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Baritone Uke Jarrah

Baritone Uke Jarrah

by | Nov 17, 2014 | , , ,

Paul’s Second Uke

This uke was half made at the time he bought the soprano so he put his name down on it and has been patiently waiting for me to finish it in time for a recording project – so with a bit of luck we will all get to hear it soon!

I made this Uke as an experiment to see if the Jarrah was suitable for acoustic instruments – I have some more I would love to make into a steel string acoustic…I would really love to make a Moonshiner with this stuff! But it is so incredibly highly figured there was some doubt whether it would be possible to bend the sides without breaking them.

As it turned out it was difficult but not impossible…the Uke turned out to be one of the most beautiful instruments I have made to date. I only had a brief time with it as Paul wanted it ASAP for his project but I did get this set of lovely pictures to remind me…as for the sound – when I played it for the first time it punched me in the belly…finger-picking a little more gently it just tickled nicely…

People often ask me how I let them go. Yes, sometimes it is hard – especially when they are as special as this one, but I am a builder and I have to sell instruments to survive, so nothing makes me happier than to see one of my babies going to a good home. Actually there is one thing…that is when we receive feedback like this from our customers! Thanks Paul – makes it all worthwhile:)

Here is what Paul said:

From Email:

Well… It has arrived indeed, my neighbor kindly took it as I was called into work, so I just got home and!.. What a lovely package to come home to.

So I’ll tell you quickly how it was for me to open her up.

First thing I got was the smell of the wood, it’s something you only get from an instrument like this i love that.

Straight away my eyes are drawn to the detail in the fret board the binding and grain in the sound board, not to mention the Bailey signature sitting there all crisp on the headstock.
All highlighted with a shimmer from the beautiful gloss.

It looks crisp and clean with a lot of attention to detail even at a glance I can notice this, But then I turn it round and there is that beautiful Jarrah..
And not so bright like I might of imagined but a lovely Autumn brown’y red’y color, this was a big winner for me.

I noticed then the D’Addario T2’s.. great choice of string, I only discovered them recently in fact,
So then… it was down to business!

Quick tune up and hands on..

Well…

I can safely say that’s the most comfortably fretboard and neck I’ve played.
My Pono is hard to beat for comfort I must admit but straight away it just had a smoothness to it that comes from the obvious quality of build..
These are all things I was worrying about till now Ha!

I started picking one of my songs, this always gives me a good feel for the tone and then some heavier folksy strumming stuff..
The picking is great, the fret board just feels so nice to move on.. Good action, easy on my fingers and comfortable.

There is a nice evenness to it, Unlike ‘a lot’ of ukuleles out there. My Pono is a prime example, nice high’s but really quite poor with the lower and mid tones and really muddy on recordings no matter what I try.

I’m would say this uke has a very warm feel to it…
Very nice to strum, there is definition in the tone and it’s got a very clean overall sound.. The high and low tones aren’t overtaking each other unlike my Pono.
This is key for me with recording because a quality balanced tone to begin with can save hours or even days of bloody headache trying to polish crap that wasn’t there to begin with.

It’s tricky with Baritones because you want the lower end and the mid to give it fullness but any I’ve played lack that definition and balance that you really need..

Well.. I’m impressed to say the least, Mark you have done yourself proud my friend!
I would be interested to hear a small parlor or travel size acoustic with these woods..
I can imagine they would work well with it’s overall clean sound and balance.

Well for now I have to go and stop rabbiting on..

Thank you very much really!!

And also for the T’shirts Ha! Nice touch :))

Speak soon guys

Bye for now 😉 x

Build Your First Guitar – LIVE STREAM!

Build Your First Guitar – LIVE STREAM!

by | Oct 23, 2014 | , ,

Guitar Making Live! Expired

build your first day one

End of Day 1

Build Your Own First Guitar

Can four complete beginners build four guitars in five days? Hang around and find out!

Come hell or high weather

We will be live streaming from the workshop for the full duration of the course – starting 11:00am GMT Friday 24 October and then from 10am daily until the fat lady sings.

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET!

As we live ‘out in the sticks’ our internet connection is not the best. We have had variable results in the past using various platforms – this time we are returning to Ustream because it seems to be the most efficient and stable.

To save bandwidth (and just in case anybody should revert to ‘workshop language’) the audio will be turned off – so you can add your favourite music and relax while we work – or put on the Benny Hill music if you want a laugh. Suggest a track and we will listen along with you!

Q+A

At the end of each day between5 and 6pm GMT the mic will be activated and Mark will perform a daily update and answer YOUR Q’s in his own voice and his best behaviour – use the comments section to ask anything you want! Highlights will be uploaded to our Youtube account – weather permitting.

Thanks for Watching!

Bailey Guitars is a self funded business – we lovingly craft instruments by hand here in the glorious hills of South Ayrshire but we can only survive if we sell instruments..it is a tough business and we need all the support we can get. Please have a look at our range – remember each one is unique and individually handmade – if you see something you like buy it today – help support guitar making in the UK – we guarantee that you will not be sorry!

 

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 3

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 3

by | Oct 21, 2014 | , , , ,

Making the body

Part 1| Part 2

I glued the body wings and cap on (including black pinstripe) last week as reported in part 2 – so after removing the clamps I could crack on with making the body. As the cap extends under the fretboard this will be the last piece to be glued on. It  is easier to route the body first as the fretboard would get in the way – especially when routing the neck pickup slot.

I always mark out the front of the body first, drill the holes, and then use those to mark out the control cavity at the rear. Routing for this guitar was pretty straight forward – it is based on the Bailey Bandsman – just a few extra jobs to fit the trem.

My next job is to glue on the ebony fretboard – then I will install the inlays and frets. The neck and body will be carved, shaped and sanded – then I will have to check everything fits before handing it over to Billy for spraying – that will be a spectacle – don’t worry I will take pics. I have also been taking timelapse footage of the complete build so watch out for a video on that next month!

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 2

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 2

by | Oct 17, 2014 | , , ,

Gluing up the blanks and starting construction on the Buckeye’d Beauty

Part 1

The neck blank for this guitar is made from laminating together three pieces of mahogany with two very thin black veneer in between to make the pinstripes.

As usual I made the fretboard first so I could use that for marking out the rest of the guitar.

The first job on the neck was to make the slot for the truss rod then cut the headstock angle. After this the neck was rough cut on the bandsaw, then I thicknessed the headstock and drilled the tuner holes.

Another angle was cut into the blank to make the neck/body angle and then enough material is removed to accommodate the Buckeye Cap which will extend underneath the fretboard to hide the joint.

Next the body wings were glued on, followed by another thin black veneer and finally the cap.

Now the guitar must sit overnight for the glue to dry – tomorrow I will take the clamps off to reveal that gorgeous Buckeye Burl cap and then I can continue working on the body…part 3 next week.

Meanwhile…Please feel free to share, add a comment, or ask a question.

If you are interested in designing your own custom guitar check out our new online course – commission me to build your instrument and get your money back for the design course!

Take a look at some more of my recent work.

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 1

Custom Thru Neck Bandsman Electric Guitar with Buckeye Burl Cap – Part 1

by | Oct 3, 2014 | , ,

 Design session and wood selection

Ian and his lovely woman Sam visited recently for a design session in the workshop. Sam is particularly lovely – especially to us because she has commissioned this custom build for her man. We spent a very enjoyable few hours going over the spec and came up with the design you see here. I have all of the wood to start the guitar and now after it has had a little time to settle I can’t wait to get cracking! Watch out for weekly updates here on the Bailey Blog.

Bandsman Custom 25″ Scale 24 stainless steel frets

Eb 10 gauge strings

Mahogany neck with black pinstripes

44mm width at nut

Mahogany body with Buckeye Burl cap and black pinstripe under cap

Ebony fretboard, Headstock veneer and truss rod cover Star Inlay on headstock

Wilkinson trem

Locking tuners

Bareknuckle humbuckers

Black Chrome Hardware (correction)

Your Turn?

Would you like to design your own custom guitar? Sign up TODAY for LIFETIME ACCESS to our unique online course – money back guarantee!

Coming Soon !..Freshers week for The Student Guide and our Online Courses

Coming Soon !..Freshers week for The Student Guide and our Online Courses

by | Sep 23, 2014 | ,

Design Your Own Guitar!

It’s that time of year again…across the world students are embarking on their chosen courses of study…and looking for ways to spend their time (and money!)

Here at Baileys, all our customers are students … hoovering up as much guitar building knowledge as is possible, and we try hard to help that happen. This year we have launched our first on-line course ‘Design Your Own Guitar’ and for the first time we have linked up with The Student Guide to offer all their subscribers a special discount when it is published on 6th October 2104

CLICK HERE if you have come from the flashing code on our Ad in the Guide

Put the voucher code (see real advert) into REDEEM VOUCHER box, to claim your discount and enrol for a lifetime access to the How to Design your Own Guitar course. Our students also get discounts from suppliers of parts & materials…

Here’s a sneak preview of the ad…(minus the voucher bit..sorry!)

The Student Guide Ad

The Student Guide Ad

The Student Guide claims to be “the world’s ultimate magazine for students” and has all sorts of info for people starting a University or college journey. Written by people who have all been students, it literally covers everything, and includes discount offers for many a useful thing…as well as lots of information (see below ).

It can be bought as a magazine (£6.99) or digital app (£1.99) or anyone can subscribe to the site and get a free 2014 digital version when it launches on the 6th of October

So, if you know any students new or old, then please pass this on…but anyone can subscribe to the Guide, find our advert and get the voucher code

If you are interested in guitar building but can’t be a full time student…check out our short courses which we run here at our beautiful workshop in South Ayrshire… we are already setting dates for 2015/2016

But if you are simply a student of life … and like the idea of bringing the learning into your own home…

…watch this space for more on-line courses coming soon!

Bailey Online courses :

How to Design a guitar

Build Your First Guitar – coming soon

Bailey Workshop Courses :

Design| Build a First Guitar| Custom Guitar| Build an Acoustic| Build your own Bass| Any other guitar inc a Ukulele

all courses from scratch…NO KITS

The Student Guide covers :

FRESHERS – How to survive the first year with tips on everything from fancy dress to drinking games.
ENTERTAINMENT – The best student music, film and TV, with interviews from the top stars.
STUDENT STYLE – Students need to look good, so we have the best in student fashion, beauty and grooming.
LIFE AT UNI – Everything a student needs to know about education, finance, careers, accommodation, sex, dating, food and drink.
CHARGED – All the latest technology, games, websites and apps students will need at university, including the latest headphones, laptops, tablets, cameras and gadgets.
TRAVEL – We profile ten cites in the UK, and ten countries worldwide that students can visit for culture, partying and relaxing.

 

New Signature Baritone for Preston Reed

New Signature Baritone for Preston Reed

by | Sep 17, 2014 | , , , ,

Tap Testing wood for Preston Reed‘s new signature custom baritone acoustic guitar

preston reed tap testing wood

Tap Testing

Preston visited the workshop this week to choose some wood for the next project.

We are basing it on the Signature Baritone I made for him last time but with a few changes.

He loves the warm rich sound of the mahogany and Cedar but wants something with a little ‘more punch’ for some of his more aggressive tunes and maybe a little more exotic.

We chose Sitka Spruce for the soundboard and Cocobolo for the back and sides.

In keeping with Preston’s green ideology we are using reclaimed mahogany for the neck and fairly traded African Blackwood for the fretboard.

Thanks to David Dyke for finding and sending us the most amazing piece of Cocobolo for the back and sides…it not only looks totally stunning but when we tap tested it sounded to me like thunder followed by an earthquake.

I expect this will be one of the most beautiful instruments I have made to date – in all respects. Cannot wait to get started but will have to wait a few weeks for the wood to acclimatize to the workshop.

If you haven’t yet seen Preston play his own design Bailey Signature Baritone & Jumbo acoustics, then get along to one of his 4 upcoming UK gigs ….or if you are across the pond you’ll be able to catch Preston on his East and West USA tour in October and November

And if you can’t get to any gigs then check out his most recent album “In Here Out There”, which was composed and recorded here in Ayrshire using both guitars.

 

Build Your Own Custom Guitar – BYO-338 – Tim Jones

Build Your Own Custom Guitar – BYO-338 – Tim Jones

by | Sep 9, 2014 | ,

Help for Heroes

BYO338 Tim Jones 28/5/13

Tim was a soldier on active duty in Afghanistan when he was very seriously injured in an accident and almost died. He was immediately flown home and woke up in a British hospital. Thanks to this rapid response, the efforts of the doctors and nurses plus the miracle of modern medicine, his life was saved and after nearly a year of rehabilitation he was up and about looking for something different to get his head into. Before joining up he was a gigging musician and he had always had a notion to build a guitar…

That is how Tim came to be on our Build Your own Custom Guitar course last year as part of his rehab and re-training, partly funded by the Help for Heroes programme – this scheme helps soldiers to build on old skills and find new ones- and Tim chose guitar making and plans to create his own workshop in the wilds of East Anglia. Before he came here we discussed what he wanted to learn, as well as his physical needs – not everyone that comes to the Bailey workshop has the same physical abilities but we try hard to create a space and way of working that works for everyone.

He knew what he needed to learn and so together we worked out the best course for him, and the best build. That included some spraying lessons – although not enough to spray his own BYO guitar . He built an SG style electric with 3 Bareknuckle pickups, a Bigsby Trem and a flame maple carve top

Guitar building, re-training and recovering fitness are all a slow process, but seem to work well together – Tim is one of the smiliest and positive people we have had here

Whatever our students do in the “real world” gets left at the door …. whatever age, background, experience and job… in the workshop we are all the same…joined  by a love of music and the smell of wood

Those of you who have already built know how demanding it can be sometimes – both physically and mentally – but its also a great escape from everything outside…. many of the people that come here have stressful and pressured jobs and tell us that building a guitar is the only time they can truly shut everything else out. For one builder it starts as soon as he gets in the car!

In Tim’s own words:

“..its been EPIC…I will be back..”

Like him, we were very glad he was here.

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