Fylde Guitars is an English manufacturer of handmade fretted musical instruments.
Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars with a Magician Guitar
The company was founded in 1973 by (until then amateur) luthier Roger Bucknall, and remains under his personal control. Originally located in The Fylde, in 1996 the workshop moved to the Lake District, and is today located in Penrith, Cumbria. The firm has four employees including Roger Bucknall.
Roger Bucknall was born in Selly Oak, Birmingham in 1950, studied at Bournville Boys Technical School. He read for an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at Nottingham University before working for Racal Thermionic in Hythe, Hampshire, as a technical author, then mechanical designer for industrial tape recorders from 1971 to 1973.
Fylde Guitars was formed in 1973. Moved to Fylde, Lancashire and now resides in Penrith, Cumbria.
Snookeredit
From 1981 to 1992, Bucknall indulged his engineering brain in the manufacture of snooker cues and cases. He formed Barracuda Sports, invented the "push on" cue extension and the extruded aluminium cue case. He worked with all the top players of the time, particularly Ray Reardon. Bucknall sold the business in 1992 and relocated to Penrith to re-vitalise the instrument making business[1]
Present dayedit
Today, Fylde Instruments can command high prices and all instruments are hand-made using traditional techniques, while using modern machinery for some of the operations.
Although there is a range of standard instruments that the business builds for customers most of Bucknall's output is a one-off custom guitars. The business has been scaled down to accommodate this approach. Bucknall has two assistants to help create instruments for some of the world's leading players.[2]
Technical, innovation and awardsedit
Roger Bucknall has been credited[by whom?] with the original design of the "A frame" guitar bracing, and is an advocate of the zero fret principle on guitar fingerboards. All of his instruments have been developed in collaboration with professional players.
Bucknall is the only UK guitar maker to be awarded the Acoustic Guitar magazine Gold Award in 2000. He was filmed for the US NAMM oral history program[3] and he is one of only two UK makers to be featured in the American publication Fretboard Journal,[4] the other being his friend Stefan Sobell.
Roger Bucknall Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2011)
April 05, 2024
fylde, guitars, english, manufacturer, handmade, fretted, musical, instruments, roger, bucknall, with, magician, guitarthe, company, founded, 1973, until, then, amateur, luthier, roger, bucknall, remains, under, personal, control, originally, located, fylde, 1. Fylde Guitars is an English manufacturer of handmade fretted musical instruments Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars with a Magician GuitarThe company was founded in 1973 by until then amateur luthier Roger Bucknall and remains under his personal control Originally located in The Fylde in 1996 the workshop moved to the Lake District and is today located in Penrith Cumbria The firm has four employees including Roger Bucknall Their products include acoustic guitars classical guitars acoustic bass guitars mandolins mandolas bouzoukis and citterns including some innovative designs All their instruments are acoustic with electric pickups as an option Contents 1 Company history 2 Snooker 3 Present day 4 Technical innovation and awards 5 References 6 External linksCompany history editRoger Bucknall was born in Selly Oak Birmingham in 1950 studied at Bournville Boys Technical School He read for an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at Nottingham University before working for Racal Thermionic in Hythe Hampshire as a technical author then mechanical designer for industrial tape recorders from 1971 to 1973 Fylde Guitars was formed in 1973 Moved to Fylde Lancashire and now resides in Penrith Cumbria Snooker editFrom 1981 to 1992 Bucknall indulged his engineering brain in the manufacture of snooker cues and cases He formed Barracuda Sports invented the push on cue extension and the extruded aluminium cue case He worked with all the top players of the time particularly Ray Reardon Bucknall sold the business in 1992 and relocated to Penrith to re vitalise the instrument making business 1 Present day editToday Fylde Instruments can command high prices and all instruments are hand made using traditional techniques while using modern machinery for some of the operations Although there is a range of standard instruments that the business builds for customers most of Bucknall s output is a one off custom guitars The business has been scaled down to accommodate this approach Bucknall has two assistants to help create instruments for some of the world s leading players 2 Technical innovation and awards editRoger Bucknall has been credited by whom with the original design of the A frame guitar bracing and is an advocate of the zero fret principle on guitar fingerboards All of his instruments have been developed in collaboration with professional players Bucknall is the only UK guitar maker to be awarded the Acoustic Guitar magazine Gold Award in 2000 He was filmed for the US NAMM oral history program 3 and he is one of only two UK makers to be featured in the American publication Fretboard Journal 4 the other being his friend Stefan Sobell Bucknall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to guitar making music and heritage crafts 5 6 References edit Bucknall Roger 2013 Wood Sweat and Tears Guitar man who put Fylde on the map Blackpool Gazette NAMM Oral History Program NAMM Warren Brad Fall 2007 Fylde Guitars interview The Fretboard Journal Keepsake magazine for guitar collectors Fretboard Journal Issue 7 Archived from the original on 2014 07 24 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a volume has extra text help Honour for legendary guitar maker Roger Bucknall BBC News 30 December 2015 No 61450 The London Gazette Supplement 30 December 2015 p N17 External links edithttp www fyldeguitars com Company home page BBC Fylde Guitars Roger Bucknall looks back at 40 years of acoustic adventures https www bbc co uk news uk england cumbria 25428665 Roger Bucknall Interview NAMM Oral History Library 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fylde Guitars amp oldid 1178604002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
