It's always a joy to spend time with my friend John Stubbings - John is the author of one of the most beautiful books on the acoustic guitar that I have ever read The Devil Is In it - if…

The Modified Dreadnought acoustic guitar was created by the luthier Ervin Somogyi (Oakland, California) in the late 1970s at the request of several artists recording for Will Ackerman's nascent Windham Hill record label - most notably Daniel Hecht who…

While trawling my archive of hours of raw footage from the first season of Luthier Stories I came across this clip where legendary guitar builder Ervin Somogyi talks about the creation of an unusual instrument made with decayed woods and…

Here's something a little different! This recording was inspired by a voice message sent to me by my friend Brian Truesby  which I believe neatly encapsulates the thought process that goes into every video I make.

I know I won't…

It is a question that comes up with unfailing regularity wherever acoustic guitarists congregate. Inevitably one, perhaps a little bolder than the rest, will offer an opinion on the efficacy of Martin's venerable dreadnought design when pressed into service as…

It has been several years since I first explored the topic of nailcare for the acoustic guitarist in a video. Many things have evolved since then and my approach to nail care and tone production is no exception. 

In this…

Linda Manzer's Wedge design is an elegant ergonomic solution to the challenge of playing a large-bodied acoustic guitar.

Not to be confused with The Manzer Wedgie - a playground manoeuvre also invented by Linda some years previously - The…

Recent bouts of pondering coupled with conversations with friends led to a very real and pressing need to explore the tonal implications of flatwound strings on a flat top guitar.  Because why not?

Obviously a set of flats isn't going…

I'd like to share this new piece with you - It's called Birdseye and while it's still a work in progress to some extent, I managed to pull off a take during some long-overdue time spent with loved ones in…

Maple is a wood that divides opinion amongst acoustic guitarists with almost surgical precision. "It's too bright, There's no bass, it's too trebly, it's sterile" etc are accusations often levelled at this superb wood. 

Cheerfully I say unto you "Bollocks". 

…

I'm very happy to present the first episode of Guitar.com's guide to alternate tunings for acoustic guitar in association with Elixir Strings!

Yes, I have been a little quiet here, the main reason is that with the easing of the…

I have made no secret of my admiration for the work of luthier Michihiro Matsuda (Oakland CA). Since first meeting him in 2009 I have been regularly left dumbfounded by the extraordinary elegance and startling lines of his instruments. As…

Practice - it's a huge topic for every musician and everyone approaches it in their own way. 

I'm often asked to recommend ways to make practice more effective. I have found that nothing beats discipline, intent, focus and a little…

Ok here we go! Quilted Mahogany from The Tree is the rarest and most expensive tone wood in the world. Its striking figure and rich colour makes The Tree immediately identifiable but what is it like to own a guitar…

My friend Alan Gogoll came out of nowhere (well, Australia) with his astonishing Bell Harmonic technique and promptly became king of Spotify, Lord of Instagram and Thrice Blessed keeper of the Algorithm. With an audience that numbers in the millions…

Ordering your first custom guitar is an incredibly exciting experience as well as a considerable investment in time, emotions and money. With this video I want to give you the tools to get it right by asking the sort of…

This is a question I am often asked - how much does the signature style of a guitar maker differ? Well, I just filmed two instruments by Rosie Heydenrych of Turnstone Guitars with contrasting personalities that still retain the Turnstone…

The Virtuous circle is from my debut album Vetiver and it is a piece that has a unique hold over me.

Part dream state, part letter it changes each time I play it. The beginning is deliberately tentative, even faltering…

As promised, here is the first Accessories Review video of the year!

We all know that a good winder can be your best friend when you experience a snapped string but it would be stretching the facts absurdly to describe…

African Blackwood! Heavy, powerful, rare, eye-wateringly expensive and deeply elegant but surely there is more to this exotic tone wood than just a Brazilian Rosewood substitute? 

Delicious...

With a ferocious Casimi C3 Signature fan fret in hand I explore some…

I have been a heartfelt endorser of Elixir Strings for years and when they invited me to take part in a long-distance collaboration, featuring artists from all over the world, I was delighted to accept!

Octet is a composition by…

Sometimes you just have to play it all out. This was one of those times. I'm playing a beautiful Supro Belmont into a Cornford Hurricane for this Fat Possum meets Buena Vista improvised Slide Blues. I hope you enjoy it. 

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Thinking back over the past year I am tremendously grateful for the vocal support and appreciation of my growing audience. 2020 did not go to plan for any of us but knowing you were out there helped me to keep…

When electric guitar renegade Matte Henderson recommends a guitar builder to me I sit up and take notice! The man has impeccable taste and many of the instruments he has commissioned are pretty much exactly what I would have chosen…

Since I uploaded the latest video in my Michael Watts Plays... series I have received several messages asking for more details about Bog Oak (and its many other names).

A Bog Oak guitar yesterday

In this latest episode of my…