Handmade English Guitars

Fylde Guitars, led by Roger Bucknall hand make English guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis and citterns ~ in the Lake District.

Instruments made by Roger and his small team of master craftsmen, have an unrivalled worldwide reputation for tone, playability, quality and style. Chosen by many of the world's leading musicians and serious amateurs ~ for over fifty years.

The number of instruments made is small, and they are only available directly from the workshop, (often with a long waiting list). A one to one relationship with the customer, whether they are professional or amateur, is the essence of the business.

Roger Bucknall MBE

Roger Bucknall is one of the most experienced and respected guitar makers alive in the world today. His client list is a who's who of professional musicians from every area of music, and his friendship with those musicians has produced iconic guitar designs that have helped to shape the guitar playing styles of the British Isles - and beyond.

In the 2016 New Year's Honours list, Roger was awarded the MBE – "Member of the British Empire", for "Services to Guitar Making, Music, and Heritage Crafts".In a purpose built workshop on the edge of the Lake District of Northern England, Roger and his team build the wide range of "Fylde" instruments, alongside a constant flow of special orders.

Meet the team

Roger Bucknall MBE


Alex Reay


Paul Ferrie


Moira Bucknall

I work with a small team, with excellent facilities, proven designs and unrivalled stocks of beautiful, seasoned timber, BUT the skills, and the attitude of the people I work with are the most important things of all. Alex Reay, Paul Ferrie and, of course, my wife Moira are my team. They are superb. They make everything possible, and nothing impossible.

We have evolved a system of work between us

Alex has been with me for 16 years. A lot of his work is in the final stages, which require long periods of concentration without interruption, so his patience and calm nature make it possible to get everything right.

Paul has been here for 13 years, his work is in the earlier stages, where a lot of the precision woodwork will be hidden inside the guitar forever, so his pride in his work and attention to detail are invaluable.

My own work is largely on individual custom orders, neck shaping and final assembly, in between overseeing everything else and talking to customers.

Moira deals with  the ever increasing admin of a small business and protects me from the outside world as much as she can.

Guitar making is hard physical work, and not at all romantic, the pleasure comes from a job well done, and seeing the final result in the hands of a satisfied customer.

We love to be involved in the world of music, and are very proud of the work we do.

Roger Bucknall

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