http://www.darkmatterguitars.com Handmade acoustic and electric guitars in the UK Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:44:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The shed arrived a couple of weeks ago and work has continued since then. The building is 6ft by 8ft floor space, 8ft high at one side, dropping to 7ft4 at the other - lots of room! Two of the walls have large windows on to allow lots of all ... http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/work-on-the-spray-booth-continues/ First of all I must mention that after talks with my local chamber of commerce I've been confirmed for a small business "kick start" grant, as well as a grant from the Prince's Trust. I'm over the moon with this result, and I'm starting to spend the money on the ... http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/work-on-the-new-spray-booth-starts/ This weekend brought round the 4th Jazz on a Winter's Weekend festival in Southport. 3 days of world class Jazz later, and I'm knackered! I was displaying some instruments at the festival, and was lucky enough to have Russell Malone (Saturday night's headliner) stop at the stand and play some of ... http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/what-a-weekend/ The semi-hollow has has it's first couple of coats and the wood's really starting to shine - I'm very happy with the way this one's turning out. Preparations are also underway for the "Jazz on a Winter's Weekend" festival in Southport at which I will have a stall displaying some of ... http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/in-the-booth/ Well this things moved along quite a bit! I've had my first play on it today and I'm happy. Now for a lot of sanding/shaping, and some spraying. I'll be in the booth on Tuesday Andy http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/the-first-stringwire-up/ The top's ready to go on, now the "F" hole is cut. On this picture the top is still about 1/4 oversize all round. Andy http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/tops-done-ish/ I spent this afternoon hollowing out the wings and thicknessing the neck section which runs through the body. And after tea, I glued the wings on. I may even have the top on tomorrow... Andy http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/semi-hollow-progress-a-dusty-day/ As I'm going to have a stall at my uncle's "Jazz on a winter weekend" festival in February I thought it would be appropriate to make an instrument suited to this style of music. The guitar will have a 27" scale length, EMG85 neck pickup and a graphtec ghost piezo bridge. ... http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/semi-hollow-jazzer/ This one's been in the pipeline for a while, but I've actually done something today! I finished the back bracing and got the back on. It's looking good! Andy http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/an-om-for-my-brother/ It's done, at last! Just some photos from the phone at the moment. Expect to see high quality photos and a showcase page for this guitar soon. Andy http://www.darkmatterguitars.com/diaries/seven-string-fanned-fret-guitar-finished/