Oh now this is a pleasure - I've been looking forward to seeing what the next generation of Ervin Somogyi's acolytes has been getting up to and this Modified Dreadnought by Louis Manteau is proof positive that Ervin's benediction continues…

Well look at this - Martin Guitars have refined and rejuvenated their 16 series of USA made acoustic guitars and I was invited to Dawson's Music on London's Denmark Street to give them a cheeky rummage. 

I really enjoyed my…

Well this is joyful! The wonderfully talented Sam Carter visited the studio to talk about the work of iconoclastic folk guitar supremo Nic Jones and in particular the album Penguin Eggs. 

Sam Carter is a BBC Folk award winning singer…

What a pleasure to spend some time with this new B24L model by luthier Virgile Pilon (Blind Guitars) of France. 

The B24L is a new dreadnought style take on the original B24 and in this bespoke commission for a private…

I was spectacularly unprepared for this moment - just before my interview with author Adam Foster about his new book Nick Drake: The Recordings I was granted a moment with Nick's guitar - a Martin 00028 that he played on…

Well this is a moment I will never forget - The Great Martin Carthy (don't call him a legend) allowed me and my mate Jon Wilks to spend a moment with his iconic acoustic guitars - 

We kick off with…

What a joy to speak with legendary folk musician Martin Simpson about a new colour to his guitar paint box - a Turnstone TM model - bespoke made for Martin in Mexican Royal Ebony (Katalox) and Adirondack Spruce at the …

So Here's the thing - do we really need one guitar that will do it all or is there joy to be found in an instrument that excels in a specific role? What about if it's got all flames up…

Daniel Marcus Clark is a true gentleman troubadour. You may have seen him supporting Canadian jazz legend Diana Krall around the UK recently.

Daniel's new album 181 is a gorgeous collection of musical vignettes that involved writing a song every…

This is my new to me Gibson Custom Shop Limited Edition J45 12-Fret - Gibson made 44 of these back in 2017 - I don't know what happened to the other 43 but this one is mine! 

Here are some…

Join me in Osaka Japan to check out some of the finest acoustic guitars in the world! We have exquisite luthier-made instruments as well as vintage beauties - I had a superb time and it is a pleasure to share…

Folk legend Martin Simpson returns for a look at the work of a luthier who has given him a voice for most of his career - the mighty Stefan Sobell of Northumbria UK.

In this video we take a look…

As a big fan of Ben Harper I was very intrigued to hear about his new signature model from Taylor Guitars - The Ben Harper Gold Label 512e - especially considering that it was part of the new Gold Label…

When Rory Dowling of Taran Guitars (Scotland) got in touch to tell me about his gorgeous new parlour guitar The Meilein I paid attention - I mean, just look at that!

I've long loved Rory's immaculate work and I do…

What a pleasure to film this exquisite Michael Baskin  JM model acoustic guitar in Osaka Japan.

Not for the first time a handmade guitar from an S-tier luthier has proved to be the perfect antidote to jet lag! 

This Bashkin…

Author and accidental guitar collector John Stubbings is back with a companion piece to his exquisite book The Devil Is In It - The Guitar Detective!

The Guitar Detective is a non-fiction novel in the tradition of Truman Capote's…

Life On The Fretboard is back and my guest is folk music icon Martin Simpson 

As a singer/songwriter he is a masterful storyteller - as a guitarist he has proved that the acoustic guitar can be an emotive and lyrical…

Do we need acoustic amps? Like, an actual acoustic combo - are we still doing that? According to Taylor Guitars and their new spin-off Circa 74 - yes, yes we do. 

Available in mahogany or koa this aesthetically cuddly amp…

I've always made an effort to bring my audience cool and unusual guitars but I have to admit that until recently I had overlooked Finland as an epicentre of acoustic goodness - all that changed recently with a visit to…

I've been looking forward to a proper chat with the one and only Mr Andy McKee for some time now and it was a joy to welcome him to my studio during his recent tour of Europe. 

It was an…

Ever since my first encounter with a Blind Guitars instrument I have been fascinated by the Nouvelle Vintage aesthetic that luthier Virgile Pilon brings to his instruments. 

It was a pleasure to visit the Blind Guitars workshop in the picturesque…

It's always a joy to play a Greenfield guitar and when I received the invitation to visit Michael Greenfield's Montreal workshop and check out this presentation grade Koa masterpiece I just had to accept!

The Greenfield G2 model is a…

What happens when I encounter a REALLY great guitar? 

Last week I got a beautiful reminder of the effect of a truly superb instrument when I was invited to showcase a presentation grade G2 model by Michael Greenfield at his…

Why would anyone choose a one pickup guitar when the world is full of instruments with two, three or even more pickups? Well, a few minutes with a Fender Custom Shop Esquire reveals a lot!

Thank you to my friends…