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Sopranino Ukulele – Cocobolo
When You’re smiling…When You’re smiling…
….you’re probably playing a teeny tiny Bailey Ukulele.
A happy song from our most northern-most Bailey player…
Thanks Oystein for sending us this video which really made us smile!
Our Smallest Uke
The sopranino is the smallest Uke I make with an 11″ scale length – we think it sounds as sweet as it looks.
Made to Order
This uke was made to order for Oystein who found us on the internet and it now has a new happy home in Norway – in fact this is currently our northern most instrument and will probably remain so for quite some time.
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- UV Gloss Finish
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- Sopranino Uke
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- Sopranino Ukelele – spruce soundboard
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- Sopranino uke – geared tuners
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- Laminated neck
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- Sopranino Uke – Flamed Maple Binding
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- Sopranino Uke – Cocobolo back and sides
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- Sopranino Uke 11″ Scale Length
Most Northern-most Uke
We cannot imagine there are too many sopranino uke players north of here – it could be a record. I think you would have to actually be in space to get any further. This could probably be the most northernmost sopranino ukelele on the planet – please let me know if you know otherwise.
Build Your Own First Guitar – Keith Tiltman BYO-380 – First timer
Keith Tiltman makes his first guitar on our Workshop Course
Keith Tiltman – Build Your own Guitar
You think you are making a guitar, but really the guitar is making you.
If you want to do this thing I can imagine no better place, no more expert tuition, nor more congenial company.
So thankyou so much Mark + Carol, Billy and Fiona. Stars All !!! Keith Tiltman – BYO-380
Bewildered?
Keith found us like so many others on the internet while searching for information about guitar making and ended up coming on one of our workshop courses – Build Your Own First Guitar.
He was, as he self confessed, ‘a little bewildered’ and later also confessed that he did not actually play the guitar. This was not so much of a surprise as we have had non players before but turned out to be not quite true as I definitely heard him playing a few quiet chords on the last day. Hopefully he left a little less bewildered than when he arrived.
This course is aimed at beginners who want to complete the build in one go. IThe course runs over 5 days and takes place right here in the Bailey Workshop.
Here at Bailey Guitars we want you to make a pro quality instrument – in fact I will not let anyone leave with anything less. To this end I have chosen all the parts to make your first build as easy as possible.
There are still plenty of options for customisation but to avoid any further brain strain Keith chose to stick with the basic version – the guitar made is based on the Bailey Bandsman Standard Electric Guitar.
Often the simplist choices are the best…
Here is the basic spec of the guitar made on this course:
- Set Neck construction
- 25″ Scale with 22 frets
- Mahogany Body
- Mahogany Neck
- Rosewood Fretboard
- Mother of Pearl Fret Marker Inlays
- Wilkinson Wrapover Bridge
- Gotoh Tuners
- Chrome Hardware
- Two Wilkinson Humbuckers
- Volume, Tone, and 3-Way Toggle Switch – side mounted jack socket
- Medium Fretwire
- Tusq Nut
- 10 gauge strings
All of this is included in the cost of the course and provided by us – you can choose to upgrade any of the parts but this will have to be worked out in advance before you start.
Custom Options
If you would like to make something more advanced, for instance with a carved top, or a trem, or an acoustic guitar then check out our other guitar making workshop courses.
Build Online
Like to build a guitar but cannot get here in person? Have a look at my online course – it is the next best thing to having me there, guiding you through the process from start to finish. in your own time…
Let me do it
If you have no desire to build your own then let me do it for you – then you can sit back and watch your guitar take shape right here on the blog !
Little Eye – All I Need
Little Eye – All I Need (is my Bailey Bootlegger Acoustic Guitar!)
Here is a video of the exceptionally cool Little Eye playing their original song ‘Choked Up’ at a Glasgow product launch’
These guys are going places – and we are really happy that they will be taking a Bailey guitar with them. Euan has been playing and gigging this guitar for a few years now as the band go from strength to strength.
Earlier in the year they were interviewed for the Sub Sessions – here’s what Sub TV had to say
The band have spent the last year perfecting their songs and musicianship and have developed into a truly amazing live act, as everyone who went to the Isle of White festival last year will know, they were invited to open the main stage and now just keep being asked back for more as this year they are playing the Hard Rock stage! The Band released their debut album ‘Fighting the Future’ in June 2014, an album brimming with massive anthems and hooks laden songs, that will tear at your heartstrings, whilst blowing you away with their unique sound. The band are currently on a tour of Europe at the moment and have been slowly releasing songs on their Facebook page, so maybe there is an album to come soon…we’ll see!
Couldn’t have said it better ourselves…
Please go and download some Little eye right now!
Build Your Own First Guitar – BYOG 379 – Andrew Braidwood
Andrew Braidwood made this guitar here in the Bailey Workshop on our Build Your Own First Guitar course
Andrew Braidwood
Where to start? I built a Bandsman with maple cap (bookmatched) Swamp Ash body maple neck – she is a real blonde beauty. I loved this course – it was probably the fastest Six days of my life. I only hope I can retain some of the infomation. I will be buying the ‘how to build’ course online and having a bash at building another.
Like a rollercoaster ride – once you finish you want to go on again! Andrew Braidwood BYO-379
In the Frame
Andrew works for himself as a picture framer – work was getting him down a bit so he decided to come on one of our workshop courses for a break. It is quite an intense few days but they say a change is as good as a rest.
The guitar is based on the Bailey Bandsman Elecric guitar but there is scope for some custom elements – for example P90 pickups were used instead of the standard humbuckers and the usual wrapover bridge was swapped for a tunamatic style with stop tailpiece.
Custom Options
Andrew also chose different wood from the normal ‘mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard’ included in the course price.
Here is a run down of the custom elements chosen by Andrew for this guitar:
- Maple Neck
- Ebony Fretboard
- Swamp Ash Body
- Maple Cap
- P90 Pickups
- Tunamatic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece
The neck is constructed from 1 piece of maple with an ebony fretboard – the body is swamp ash which is incredibly light weight and to make it a little prettier he chose to have a bookmatched flamed maple cap on the front. All of these custom elements incur an extra cost from the standard course price – please contact us for more info.
Beyond Custom
For those who have custom requirements beyond this we have our ‘Build Your Own Custom Guitar‘ course which starts with a blank sheet of paper so you can pretty much make anything you want.
Build Online!
Want to build your own guitar but cannot get here to the workshop? Do not fret…we have a complete step by step video guide where I guide you through the entire process from start to finish with no job skipped.
Don’t forget
If building a guitar seems like a lot of hard work then let me do it for you – we can talk about the design either on the phone, via email or even a google hangout where you can watch me draw out your design on a blank sheet of paper, and then decide whether you want to go ahead and have me build it.
Custom Acoustic Guitar – Bailey Bootlegger with Cutaway for Sam Winston
Custom Acoustic Guitar – Bailey Bootlegger with Cutaway for Sam Winston
Truly Handmade
Sam is a full-time musician and singer songwriter – teaching and writing his own original material featuring his distinctive voice. He is currently writing and producing an album, Listen to our favourite Sam Winston song. (you can find more of his self penned tunes eg. Cherry Sweet, and White lights, on his YouTube channel along with some great covers)
This year he decided it was time to get the instrument he and his music deserve, and have his own spec. custom acoustic made … he got in touch to see what was possible, and get a quote.
The Guitar is based on the Bailey Bootlegger Acoustic Guitar, but Sam wanted the addition of a cutaway – thus a new shape is born…actually Dave Fletcher is currently making the same shape himself on our build your own course, and had the idea at about the same time – but I think it is a good one whoever thought of it first!
Sam really liked the look of my guitar – the original Bailey Bootlegger and so we have styled the rosette and binding like that but he chose Cocobolo for the back and sides and Ebony for the Fretboard – apart from that they are essentially the same.
Here are Sam’s Custom Elements:
- Cut-Away
- Cocobolo back and sides
- Sitka Spruce Top
- Checkerboard Rosette and binding
- Mahogany Neck
- Ebony Fretboard
- Must play like a cloud
That last one is a specific requirement from Sam – I think in future we will include this as standard on all our guitars.
Work in Progress
It has taken a long time to track down the specific purfling strips Sam asked for on this guitar which delayed the start of the build somewhat – in fact we had all but given up as it does not seem to be available anywhere just now – but thankfully last week a miracle occured and we managed to source enough for Sam’s guitar.
While I was waiting for the supplies I had already bent the sides and glued on the first strips of kerfed lining. I also joined the back and soundboard but the rosette is just about the first job so I was stuck for a while – now the stuff has arrived I am able to crack on and plan to have this guitar finished by the end of the month – check back here to see how it is going…
What would you have?
If you would like me to build you a guitar you can add your own custom requirements – please contact us
Build Your Own Guitar? Not like this!
Tip of the day: Not like this…
Build Your Own Guitar? Not like this!
There is more than one way to kill a cat…
One of the students on my workshop course sent me this pic recently (Thanks David!) – OK. This is one way to clamp the body – but not the way we do it here! Let us hope he was wearing safety boots and doesn’t own a cat (or any children!). You would think he would know better but I guess neccessity is the mother of invention and he did not have the tools to do it the way I showed him here – Still if only he had enrolled on my ONLINE course he could have asked me directly if there was a better way…
There is an easy way
If you are building your first guitar at home then I recommend that you buy body blanks ready to work on – getting a piece of wood flat and straight really is half the battle – much easier if you can get your supplier to do that for you.
Here is a FREE PREVIEW of how we do this in the workshop…
TOP TIP!
A safer way to this (if you do not have money for sash clamps) would be to use tape to hold the pieces together while the glue dries…I promise you no cats will be harmed (unless you manage to tape one to the wood, in which case please do not send me pictures.)
Build Your Own Guitar Online
Attempting to make a guitar at home can be a tricky business…Build Your Own Guitar is an online step by step video guide – make your experience of building your first (or best yet) instrument easy, safe, and pain free.
Join my course today and get How to Design Your Own Guitar (worth£79) FREE
Bailey Moonshiner Acoustic Guitar for The Grenaways
Bailey Moonshiner Acoustic Guitar for The Grenaways
The Grenaways have a new Bailey Guitar!
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- Bailey Moonshiner Standard
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- Fishman Rare Earth pickup with Mic
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- Cedar Top
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- with cutaway
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- Sapele Back and Sides
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- no binding
The Grenaways
The Grenaways are a fantastic band from way down south – Cornwall, to be precise – and are “rootsy storytellers, unique in the folk style, with songs that are rich in nautical undertones, influenced so much by the sea, the people and coastal living”. Kris the frontman, song-writer and guitar player was looking for a new instrument and came across us on the internet. He liked the look of our Bailey Moonshiner acoustic guitar and got in touch-and as he didn’t mind waiting for the next one to be finished…he took the plunge and went for our Bailey Artist Deal
Bailey Moonshiner Acoustic Guitar
This is the ‘Standard’ version of the Bailey Moonshiner – Sapele back and sides paired with a Cedar top, but as he was going to be using the guitar live onstage, Kris needed a pickup fitted. The pickup he chose was a Fishman Rare Earth Soundhole Pickup with Microphone – very popular nowadays – The magnetic part of it gives you the ability to turn it right up and is pretty feedback resistant, but you can also add a touch of mic for a more natural sound.
Waiting for it to arrive was an exciting time for us all, but arrive it did and here’s Kris’s first reaction
So, I had a rehearsal with the band today and just tried my guitar through an amp… the most beautiful sound I have ever had a guitar make, truly wow! – Kristian Lannen
Hear it LIVE
Kris will be playing his Moonshiner live on their upcoming UK tour – The Grenaways gigs… meanwhile we await with baited breath to see if it appears on their next album – Fingers Crossed – I hope so!!
In a strange twist of fate, it turns out Kris’s grandparents lived in Maybole, South Ayrshire, where we have our workshop, and he spent many a holiday here as a kid…the same western coastline which he lives, works and writes by now…a little warmer maybe, but with the same celtic heritage which inspires the Grenaways music
Here is an update Kris sent today
Hey guys,
Just checking in with you to see how you are doing and update you with what’s happening with The Grenaways and my beautiful Bailey Moonshiner!I’ve been running my guitar through a lovely Roland acoustic amp and getting some really sweet results.We recently played a new song, ‘Ghost’, on Balcony TV, which was released on Monday. Obviously I played my Moonshiner and I think you’ll be really pleased with the sound and vibe of the song?”– Kristian Lannen – The Grenaways
We love it Kris…and we think you, our blog readers will too. Give it a like and send Kris a comment if you can – all helps increase their worldwide profile
Join the Queue!
If you want to get your hands on your own Bailey Moonshiner Standard acoustic guitar I can build you one just like it or you can make as many customisations as you want – please contact us with your requirements.
Autumn Sale – get your hands on a Bailey Guitar for the best price ever…
It’s the Bailey Guitars seasonal Autumn Sale – and It’s MASSIVE !!
From Wed 23rd September our shop prices are being slashed (for everything but our newest editions)
As some of you may know, we have had a difficult few months here this year and we are now at a crossroads in the life of Bailey Guitars – we urgently need to make a new website.
We also want to work on developing our already growing on-line courses and create some new guitars…so now’s a good time to clear the storeroom and make room for the new in
How big ?
We have been through the stock room and here’s what we came up with – plus a Bailey Bonus..
- up to £660 off original prices – check out individual guitars for reductions
- all UK guitar sales get FREE delivery
- price includes a Hiscox Case (rrp £109)
- Bailey T shirt (rrp £9.99)
- a copy of Guitar Magic (rrp £9.99 which includes a discount voucher for on-line courses)
- AND A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF STRINGS (12 sets – D’addario for electrics (rrp £65), Elixir phos bronze for acoustics rrp £214),
- worth £343 rrp for acoustics and £193rrp for electrics.
All guitars on sale are new (not ex demo), fully guaranteed and can be set up with your choice of strings – you can add a note at the checkout about strings and T size, and set up preferences, or we’ll email you if you forget.
The Bailey Guarantee
Like all Bailey purchases, if you decide it’s not for you then tell us asap (within 7 days of receiving it) and alll you have to do is return the whole package as you found it – including the gifts – then we will refund you in full. We want every Bailey player to love their guitars…
How can I pay ?
You can pay by debit or credit card, paypal and direct transfer, all through our secure shop. We also have many customers who pay by installments – a 30% deposit secures the guitar and we will remove it from the shop…. contact us if you want more info. Installments can be paid for any instrument over a time that suits you..the only rule is that you we cant send the guitar until its paid for (sorry)
How long will it take ?
Once payment has been recieved (it may take an extra day for bank transfers) guitars and goodies will be sent out within 2-5 working days of purchase, by overnight, secure and insured courier. We will contact you to make arrangements that suit you, but we dont send guitars out on a Friday – a Saturday delivery costs an extra £28
Finally
Any Q’s… please get in touch – and if you haven’t yet subscribed to our blog/newletter – please do as subscribers get the best offers and always first !
The Bailey Guitars Autumn Sale is LIVE now and will last until the clocks go back on 24th October, or until each unique, hand crafted instrument has a new home…