ABOUT
My Story
I specialise in crafting instruments that are the result of a life story. My instruments are made with the same care and attention to detail that my grandfather and father used in their cabinet making workshops. I still use their tools, some of which are over a hundred years old.
I strive to capture their spirit of craftsmanship and excellence in every instrument I create.
Every guitar is unique and I take pride to ensure that your Howard Guitar will be a beautiful and lasting addition to your musical journey.
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Design Concepts
My interest in luthier was fuelled peering through a workshop window on the way home from school in Ely in the UK at lutes being made and at the violins being built by a neighbour who hung them up to dry on the washing line!
Fast forward nearly forty years and I find myself living in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand building guitars.
My journey as a luthier can best be described as 30 in the dreaming, 5 years in the planning and now 15 years in the execution building bespoke classical and acoustic guitars.
Howard Guitars is committed to creating beautiful, high-quality instruments with a sound that will stand the test of time.
My aim is to do justice to the materials I use to achieve the best aesthetic and acoustic performance possible.
Design inspiration comes from the tonewood I use; no two sets of wood and therefore instruments are the same. I let the beauty of the wood speak both literally and metaphorically, creating a unique and special playing experience for each musician.