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Mark Bailey has been a professional guitar maker since he was 17, when he was taken on by Patrick Eggle Guitars in Coventry . Starting with the sweeping up (!), by 1995 when Eggle closed the first time , Mark was running the neck carving process. He and Carol then started up a school for builders in a converted double decker bus (in which I did a lot of the work on my first guitar),. His aim was not to create luthiers - that takes years - but to provide an opportunity to experience the joy of creating their own instrument for people who would probably never otherwise have the chance.

He did it by designing a system that took the risk of error right down to a minimum - jigs and tools that ensure accuracy, patterns to follow, and close personal guidance for every individual. In the first year most of the guitars made were fairly straightforward - fairly standard designs, and an oiled finish - beautiful and very playable, but as yet the builders imaginations hadn't caught fire. The very early days in the double decker bus quickly led to Mark establishing a workshop on a farm, and began to acquire more tools that speeded up the process. A lot of the tasks now done on machines I did back in the early days by hand - when guitar builders were real guitar builders.....

Then Guitarist sent Matt Swainey on the course. He made a strat style, 3 pick up model, and the article in the magazine was full of praise for the system, and the finished guitar that Matt made. It was a turning point - interest grew rapidly, and the demand for ever increasing variety grew. The finished guitars were now required to have unusual shapes, specified hardware, and spray finishes, and rivaled anything you might see in a guitar shop. I met Matt at the first Bailey's re-union, and I recall playing his guitar through a tiny amp and through a fairly substantial alcoholic haze. I had been doing some work on my guitar during the day, then got roped in to help Mark prepare some guitars for his display, and ended up missing supper. As soon as I walked into the bar where the re-union was being held, and ehthusiastic Bailey supporter bought me a beer, and on an empty stomach I was quickly on a slippery slope. Suffice it to say that I foolishly got up to jam with the band, and after agreeing to play Summertime Blues, actually played C'mon Everybody,much to the consternation of the bass player. My apologies to them.

Mark loves wood - and gets excited whenever he manages to get hold of something a little more unusual. Currently there is some Australian yarra drying (unbelievable stuff), some paduak, wenge and others awaiting the customers.

The video ( see the Contact Us page) has been his latest project - it follows two builders through his course, from blocks of wood to a finished guitar. I recorded the music for the video, on a 4 track analogue tape machine - so what you hear on the "What Do They Sound Like " page isn't studio quality,but does give a feel for the quality of sound friom a Bailey.

He has thoughts of a book to follow, and is currently very enthusiastic about the acoustic course he is working on. The farm in Coventry is but a memory, as IN Ayrshire Mark has established a wonderful workshop, climate controlled wood storage,lots of machines, and good accommodation. He has extended the course to cover acoustics, and is now building his own guitars, and also archtops which are pretty fantastic. The odd bit of playing - always on an acoustic, with Carol providing vocals, provides relaxation, and he is pretty nifty on the fretboard, though his view of it is usually obscured by the smoke from the cigarette in his mouth.....( only when he is outside these days, as there has been no smoking policy in Scotland for a year now)

Carol Davies handles the customer side - arranging courses, and smoothing the way for the work to get done. Since interest has grown so much, the problems of a rural existence on a farm have plagued her technology, and often found her desk taken over by an unexpected outcrop of guitar building in the old days.

Carol sorts out course dates, orders materials, handles all the admin, and likes wearing hats. She is an essential part of the experience - encouraging, admiring and always as excited as the builders about what is being created.

Together they make the building experience one that, every single time, produces that huge buzz of satisfaction when the first chord is played, and a smile that lasts for weeks afterwards ! You can't meet two nicer people.

Bailey Guitars have been featured in Guitarist, Total guitar, Guitar, Guitarrista (Spain) and the Financial Times. There are BYO guitars in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Gibraltar, New Zealand and Australia.