After a few years of disruption, due to Co-Vid, social distancing followed by BNU refurbishing it’s workshops we have returned to our natural home at Bucks New University in High Wycombe. After two trail weekends and a very successful summer school week we are now planning a return to our regular weekend programme, starting on the 30th September 2023.

Many new instruments have been started and completed including, Torres/Taylor classical guitars, various ukuleles based on designs and drawings by our founding Zachary Taylor, Baroque guitars, Lutes both 6 and 7 courses, and a symphonie.

With now more regular sessions we are looking forward to completing many more instruments and hopefully welcoming new makers to the group.

After several years of weekends and an annual summer school in 2026 we are trialing mid-week sessions as opposed to the regular weekend workshop sessions there are several reasons for this, primarily its easier for ourselves and the staff at BNU. We will see how this develops it may well be that a blend of weekend and mid-week sessions is the way forward.

Courses for 2020-2021 have been suspended due to the ongoing situation of CoVid-19.

It is anticipated that they will start again in the summer of 2021 when appropriate arrangements can be agreed with Bucks New University

Dates for the remaining 2019 and further dates for 2020 have been arrange, courses and prices, further dates for 2020 are still being negotiated and will be published shortly.

Dates for 2019 sessions unto August have now been finalised please see dates on Courses and Prices page

This years summer school went particularly well and all members made good progress with their instruments. These included 2 lutes one completed one still in construction of the bowl back.

One finished Panorma guitar and another just started, Two Primera guitars after a design by Zachary Taylor who supported the members with an appearance most days, whilst working on the prototype of a Lute Guitar. Together with a  Sellas Baroque guitar being adapted from 5 courses to a standard 6 string classical guitar.

We were also visited by Luiz Mantovani one half of the Nova Guitar Duo who brought his 8 string Brahms guitar and gave us a sample of his recent repertoire.

Luiz also played a selection of instruments made by members of the group. It is planned to arrange a concert with students known to Luiz who will play instruments produced by group members. Look out for announcements in future weeks.

Looking forward to a productive 8 days of instrument making over the next couple of weeks. There are a few spaces if anyone wishes to join us.

There will be 5 possibly 6 weekends courses throughout 2018/19 dates to be published soon.