Custom Acoustic Guitar – Bailey Bootlegger with Cutaway for Sam Winston

Truly Handmade

Sam is a full-time musician and singer songwriter – teaching and writing his own original material featuring his distinctive voice. He is currently writing and producing an album, Listen to our favourite Sam Winston song. (you can find more of his self penned tunes eg. Cherry Sweet, and White lights, on his YouTube channel along with some great covers)

This year he decided it was time to get the instrument he and his music deserve, and have his own spec. custom acoustic made … he got in touch to see what was possible, and get a quote.

The Guitar is based on the Bailey Bootlegger Acoustic Guitar, but Sam wanted the addition of a cutaway – thus a new shape is born…actually Dave Fletcher is currently making the same shape himself on our build your own course, and had the idea at about the same time – but I think it is a good one whoever thought of it first!

Sam really liked the look of my guitar – the original Bailey Bootlegger and so we have styled the rosette and binding like that but he chose Cocobolo for the back and sides and Ebony for the Fretboard – apart from that they are essentially the same.

Here are Sam’s Custom Elements:

• Cut-Away
• Cocobolo back and sides
• Sitka Spruce Top
• Checkerboard Rosette and binding
• Mahogany Neck
• Ebony Fretboard
• Must play like a cloud

That last one is a specific requirement from Sam – I think in future we will include this as standard on all our guitars.

Work in Progress

It has taken a long time to track down the specific purfling strips Sam asked for on this guitar which delayed the start of the build somewhat – in fact we had all but given up as it does not seem to be available anywhere just now – but thankfully last week a miracle occured and we managed to source enough for Sam’s guitar.

While I was waiting for the supplies I had already bent the sides and glued on the first strips of kerfed lining. I also joined the back and soundboard but the rosette is just about the first job so I was stuck for a while – now the stuff has arrived I am able to crack on and plan to have this guitar finished by the end of the month – check back here to see how it is going…

What would you have?

If you would like me to build you a guitar you can add your own custom requirements – please contact us