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Crowdfunding Update – 7 Days Left!
THANKS FOLKS!
Only 1 week to go…
The New 2017 Bailey Bandsman for your enjoyment… and as I write this we are 68% towards our goal – fantastic!
But now we only have 7 days left…
It has been noted that this is probably the worst time of year for crowdfunding…I realise how busy you must all be, but alas, the timing was not in our control. I hope you can find the time and whatever money you can spare to help our cause – whether it is £10 or £10,000 it means an awful lot to us.
f you have already contributed – We salute you! – A BIG THANKYOU from Mark and Carol..if not – please don’t hang about too long – the clock is ticking!
Click Here to check out the awesome rewards for our backers…
Cheers!
Mark
10 Unique Gifts for DIY Guitar Makers from £10
There has never been a better time for building a guitar at home…
… books, DVD’s, and Youtube provide a whole range of accessible information. Here at Bailey’s we have been running courses since 1999 and enabled nearly 800 people across the world to build their own guitars – both here at our workshop or NOW ONLINE step by step video courses.
We are not alone in providing courses and helping people build their first guitars, but our courses are unique and the support we offer is second to none – and they start from only £79… workshop courses can be booked online
The top 10 is below but many of our unique items are available in a SPECIAL OFFER PERK through our Indiegogo Crowdfunding page (available until the 22nd Dec 2016)
TOP TEN GIFTS !
- Guitar Magic DVD £10 or download via Indiegogo
- Join the Guitar Making Revolution with a GuitarMaking.co.uk T-shirt £10 or as special perk
- Truss Rod Slot cutter or other tools, parts & supplies from £12
- Design Your Own Guitar Online course £79 or £50 Perk (£29 off)
- Custom Design one to one session & Workshop Visit £85 – VIP PERK FOR up to 4
- Build Your Own Electric Guitar – Online course (includes Design Your Own) £190
- Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar Online Course (includes Design Your Own £250
- Access ALL Areas Membership– All the courses and 20% discount of all supplies – £150 sign up, + £9.99 pcm Up Front offer PERK – no monthly fees
- Ready to work From Scratch Electric or Acoustic Guitar Supplies Kit from £ £250 prhttps://guitarmaking.co.uk/product/build-acoustic-guitar-kit/
- Build Your Own Guitar – Workshop courses Electric or Acoustic from £899 + materials
So, if you have a budding guitar builder in your life, then we guarantee any of our top 10 would be a winner – and if you cant decide you can always let them choose for themselves with a Bailey or Guitar Making Gift Voucher
Think they’d rather not have to build it themselves ? Check out this blog 10 Unique Gifts for Guitar Players
10 Unique Gifts for Guitarists and Guitar Lovers from £10
Guitarist Gifts Galore !
Here at Bailey we specialise in great gifts and special surprises – many an unsuspecting guitar player has had a Bailey Guitar surprise…you dont even need to choose for them – from custom design sessions, to gift vouchers (on offer until 22nd Dec) we work hard to make your gift as individual as the person you are giving it to. Just get in touch and we will explain how.
The top 10 is below but many more unique items are available in a SPECIAL OFFER PERK through our Indiegogo Crowdfunding page (available until the 22nd Dec 2016) – INCLUDING A £200 bonus for every £1000 spent on vouchers
- Custom Guitar – inc Design session from £999 electric, £1900 Acoustic
- Bailey Special Stock Guitar – (inc free return to setup, Hiscox hardcase) from £749
- The original Bailey Bandsman (inc free return to setup, Hiscox hardcase) from £599
- Custom Guitar One to One Design Session & Bailey Workshop visit £85
- Design Your Own Guitar On-line design session £79
But if your budget doesn’t stretch…, here are some more unique Bailey Gifts
- Bailey T Shirt – Black or Guitar Making T shirt – Olive or Khaki all sizes from 1-2yrs to XXXL £10
- Guitar Magic DVD – watch Peter and Dale build their very first guitars £10- OR online as PERK ( see Indiegogo)
- Bailey Long Sleeve T – all sizes £ £11
- Bailey Hoodie or Bailey Fleecey £24.99 (inc Guitar Magic DVD FREE)
- Bailey Guitar Strap – Exclusive Perk
Not sure what to get ? Then we also have Bailey Gift Vouchers – these can be used against ANY item including Courses, custom guitars (and stock not in the shop), are NOT time-limited and are totally refundable
Got a budding guitar builder in your life ? – see the 10 Unique Gifts for DIY Guitar Builders blog
The Guitar Making Revolution Needs YOU!
Please Support our Crowdfunding campaign…
The Guitar Making Revolution!
My name is Mark Bailey – I trained with some of the best guitar makers in the world including Trevor Wilkinson, Patrick Eggle, Gary Levinson and Rob Williams. I did my very best to learn as much as possible and now I run my own workshop Bailey Guitars with my amazing team.
Along with making my own range of guitars I also run workshop courses to enable complete beginners to make their own instruments completely from scratch…It is not as difficult as you might imagine – in fact I believe that anyone can make guitars and I think I have proven that over the last 18 years and 400+ students – I always say ‘Most guitars are made in factories and they are not populated by genius luthiers (ask me how I know!)
Last year I launched The Guitar Making Academy – I put all my knowledge into making the best online guitar making courses on the planet and now have hundreds more online students across the world.
The revolution created itself – players needing guitars that either don’t exist or are out of their reach to buy; people who love guitars and wood, and like me at 17, think ” I’d love to have a go”; and guitar buyers dissolutioned with what was available to them – our own models, custom builds and courses have offered a real, exciting and good value alternative to the mainstream.
Why we are crowd funding?
The building (The Bailey Workshop) we have rented for over 13 years has come up for sale – we have a great landlord and he has given us first refusal on the property. It is in a great location, near Ayr on the West Coast of Scotland- good for me as it is quiet and I dont disturb the neighbours at all (sheep mainly) and handy for the students who have come here to build from as far away as Tasmania and Brazil.
This is incredibly exciting as we never thought we would ever get the chance – it really would be a dream come true to secure the workshop in perpetuity!
What We Need
We need to raise as large a sum as possible for a deposit to secure the premises. Any money raised above this will be spent bringing the workshop up to date. Whether we reach our goal or not your hard earned money will be well spent on:
- Securing the workshop premises
- Revamping the workshop – environmental improvements to save power
What You Get
Check out our amazing and unique perks –
- Air Guitar: If you just want to chip in go for one of these – not only will you appear incredibly cool to others but you will also have our eternal thanks! Send us a pic of yourself playing it and we’ll put it in a gallery…
- Online Courses: We’ve come up with some special deals for our crowdfunding campaign. Join the guitar making revolution!
- Order a Guitar: We’re making some special guitars just for this campaign – you will get the best price for ordering early.
- Ultimate Design and Build: Visit the workshop to design and build your own guitar – full VIP treatment!
- My 1st guitar: Own a unique piece of guitar making history! This is the first guitar I made as Bailey Guitars in the double decker bus workshop.
If you do not want to claim any perks you can still back us – just click the big pink button and type in the amount. You will be informed what perks you are eligible for and then you can decide if you want them or not. You can also choose to remain anonymous if you like.
Everyone will recieve free of charge a warm fuzzy feeling that comes only from helping others…
If you would like to get any of our perks as a gift – just let us know.
We’ll be adding new perks every couple of days so watch out for updates!
The Impact
As some of you may know my first workshop was a double decker bus, and my first spray booth an old container lorry. We had a website before we had a computer and lived off the grid for several years – we literally started Bailey Guitars with nothing as I had my only tool case stolen
I don’t need much space for my own work but to run courses and make my on-line videos I do need a larger and permanent space. Also, the building has been in use since before 1850, and whilst I love it, it needs some major improvements (re-organising and environmental) to bring it into the 21st century
For the last 15 years I have used solar panels and made my own wind turbine to generate electricity. I have experimented with solar heaters, trombe walls and looked at ways of cutting energy consumption, as well as trying to source sustainable and reclaimed woods to build with. In 2008 we became small generators connected to the grid, which meant that all the guitars built since then have been made only with renewable energy, placing us amongst the most environmentally friendly instrument builders in the world.
What most guitar players want is a guitar that looks good and plays like a dream – instrument making as an industry is not a very green activity and every year more species of wood are added to the Citees restricted list – for us, being environmentally responsible is as important as looks and playability. In fact you would never know from looking at them
Lets Blow the Lid off it!
A lot of my tools have been hammered by the students over the years and some are now are in need of replacment- it would be awesome to add some new gadgets to the arsenal!
We’ve got this far from practically nothing, thanks to all our customers and players in the real and virtual worlds who have donated tools and workshop equipment and traded money, time and larger items for guitars. Now we have an amazing opportunity to create something permanent here and spread the guitar making revolution even wider – imagine what we could do with your support!
Risks & Challenges
We passionately believe in what we do here and I for one am not ready to give up – I’d like to think that I’ll continue to build and run courses wherever I end up but with your help we could take it to the next level.
The main risk is that we cannot act swiftly enough to secure the premises – if this happens we might lose the advantage of first refusal – that is why we have limited the duration of the campaign to only 28 days – so please don’t wait too long!
Other Ways You Can Help
We understand not everyone is in a position to contribute, but you can still help:
- Get the word out and make some noise about our campaign.
- Share our updates
- Use the Indiegogo share tools!
Thanks!
WinterStorm is coming and so are we..to Troon on the 25/26th of November!
WIN A BAILEY CURVE GUITAR, GUITAR ‘ER’ (FREE GUITAR MOT)…MIGHTY BEAST VEGAN STRAPS…OPEN STAGE…TRY A WINTERSTORM PIE… ACOUSTIC STAGE BAR
Winterstorm Rock Fest and BaileyGuitars Display
Winterstorm – A Festival of Classic Rock – by the sandy beaches of Troon, on the West Coast of Ayrshire
This is the first weekender of its kind here, the brainchild of local businessman Ian McCaig – Troon is more famous for it’s golf courses, marina and windsurfing than rock music, but it has in recent years grown it’s own annual music festival (we had a tent there one year!) and throughout the year the popular South Beach Sessions have been keeping music live in the town
The Winterstorm Team have managed to bring 14 top name rock bands to play in the Main Hall, over the 2 nights and 1 day event – these gigs are ticketed for the whole weekend or seperate days and are great value – check availibility here – and includes access to the activities in the rest of the Hall
Bailey and the Beast
We are delighted to be taking a mini Bailey roadtrip to exhibit at the event and the good news is that the Walker Hall cafe & display area, the Bailey stand and Open Mic Stage, PLUS the South Beach Sessions Acoustic Stage & Bar (run by Studio 5) are ALL FREE – open to the general public
As well as our guitar displays, film showings and demos Mark & Billy will be doing a GUITAR ER – free guitar doctor service…give your poorly axe a checkover… come and try one of our guitars …demo on the stage or playtest more privately – check out our page on the Winterstorm site AND our new friend Rachel of Mighty Beast is going to be there with her wonderful vegan guitar straps
Guitar Give Away
If that isn’t enough, we will be GIVING AWAY a white Curve Electric guitar, signed by the main stage acts ( in black) in our special Winterstorm Draw – tickets available with all Bailey purchases ( from £1) and it will be drawn on the stage after 10 on the Saturday night
Not meaty enough ?
If all that isn’t tasty enough for you, Brownings the Bakers…the folk that invented the Killie pie have created the “Winterstorm Pie “ making this event the first festie to have its own ! You can try a pie if you buy from the Winterstorm Rock Bakery & cafe
What time ?
Main stage: doors open 4pm Friday until 11, Saturday 12-11 (tickets needed – some still available)
Walker Hall: Free entry at all times – cafe, merchandise inc Mighty Beast, Bailey Guitars display and open stage (4-9 ish pm fri and 12-9ish on Sat) AND Acoustic Stage Bar: 8-1am fri, 2-1am Sat
Ibex Side bending iron
The Ibex Side bending iron – designed by Irving Sloane.
Ibex Side Bending Iron
On-line Courses
In 2015 we launched the online Bailey Academy of Guitar Making, in response to the increasing number of people who want to build a guitar at home. We now have students all over the world who have made some awesome first instruments, following the step-by-step instructions in the video lessons with almost daily support by email (if they need it).
To make it easy for them we also supply prepared wood and a few key tools that we use here in our workshop, and trust
This year we opened our Design and Build Your Own Acoustic on-line course which is being released in stages, and we launched our first membership scheme, Access All Areas. This gives anyone who is interested in making more than one kind of guitar access to ALL the courses, plus discounts on our selected and prepared supplies.
Bending Wood
If you are making an acoustic guitar or ukelele then you will need something to bend the sides – this is the tool for the job.
Ibex side bending irons have variable thermostat control to maintain the ideal temperature for bending sides. The base is made from wood and the pipe is cast aluminium.
- 240v
- Thermostat control
- Aluminium
- 155mm length
Ibex side bending irons have been used in our workshop since day one – mine is over 20 years old and still working!
We are not planning to open a fully stocked shop as there are already some great suppliers of the massive range of tools, equipment and parts on offer – but we are trying to make things easy for our students, particularly those abroad.
Want to know more ?
Check out the free previews of all the courses on offer, read the real reviews from enrolled students and get in touch. All students get access to the lessons, benefit from answers to all the questions already asked, and have email support with their build directly from Mark. The Build Your Own Bolt On Neck Guitar course is coming soon, as is a stand alone Design Your Own Acoustic course.
We still run workshop courses here … and dates for 2017 will be released in the next week or so
Winter is Coming…part 2 … the spice of life..?
HandMade in Scotland – Bailey Guitar and Might Beast Vegan strap
You could say that all our work here is a collaboration of one kind or another – bringing ideas, individual needs, and construction constraints together to create each unique instrument
But here at Bailey’s, we are always up for interesting pairings and projects, especially when it involves linking up with other creative folk
The Mighty Beast… but no animals harmed…
Rachel R is an independent fashion designer & product developer – she is the hands ( and creative brain) behind Mighty Beast, making custom guitar straps. Thanks to Fin Robertson of Pricross, who is helping both of us with our PR and marketing, Rachel came along to the workshop with a selection of her eye-catching work which uses a variety of fabrics and hard wearing materials with many different designs, colours and finishes. AND they are all vegan and made here in Scotland
Mighty Beast’s Rachel visits the Bailey Workshop
Rachel is one of group of young, hardworking crafters based in Glasgow – and she has many projects on the go. As well as Mighty Beast, Rachel’s talents as a costume maker are in demand and will be displayed on a popular period film series (which is being shot around these parts). We are planning to work with her on some joint publicity and finally commission some Bailey Straps … watch this space…
Bailey Guitars – Up Close and Personal
The Bailey Workshop is near the seaside town of Ayr, which is also home to one of the TOP 5% Universities in the world – the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) which has a fantastic media and music department. Gordon Doherty is a post-grad creative media student and is making a short documentary film about Bailey Guitars in Ayshire … he started shooting last week and we hope to see the finished result sometime before Xmas. Cheers Gordon !
Acoustic Bliss – live and direct
This November we the start of the 3rd year of weekly broadcasts of Acoustic Bliss – the Late Show, LIVE from The Twa Dugs to the internet courtesty of the brilliant Livestream studio. In the ten years we have been hosting these feasts of local playing talent, nearly 600 different performers have crossed the stage … all ages, abilities and genres, and some have gone on to make music their life. Most of those 600 have shared their songs using Marks battered Bootlegger, and many have joined the Bailey family of players, ALL of whom we are really chuffed that they chose us to make their music with – recently on Facebook a few of those wrote and shared their own personal Bailey stories
When Bliss first started, we could not have forseen what would emerge from our musical collaborations and adventures – it’s a “marvellously varied thing” (thanks Stevie McCann BYO Bass,) chaotic and impromptu as all open mic should be, but with the featured original artist each week, and an “all welcome” policy it has grown legs and given many players the confidence to go further. This month two great young female artists who have “Blissed”, made it onto a bigger stage… the powerfully voiced Melisa Kelly and the Smokin Crows (and her Bailey Sweet P) on TV. Melisa got herself a first class honours degree in her craft this year, after working hard to put herself through college.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-h0uOugPdA
and Katee Kross the prolific young songwriter and performer from Glasgow, who released her first album this year… and has proved beyond doubt, that when you put your music on-line, you NEVER know who is watching . The Twa Dugs Ayr one week… Wembley Arena the next !!
Over the coming months, we will put the spotlight some of our players, builders and collaborative project in special blogs
In the meantime, you can keep up with what’s going on in Bailey world via Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter , and if you feel you need some marvellous musical variety in your life tune in on Thursdays from 10pm to Acoustic Bliss Live – we have Blissviewers all over the world, look through the massive backcatalogue on Livestream or on the YouTube Channel (subscribers VERY welcome) or check out our Bliss regular, degree wielding journalist & Blogger Chloe McKee for a personal view
“Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony?”
Leonardo da Vinci, Notebooks (1451-1519).
Winter is coming…part 1… guitars guitars
The Bailey Guitar Workshop
It’s been a colourful dry autum here at the Bailey workshop, and life has slowed us down a little these last few months, but as always there has been some new arrivals
Beautiful BYO’s here at home…
Check these babies out (the guitars, obvs) – you can see videos of all these beauties and their new owners at the guitarmaking.co.uk FB page
Thanks to new builders :
Stuart Pollock BYO 388 (BYOG Course )
Stewart Powick BYO 389 (Custom BYO Course)
Ian Gregson BYO 393 (BYOFirst Guitar Course)
Nick Gosden BYO 392 (BYOFirst Guitar Course)
David Hangartner BYO 391 (BYOFirst Guitar Course)
Jacob Aagaard BYO 390 (BYOFirst Guitar Course)
…and abroad : our On-Line Step-by-Step courses
GuitarMaking.co.uk goes from strength to strength with students across the globe building at home using the Bailey Academy…if you missed the first one check out our blog earlier in the year, but since then they have been coming in fast- here are films made by two students
https://youtu.be/hrcmGPGw0xU
Never Mind Them…
Although I haven’t had too much time spare I too have been building guitars, working mainly on Preston’s new Heathergems Signature Acoustic
..and just started on a new commission from Robert G for a Custom acoustic, designed here with me, in one of our one-to-one sessions … it’s going to be a classic rosewood, spruce , ebony combo with some beautiful touches including some inlay work…more blogs to come
Bart from Belgium ordered a Bailey Bandsman this month, but asked for a pick up change – P90’s instead of humbuckers – and chose to upgrade to a set of Bareknuckle Nantuckets. I’ll be starting on that special model as soon as the handmade Bk’s arrive.
There’s also a couple of spectacular Ukes in the pipeline…so that’s my Custom build list full for this year… but we still have stock in the shop and some in progress (electrics & acoustics- ask for more details if you are interested)
Considering a Custom Guitar or special order ?
It costs nothing to get in touch and find out more – we are already taking orders for 2017 ‘cos you can’t rush a good thing …
If you want a detailed quote or aren’t sure where to start, our detailed design sessions can be done face to face here, over the internet OR even at home yourself costs from £79 and if you go ahead and commission the intrument, we include the design fee in your payments. It’s becoming a popular experience in itself.
Surprise…Surprise… !
Out there are some very lucky, totally unsuspecting people, who over the coming months will be presented with the gift of a lifetime – design sessions, BYO courses and the ultimate …a custom Bailey. However deep the pockets, we do try hard to make a gift a special thing (and we are REALLY good at keeping secrets!)