Martin Simpson

Martin is enjoying his new Fylde and getting his trademark sound through a combination of Highlander and McIntyre Feather pickups.

Link to video

This is one of those guitars where the note "swells" after the string has been played, which I love to hear. To me, this is proof that the balance between tone and strength is just right in the guitar structure. Too strong, and the tone doesn't develop quickly enough before the next note covers it. Too weak, and the tone is just volume and bass, with no sweetness. Martin and I are both very pleased and are discussing variations on the theme for future models.

Gareth's output seemed to slow down for a while, and it's great to see him back again. He's a great player and specialises in making the music "visible" for those who want to learn. Excellent stuff. Link to video

Tina, The Musical

One of our quite frequent trips to London, this time to put youngest daughter on an aeroplane to the colonies. I'm hoping she will discover gold or something,

We met up with Dave Holmes, and Marco Gerace, both guitarists with the show, who took us to the Hospital Club for dinner, it's a venue and dining club for people in the Creative arts. Nice to slum it occasionally.

Then we saw the show, it's quite astonishing, very high energy. Adrienne Warren sings 25 songs, sometimes twice a day, and Dave gets to rock out alongside her.

Then we went back stage to see the set up there. The band is actually on stage throughout the show, which is unusual for a musical, but you can't actually see them all the time.

Then Tina took me by the hand, to rapturous applause.

Donal Clancy

I found this under "Fylde Guitar" on YouTube, a lovely surprise.

Link to video

I contacted Donal and heard the whole story. The guitar belonged to his dad, the one and only Liam Clancy, who obtained it through Archie Fisher, and thinking hard, I do recall that happening, probably around 1976. As you can see from the photos, the guitar has taken a bit of a battering, and Donal is planning to bring it back for a little attention. Then we'll get some more great music!

Black Leonardo still for sale!

Fylde Explorer for sale

Something different. I thought somebody would snap this up, but no, maybe its Brexit or something.

It was made for the band "Xentrix"

See more photographs here

I'm asking £1500, but I'm open to offers. It's taking up space where I could be putting more wood.

Carved serendipity

In 1987, my good friends Howard Lees and John Hobson wanted to make an album. I think the name for the album came first, and sparked the carving, but I'm not quite sure. The hand (it's my hand) is carved from ash, not a recognised wood for carving, I'm never one to take the easy option.

When Bireli Lagrene launched his latest CD, I didn't notice the connection at first, but then John Hobson sent me the reverse side of the album, and the connection was immediate. I don't think Bireli's thumb is stuck on with plasticene though.

Will McNicol says the chord is "A demented", he is probably right, but I played it 30 years before Birelii. Adam Palma tells me Bireli knows all the chords. I thought that was Guitar George.

Hobson and Lees

They deserve a shout out for that.

Link to video

Unusually, Howard takes the lead part to start with. Do you notice his thumb moving around? Plasticene, that's where I got the idea.

Will McNicol

Elephant and Piano