b'of instruments with small numbers of staff, almostmade by hand by genuinely skilled people offer entirely by hand and I do think that perhaps Isomething special, a confidence that the maker is should not have spent all that money, just think ofconstantly striving to improve, that nothing has the wood I could have bought instead. been fixed forever in order to rationalise it, or even Technology has changed guitar making worldwide.worse, quality compromised so that the instrument CNC, Laser Cutting and UV finishing are usedis easier to make. I think there is something rather now by most of the larger companies and even bywarming about your guitar neck being shaped by individual makers. They can produce perfect worksomeone who is humming a tune, or has thoughts time after time, but they present several dilemmas.of his children or his home mingling with the How can you make a guitar suited to one player?movement of his hands. I also think I might start Where is the value when a perfect inlay madewriting romantic poetry. from exquisite material has been cut entirely by aAnother part of the same dilemma is, of course, that machine, at a lower cost than the hand applicationthe very cheapest instruments are also made by of a printed transfer? Where is the value whenhand, but this time using very cheap labour in the every guitar neck is exactly the same, or whenthird world, where people may not be humming a the larger part of the purchase price is not for thetune, although to be fair, everyone always seems craftsmans wages and the rare materials but is forto be smiling. I dont claim to have any answersI the costs of the technology? . just go my own way and do the best I can.I dont think there is a real answer to theseIt is very important to me that I develop my own questions. I certainly dont see the need to doideas and contribute something to the acoustic everything the hard way. I am an engineer, and Iguitar world.I certainly dont believe that am always looking for improvements in design anddevelopment of the guitar has stopped, it will in methods. I have a lot of machines, many of whichcontinue for as long as makers are trying new ideas I have designed and built myself, but they only runand refining their skills.for seconds or minutes at a time, the vast majorityEvery professional maker should do things their of my work is by hand.I do like to think that thingsown way, I dont like to see someone simply copy Skills shared: Matt FalderMatt got the job with me because he hadSkills shared: Colin Burnsmade a mandolin by himself. He had aSome of the guys who worked at Fylde Instruments managed to make a slight swerve particular interest in electric guitars, andand continue in a similar line of work He became a repairer at Andys guitars before an I never did quite manage to knock thateleven year stint as guitar technician for The Kinks.Then thirteen years with Beautiful out of him, so he started making his ownSouth, some with Dexys Midnight Runners, Manic Street Preachers and Steve Hackett. electrics for a while, and they were ratherThen he got himself a triple distinction in Music Technology, and a degree in Media good, but he has now seen the light andPractice, Now he runs a guitar and repair shop in London.I do wish he would do is making proper instruments again. Onesomething with his life rather than just lazing around.day at a time, Matt, you will recover.IfIts largely Roger Bucknalls fault. I blame him for all of it! Bless him.you feel the need to use blue paint again, and need someone to talk to. Most of what you hear about crew and musicians after hours and backstage and off duty is all true101'