Northworthy guitars

[Steve Hayward]

I've heard a couple of very glowing reports of Northworthy Guitars recently.

I would like to hear a couple, in particular the Ellastone Special and
Ellastone Special with a Cedar top.

The problem is, where can I hear them?

I mean, who on earth would buy a new Hi-Fi without hearing it first?

[No Busking]

Steve...

Our own Alan Marshall is the maker of Northworthy guitars...he lives
somewhere close to Belper in the UK. Alan recently had surgery, and I
haven't seen him around for the last couple of weeks...but if you drop me an
email, I'd be happy to send you his address.

If you're in the UK, I'm sure he can arrange for you to hear one of his
marvelous instruments. If you're in the US, it'll be pretty tough...I asked
him if there were any in this country, and I believe he said only one that
he knows of.

I heard several Northworthy guitars at UK3 (I was in the UK on business and
was able to attend). I fell in love with them, and have since started
corresponding with Alan about having a custom guitar made...I hope to see
him in the autumn to pick out woods..

He's a really nice man, and he makes great guitars.
--
Michael Pugh
"Steve Hayward" <st...@narnian.clara.net> wrote in message
news:5UVi5.6985$_8.8...@nnrp3.clara.net...

[Steve Hayward]

Thanks Michael.

I've tried calling him several times over the last two weeks but had no
luck, it was then I heard he'd been in hospital for a hernia operation.

I live just South West of London so it would be a day-out in order to take a
drive up to see Alan.

All the information I've got so far is from http://www.northworthy.com

"No Busking" <nobu...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:8mhbtn$7di$1...@bob.news.rcn.net...

[Bob Dorgan]

Steve Hayward wrote:
>
> Thanks Michael.
>
> I've tried calling him several times over the last two weeks but had no
> luck, it was then I heard he'd been in hospital for a hernia operation.
>
> I live just South West of London so it would be a day-out in order to take a
> drive up to see Alan.
>

It's well worth the trip.
Alan is a very talented luthier.
Bob Dorgan

[Steve Hayward]

Thanks Bob.
The only question I would have now is, if Alan's guitars are so good, why
are they so ridiculously cheap?

I was willing to spend £3000 (after $ to £ conversion) on an Olson or a
Collings from the US. On the other hand, maybe even a Martin J-40.

How can Alan charge £1600 for his most expensive guitar? Especially in the
UK where everything is twice as expensive as the US?

Thanks

Steve

p.s. Would Alan build me a jumbo?

"Bob Dorgan" <d77...@epix.net> wrote in message
news:398C47...@epix.net...

[Bob Dorgan]

Steve Hayward wrote:
>
> Thanks Bob.
> The only question I would have now is, if Alan's guitars are so good, why
> are they so ridiculously cheap?
>
> I was willing to spend £3000 (after $ to £ conversion) on an Olson or a
> Collings from the US. On the other hand, maybe even a Martin J-40.
>
> How can Alan charge £1600 for his most expensive guitar? Especially in the
> UK where everything is twice as expensive as the US?

I can only guess at the answer, but it's an educated guess.
Collings and Olson are both well known names with established market
niches.
Alan is not well known, nor has someone like James Taylor chosen one of
Alan's guitars as his own personal choice.
I'm sure that all of the well known builders were not immediately
successful financially. Most got to where they are after years of
building and selling their products for less than market value.
Very, very few luthiers are fetching the price of an Olson. The ones
that are, developed a reputation for quality over time.

> Thanks
>
> Steve
>
> p.s. Would Alan build me a jumbo?

Good question.
Why not ask him?
Good luck and I hope you find your guitar, whatever it says on the
headstock.
Bob Dorgan

[No Busking]

Steve Haward writes:
> The only question I would have now is, if Alan's guitars are so good, why
> are they so ridiculously cheap?
>
> I was willing to spend £3000 (after $ to £ conversion) on an Olson or a
> Collings from the US. On the other hand, maybe even a Martin J-40.

Careful...

Without Allen involved in the string, I'm hesitant to say much about
pricing...but if you're putting together a custom guitar, you're probably
going to wind up with a few options that will bump the price a little..

Having said that, I have to say that Northworthy instruments are excellent
values in the US or UK...based on the rudimentary research I've done.
Bottom line, though, the price didn't make much difference. I fell in love
with several of his guitars (it's your fault, Shirley), found the fit, feel,
and finish to be of an excellent standard, and found him to be one of the
most pleasant people I've ever met. After I got back to the states and
mulled it over...it didn't seem right to pass up an opportunity to have an
instrument made by such a man.

So now I'm going to take the plunge...somehow I feel that it's a slippery
slope that I'm descending. I've recently decided to attend Healdsburg next
summer....

Oh, what have I done...

--
Michael Pugh

[Gorblimey]

Steve Hayward <st...@narnian.clara.net> wrote in message

news:2vkj5.9432$671.1...@nnrp4.clara.net...
>
> Thanks Bob.

> The only question I would have now is, if Alan's guitars are so good, why
> are they so ridiculously cheap?

The basic models are cheap by luthier's standards, but I'm sure Alan will be
more than happy to make you a very expensive custom one.

You will notice from the website that Alan makes his guitars from what is
available unless you order something specific. If you want a Brazilian with
an Englemann top you'll find the price gets to £2k+ very quickly.

I can also recommend a trip to see and hear some of his guitars - they are
super. I'm sure he'll build you a jumbo too - he's building an electric for
me which is basically a Suhr copy with a Gibson 335 profile neck so he's not
restricted to what you see on the website.

Pete

[Andrew Howell]

Northworthy may not be expensive guitars but they are very good. I have only played them in my local store, but I was impressed. A parlour guitar
was outstanding and was bought by Shirley (who is often to be found on RMMGA). I also had a long go with an OM sized guitar - spruce and rosewood -
this didn't grap me as good but was probably better than any other similar sized guitar at this price. For example, those of you who are into UK
luthiers - I prefer Northworthy to Manson.

---
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

www.ecotrend.net

[GmagicB]

in article memo.2000080...@ecotrend.compulink.co.uk, Andrew Howell
at andy....@ecotrend.net wrote:

> I prefer Northworthy to Manson.

This is a good benchmark for me, as I had a Manson Magpie for a while,
several years ago. The tone was lovely, but the guitar wouldn't stay in
tune. I never did figure out if it was the neck being too thin, or that
perhaps it just didn't relate too well to the Texas humidity, but it just
didn't work out for me. It was great sounding when it was in tune, but I
couldn't get through a tune without it going out.

I'd be keen to hear more about what in particular you preferred about the
Northworthy., i.e. tone, workmanship, etc.

All the best,
Magic.

"If they fear you, they will not attack."
- from Sun Tzu

[isi...@hotmail.com]

Several years ago I went into Vintage & rare guitars in Bath here in the UK to buy myself a Martin acoustic & ended up buying a Northworthy Ashover model, I’d never heard of Northworthy guitars before but playing several vintage Martin guitars I was won over by the Northworthy & I wouldn’t part with it for all the Martins in the world.

[hub...@ccanoemail.ca]

Yes you would.
John T.

[Steven Bornfeld]

LOL!

[David Cunniffe]

Hi Steve

I have a Northworthy Ashover Custom, Tasmanian’s Blackwood back and side, spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fret board and jumbo frets. It’s “000” Martin size and has the volume and output of a dreadnought. The only guitar I have that projects better is my Martin J40 and that’s much bigger. Wonderful guitar.
Regards
Dave