b'to Keith Beardmore who has taken many of myFyldes have stood up well and played their part photographs and drunk much of my whisky overin a huge amount of music. I recently saw three the years; it was in for repair after an aeroplane satprofessional players on stage together, each with on it and was hanging up after being lacquered. Itone of those early guitars. Total age over 100 years.was still sticky, it didnt have any strings, and it wasThe guitars, not the players.stolen in broad daylight from just near where I wasWith the next variation of the Oberon body style, working. What a strange thief. I will still recogniseI didnt just change the body timber; I changed the the guitar, and a reward is still on offer. soundboard as well, so we had a Mahogany and More models, more names Cedar guitar. I didnt want to use an over strong name because I wanted to keep Oberon as head When I started Fylde I had a lot to learn, and I hadof the clan, and turning the pages of my Compleat to learn quickly, its all very well making a mistakeWorks, I chose Olivia - the Noblewoman from when you are working by yourself on one guitar atTwelfth Night. There was no particular match a time, but if you get something wrong when youbetween the guitar and the name, other than I are making dozens of guitars with several staff,wanted a gentle character, and the story of the play the consequences will be a little different. Up tohelped me with a name for another guitar, which that point I had made less than twenty guitars, bycame along later.myself, entirely by hand, not even using an electricOlivia was being courted by the local Duke - Orsino, drill. There was no one to tell me how to go aboutwho sent love notes to her via his serving man making larger numbers, it all had to be learnt byCesario. The messages didnt work; in fact Olivia trial and error, so I kept the designs simple, andfell in love with Cesario instead, which was a little because I was trying to keep up with demand, Iawkward for Cesario, because he was actually a girl never did get chance to make many refinements,called Viola, dressed up as a boy to get the job. That everything was fairly basic. If Id had maybe anwas bad enough, but Orsino found himself also extra hundred years experience - well, now I wouldstrangely attracted to his own serving man, which be quite old.Today things are a lot different, butof course disturbed him greatly until he found out nevertheless, I am quite proud that those early Pete Townshend Dave BronzePete owns two Ariels and describedDave Bronze is particularly well known Jethro Tull them as his favourite acoustic guitars.for his work with Eric Clapton and Tom He once phoned me at work while I hadJonesI have connections with Ian Andersoncustomers with me. There is nothingI met Dave when he worked with Eric and Jethro Tull via several routes. Ianmore guaranteed to make an impressionBibb.It seemed obvious to me that he has bought a guitar and I think twothan to put the phone down, turn toreally needed an acoustic bass guitar. I mandolins; Barry Barlow was one of mya customer and say That was Petemade his first one in the same way that I partners in the Pack Leader venture;Townshend, I told him to call back laterhave all Magician Basses, but after a few Tony Matthews was his bass playerbecause I was with somebody important years I made another one with a spruce who became my sales manager. MartinI didnt actually tell him to call back. Imsoundboard rather than cedar, and Barre, has an Ariel, a Pack Leader, andnot stupid. realised it would suit Dave rather better, a bouzouki. Dave Pegg a mandola and aso we swapped. bouzouki.Ryan ODonnell has a custom guitar.In return I have most of their records. I think thats fair.41'