is building his first 6 string electric…along with Graham from Aberdeen (on his 4th) making a thru neck bass; John B (Troon) on his second classical, and John G (Linlithgow) on his second acoustic. Join us LIVE for the next few days … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30-roHH2_TA

Last Chance – to ENTER THE £5000 guitar draw

just go to the on-line shop – you have until 23:59 TONIGHT – here are all of this weeks offers

Acoustic Guitars – Up to 27 % off many  (see on sale stickers in shop)

Electric  Guitars  – voucher for a further 10% off – put “RockinMad10″  in at checkout – even those on sale

Custom Guitars – £200 voucher towards upgrades on any custom commission if you buy a design session (before the end of 5th April…)

Other stuff –  20% off all Bailey Hoodies, Fleeces and Polo shirts (using the code  “  15LastWeek20percent  ” which will appear in the checkout)

Buy ANY  VEST, CAP, T shirt , Women’s-fitted T, kids sizes T and we will send you another of those items FREE! (tell us what you want and what size in the special instructions at checkout)

Every Chance to Win !

It only takes ONE ticket …and that lucky person will be getting a guitar, a nights B&B and a bottle of Scotch… draw LIVE on 15th April @15:15

Tomorrow we will be sweet sixteen…. thanks to you all.

2 days left… Spotlight on Bailey Acoustics… the sweet sound

2 days left… Spotlight on Bailey Acoustics… the sweet sound

by | Apr 4, 2014 | , ,

Only 2 days left to take advantage of our spectacular £5000 guitar draw!

Win ANY of these guitars!

Mark finished his first acoustic here in Scotland, live at the Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival in 2003 – and it was that unique acoustic musical experience that inspired two things – to move to South Ayrshire and start making jazz archtops.

Spending a whole weekend in a tent in the glorious Ayrshire countryside being inspired by the awesome playing skills of Tommy Emmanuel, Adrian Byron Burns, Woodie Mann, Steve Howe, the sadly late Bob Brozman and Eric Roche ..to mention but a few. And of course Dr Martin Taylor, who’s great idea the whole thing was, and who encouraged us to make the big move north.

So, the making of acoustic guitars and playing of acoustic music became Marks second love – and with some helpful advice from Martin, he was inspired to start making beautiful hand carved archtops – the Coryphee was first, followed closely by the Kithara.

KIGF 2000 was also the first time in Ayrshire for Preston Reed, the “father” of percussive acoustic playing…we couldn’t have imagined that only a few years later he would approach us to create his new Baritone and Jumbo signature series acoustic guitars

Our acoustics come in 4 models – Bootlegger, Moonshiner, Sweet P and Big D – standard, special or custom versions…and if you have something else in mind we can create a totally custom shape. They aren’t cheap, but they are made by hand here in the UK using the best materials.

Sweet…

On Sunday 6th Bailey Guitars will be 16! After nearly 11 years in Scotland, that’s something worth celebrating – so we are offering major discounts on all our acoustics, and other items…and for the next 2 DAYS all our customers will get a chance to win one of those inspired Archtops (one ticket for every £9.99 spent – more info here)

Tomorrow is the last day of our 15th – we will be live streaming from the workshop – day 1 of Bailey BYO course – and that will cost you sweet…

3 more days to go…Bailey Electrics…sounds, woods and rock n’ roll

by | Apr 3, 2014 | , ,

50% off selected models ? A rockin’ joke ?

Mark’s first guitar was an electric, and in his teens he bought himself a metallic green hat, ripped the arms off his shirts, got a great 80’s haircut, and joined a rock band…

Electrics were his first love, and as a player working at the Patrick Eggle factory he knew what would help get all them licks and runs flowing from the fretboard.

Guitar making isn’t rocket science

Making a great playing guitar to make great sounding music is not just about the wood choice and pick ups…its definitely a lot to do with how the neck is made and feels, but its a really individual thing as to what is actually “just right” for you.

I Am the Neck Carving Champion of Europe!

OK Bold claim…self declared…there goes my ego mania again. At least I didn’t say ‘the World’.

Well the truth is as I understand it – back in the ‘Eggle’ days we were the biggest manufacturer of guitars in Europe (at our peak) and for the longest time I carved all the necks – that is several thousand…since then I have made hundreds of different instruments from the smallest sopranino uke to the largest archtop bass –  anyone want to challenge me for my title?

Seriously though  I do consider neck carving to be one of my specialities as I have just had so much experience. I once carved eight bass necks in one day, all by hand – often I will carve a neck for a customer while he waits…this way he/she can check progress as we go and have a feel so I can get it just right – Here at Baileys I make sure all our electrics leave with a great playing neck and fast low action (its the most consistent feedback we get)

Tight Leather Troosers

Like it says in the vid – All our production models (Bandsman, Curve and Exotica) are available in Standard, Special (one off, or upgraded ) and finally, Custom versions (where you ask us to create a version of the model to suit you down to your tight leather troosers)

Bag Yourself a Bargain!

For the next 3 days you can bag yourself a bargain in the on-line shop AND get tickets to win the £5000 guitar prize draw –  there are major reductions (yes up to 50%) on many guitars and a melodic 10% off our newest stock (including any orders made) – use the code RockinMad10 at the checkout …many more reductions are already in the shop.

Not to your musical taste ? Well then…all things acoustical for T minus day 2 of the countdown – watch out for that tomorrow….

Don’t forget all our guitars are made with renewable energy!

Custom Big D Acoustic Guitar – Stegg – Part 1

Custom Big D Acoustic Guitar – Stegg – Part 1

by | Apr 2, 2014 | , , ,

Big D for Stevie B

All this has happened before and will happen again…

Stevie came on our build your own course a while ago and made the most spectacular bass on the planet bar none…Now after seeing this video he has decided to take the plunge and commission a Big D custom acoustic guitar! I’m sure the chance of winning the grand prize draw also helped a bit – The guitar will not be finished before the closing date but any payments made will be eligible for tickets  – only 3 days left!

The Lowdown

Bass is Stevie’s main instrument but he often finds himself accompanying folks on his acoustic guitar so he wanted something different – being a bass player he particularly liked the huge sound of the Big D but chose some different timbers to enhance the bass even further. The back and sides will be rosewood – well known for it;s fantastic bass response. The soundboard is western red cedar – after a visit to the wood room we found an awesome warm sounding tap tone and long sustain – that is one of the beauties of commissioning your own custom guitar – you can visit the workshop and choose each individual part of the instrument to really make it your own.

Don’t worry

If you can’t visit the workshop we are now able to offer custom design sessions live using Google Hangouts – contact us for more info

Custom Build Left Handed Neck Thru Electric Guitar – Part 4

Custom Build Left Handed Neck Thru Electric Guitar – Part 4

by | Apr 2, 2014 | ,

Allan’s Custom Guitar

Part 1| Part 2| Part 3| Part 4

The finished article

One of the most spectacular guitars I have built – quite a challenge but well worth it I think.

Specification:

Custom thru neck construction

25.5 inch scale length with 24 frets

Neck: Laminated flamed maple with black pinstripes and ebony fretboard

Body: flamed maple with quilted maple carve top

Original Floyd Rose with Titanium block

Electrics: Fernadez sustainer with custom HSH layout

Custom AW inlay on 12th fret.

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