Fylde Guitars came about from Roger Bucknall’s early immersion in music, technology and craftsmanship. His instruments were central to the acoustic music revival in the UK, and the constant theme of his work since then has been collaboration with professional musicians from all over the world. His client list is a who’s who of household names, including his own guitar heroes, and the list is constantly growing through new generations of artists. Alongside that, with the help of a small team he undertakes special commissions and makes the highest quality instruments for limited general sale.

Roger uses his deep technical background and fifty years experience to constantly refine his designs, while insisting on close personal control of every stage of manufacture. Even though he has gathered the finest workshop facilities and manufacturing techniques, he and his team still work by hand to maintain the character and individuality of every instrument rather than increasing the quantity of instruments made. He maintains very firm opinions on quality and value.

Roger spent his formative years in Birmingham, heartland of British engineering history, centre of the Industrial Revolution and close to Stratford-upon-Avon the home of William Shakespeare. His works have left a lifelong impression on Roger.

Guitar making started in his father’s garage at the age of nine. It continued through technical school and on through a degree in engineering at University in Nottingham ~ one of the UK’s foremost centres of excellence in technology and home of the legendary Robin Hood.

Roger’s first job was designing industrial tape recorders close to the New Forest of Southern England. The forest was Henry VIII’s hunting ground and source of timber for the many great ships of the Tudor age. Henry’s daughter Elizabeth was to become the sponsor for much of Shakespeare’s writing during ‘the Golden Age of Literature’.