Fylde Falstaff

[@brianlanglois4086]

This is possible the most interesting site on KZbin. Craftsmanship at its best.

[@slo5283]

i hooked -- 1.5K views already when i signed-in 2 hours into availability

[@Charles-Darwin]

🤖🤖

[@devschlong]

I'd say the most interesting luthier channel for sure. Plenty of other excellent craftsmanship channels in other areas.

[@beenaplumber8379]

I never thought I'd see a 44 yo acoustic featured on this channel that didn't need a neck reset, a new saddle, and some sort of top wave work like a Bridge Doctor. This thing seems structurally immaculate.

[@m.f.3347]

that double X brace is putting in some serious work

[@manysnakes]

​@@m.f.3347 It's also built with a steel rod all the way through the neck

[@m.f.3347]

@@manysnakes Martins also had that pre-1985 I think. Maybe the Fylde bar was stiffer? who knows

[@abcdee108]

I was Guitar Tech for Nazareth from 1986 and still work for them today although I don't tour anymore. Part of my duties all those years ago was looking after a Fylde 4-string acoustic bass guitar powered by a Bill Lawrence pickup in the sound hole. Founding member, Pete Agnew recently gave the guitar to his son, Chris. The Fylde is a magnificent sounding instrument as can be witnessed in footage of the JJ Cale cover - 'Cocaine'. Guitars define my life. 🍻

[@dalgguitars]

I vote for more singing from Ted! Who's with me!!?!

[@QueenyCrowley]

lol I just scrolled to the comment section to write something very similar :)

[@MarsG0Dofw4r_]

"So, what'd you learn in school today Billy?" "Oh, just about English guitar makers, lignum vitae, Shakespeare and the 70's Scottish rock group Nazareth.."

[@DL-oy2qn]

The original workshop was in Kirkham in the Borough of Fylde, in Lancashire, just down the road from my home town of Preston. They moved to the Lake District in the mid nineties, if memory serves.

[@arran8910]

As a fellow Preston native, aside from Flintoff they’re probably the most interesting export

[@DL-oy2qn]

@@arran8910 Yea....I'm struggling to think of owt else....well other than warplanes and missiles.

[@wowmanhaha]

@@arran8910 Mmm...I suppose you can't really call PNE an export, as such.

[@arran8910]

@ not a good one anyhow 🤣

[@ClarenceCochran-ne7du]

My only exposure to Fyldes, were the Bouzoukis, and Mandolin Family instruments, which were exceptionally well made instruments. This is the first video I've ever seen with a Fylde guitar.

[@kevinfarrellUK]

This was lovely to see. I have a lefty Fylde Alchemist with a cedar top. I kinda commissioned it as he had no lefty’s at the time I asked about one. I asked Roger about putting in a pickup with a preamp fitted on the side, and he refused. “I’m not cutting a hole in one of my guitars.” I agreed. The workmanship is absolutely top tier. In ten years the truss rod has not been touched. And it has made me a big fan of zero fret necks. It is ready for a refret though. A shame I’m across the pond…. ;))

[@briankavanagh7191]

Kevin I commissioned a lefty Classical guitar with under saddle pickup made for my son when he was at RNCM, still sounds as sweet as ever.

[@brabazabba]

I have a Fylde Ariel - I don't understand why more builders don't do zero frets.

[@As-pf1zu]

This might sound a lot weird but watching your videos is my guilty pleasure. Just watching you take instruments & make them into playable almost new creations is very restorative for me. I just wish I had the talent to do it. It must be a lot of work for you to produce these videos but please keep it up and thank you.

[@manysnakes]

Nothing to feel guilty about

[@garthstiebel1914]

Brilliant video! A fellow Canadian too! This just solidifies my feeling that my own recently delivered Falstaff is a truly wonderful instrument and a work of art for years to come.

[@PhilsGuitarProjects]

Roger Bucknall's first commercial building of guitars was when he lived on The Fylde Coast in Lancashire, England which is where he got the name from, its where I currently live but my guitar building will never be on the scale of Fylde.

[@alnicospeaker]

1:30 Pete Seegers first custom 12-string was made by an English luthier Stanley Francis with a 27,x inch scale. 4:30 Lignum vitae was also the wood Pete Seeger carved his banjo neck from!

[@DessieTots]

I owned two Fylde Falstaffs . The first one new in 1979. This ended up with a neck break at the headstock. Years later I bought another Falstaff. This had had a neck break at the headstock but was expertly repaired. I don’t have either now.

[@philipershler420]

WOW! That instrument has a wonderful rich tone.

[@podfuk]

Indeed!

[@pamartin]

Hats off for the mention of Mossman. Had the pleasure of attending a very small guitar pull (just three of us) with Stuart over 30 years ago. He was an awesome player, singer, performer. He tried to hand me his guitar, with a beautifully carved heel, to play. I'm ashamed to say I was in such awe of the beauty of the box and the man himself that I begged off. I felt the excellence of that guitar way above my station but in hindsight I did a disservice to myself and him. Where as he was impressed enough with my skills to offer his axe and also his potential desire to let me experience a truly excellent guitar.

[@Doubtful-optimism]

Had never previously heard of this maker, but they clearly made some phenomenal guitars. It's refreshing to see ted working on a guitar where everything was done so well the first time that he doesn't have any extra work outside of what he set out to do.

[@digitalimager4946]

Lovely ringing sound 🤗

[@scottreeves1226]

Wow. That may be the strongest treble sound I've heard from an acoustic. Beautiful work. Thanks.

[@grene1955]

As the original owner of a 1976 Mossman Flint Hills, I appreciate a quality guitar like this.

[@williamgalbraith3621]

A very nice crisp sounding acoustic! I never get tired of your refrets and setups! Thanx Ted!

[@lexluthier8290]

Modesty will likely prevent you from agreeing, but in my humble opinion Ted, you and this channel are truly an international resource, nay, treasure. A wealth of information in every episode, some of it priceless - I learned most of my humble skills solely from this channel. I hope your archive is being preserved somewhere for future generations. Live long and prosper good sir.

[@schneidp20]

Love the way you present your vids. A touch of history, and your very informative explainnation of your craftsmanship. And then topped off with a touch of your dry humor. Thanks!

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

That is certainly a beautiful piece. Awesome fingerboard. Your work is meticulous and I appreciate your videos immensely, sir.

[@chrisvorster5951]

I really appreciate your straightforward discussion of the instruments and the procedure you are using to repair them. I have recently been diving into some very old instruments that have sat in my shop upwards of 40 years, that were old and out of commission when I acquired them in the early 70’s. I get many of the tips I need from your work. Thank you

[@ChristofferNelsonG]

As soon as I saw it I thought of L'Arrivée. Lovely folker.

[@monday6524]

Thank you for another great Sunday evening! I always find these informative and interesting.

[@codelicious6590]

Hey, thanks for the fretting tip! Thats a fantastic idea! I recently realized just how much those frets can affect the straightness and rigidity of a guitar neck!

[@likeakite]

I'm in the UK. My brother was trying to convince me to buy a Fylde back in the 70's. I didn't listen to him, I wish I had.

[@Anybloke]

Very enjoyable. My late friend Phil Hare owned a 1979 Fylde Orsino which he used for finger picking in tunings such as DADGAD.

[@dhenifirmansyah]

I learn a lot from your channel, thank you Mr. Ted 😊🙏🏻👍🏻

[@bman8406]

I have never seen a guitar with a wood nut on it. Wow. You learn something new everyday. If anyone is in a charitable mood, I could definitely use another acoustic guitar. Times are really tough but I don't mind asking for assistance, in the name of music. But I can't help it, I love music so much. Thank you brother 6 strings for the videos. ✌️ 🕊️

[@geraldwest3428]

First, I've heard of Fylde. Looks and sounds mighty fine. An excellent setup as I've ever seen. Thanks!

[@doglover31418]

You may have heard of folky Nic Jones? He played a Fylde. His album 'Penguin Eggs' is a classic.

[@doglover31418]

Bob Dylan lifted the song Canadee-i-o from it.

[@afvet5075]

A beautiful accoustic.

[@markdyer844]

The second best sounding guitar i have heard on your channel, very nice !!

[@paularcherfiddle0351]

Hi. Being from the UK, I work on Fyldes quite often. The folk clubs are full of them. Roger makes a whole range of 'folk' instruments. Mandolins, Bouzoukis etc. All of them have a zero fret. I use zero frets in my own instruments too. My query is: Why does a slightly taller zero fret work better than a fret identical to the main frets? In theory, this should not be true. Do you use a standard fret for the zero? It's always puzzled me. I look forward to your videos. A new one makes my day!

[@PelleKuipers]

My guess is what he talks about at the end; the fret gets worn in by the constant pressure of the strings. So a bigger fret gives a little more room for that to happen.

[@TommySG1]

Beautiful work as usual Ted, as always thanks for sharing.

[@buschovski1]

Hemlock, ill be damned. I climbed those a lot up north when i was a kid. This is def the 1st Guit ive seen with a Hemlock top.

[@michaeldorcey9305]

As always. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us, Ted

[@DaHill1998]

Thanks for posting. Great content and pro tips! Cool old axe.

[@KBorham]

ALWAYS learn something new. That’s saying a lot, I’ve watched virtually all of Ted’s videos over the years… continually amazed with his the depth of his experience

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

This is an amazing lesson. Where was it 2 years ago😂. I mostly figured it out, but it is remarkable how much one can affect the bow of a neck with the frets. Thanks!😊😊

[@state138champ06]

This man's voice is so calming, I still haven't watched this whole video cause I keep falling asleep at night. 😂

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

What a lovely guitar. Darn perfect. This seemed very effortless compared to some other basket cases… And it sounds wonderful. Lovely guitar.

[@FangPaw]

Fun fact: Roger Bucknall once made a series of about 70 electrics, called Pack Leader (it was the brain-child of Terry Packer), available in walnut or rosewood. It was a unique design, being a neck-thru with the truss-rod running all the way through the guitar, to terminate in a wheel adjuster past the bridge. Beautifully made, with wood binding, MoP and sterling silver fretboard inlays, and a zero fret (of course). Amazing sustain. A walnut example was featured on the cover of the diMarzio catalogue of the time.

[@DL-oy2qn]

I remember seeing a piece in a guitar magazine taking a look at a Pack Leader...it looked like a high quality instrument, but I bet it weighed a ton.

[@FangPaw]

@@DL-oy2qn You'd be surprised. My own African walnut Pack Leader weighs 3.31 kg (7lb 5oz): the carved body is quite slim and the back tapers towards the strap button, right down to 15mm (19/32"). Unfortunately, this makes it rather prone to neck-dive. No doubt the rosewood ones are heavier, but I'd guess nowhere near as heavy as (say) an unchambered Les Paul or a Yamaha SG2000.

[@DL-oy2qn]

@@FangPaw That's nice and light... Nice and easy to sling about!

[@Birkguitars]

A school friend of mine had one of the electrics. Sadly he died many years ago so I don't know where the guitar is now. I know that Roger refers to making electric guitars as putting someone else's hardware on a plank of wood but there is a place for electrics. I have several but always need just one more and partly because of that I am currently building an electric homage to my Alchemist using similar woods and styling. The original has flamed myrtle back and sides and looks absolutely sensational so the electric has a carved top of the same wood, a laminate neck with the same materials a neck carve matching the acoustic and what I call a faux hole - a rosette circle around the neck pickup to acknowledge the acoustic design. I doubt Roger would be interested given his proclivities but its likely the closest I will get to having a Fylde electric given the scarcity of the originals and their likely cost.

[@FangPaw]

@@Birkguitars Yes indeed. I took my Pack Leader to the Fylde workshop in Penrith for a refret - I didn't trust some random tech with such an esoteric instrument - and I asked Roger why he didn't build any more, considering how outstanding the Pack Leader was. He said he just wasn't interested in electrics, mentioning planks of wood. He also said that after he'd sent a Pack Leader to Larry DiMarzio, another guitar appeared on the market which looked almost identical. Roger wouldn't name the manufacturer, but Martin Barre of Jethro Tull used to play a Pack Leader, and was later seen playing a Hamer which looked remarkably similar.... When you finish your electric Alchemist tribute, please do post it on KZbin. I'd love to see/hear it! Unfortunately, I totally suck on acoustics. I can't get used to the heavy action higher up the fretboard.

[@allancopland1768]

Fylde make some lovely instruments. Their nack shape I like a lot. A joy to play.

[@JP.s_Underdog_Guitar_Repair]

Thank you Ted, I love this!

[@JP.s_Underdog_Guitar_Repair]

When anyone asks about my credentials, I tell them that I went to the Ted Woodford School of Luthiery . I can’t express how much I appreciate you Ted! I run a full time repair shop in Windsor, Ontario. It would not have been possible without you. Thank you brother!

[@jetphone1974]

Outstanding.😊

[@matthewguski5942]

I love that guitar.

[@tomalcolm]

Take a shot every time you see a bottle Ronsonol in the background.

[@bboomer7th]

Mine has a blue cap. I wonder if there’s a difference?

[@Geeman002]

Ah, Martin Carthy and John Renbourn, love those guys. I’ve never heard of Fylde before, very interesting 🎸 I was very into English folk for a long time, Steeleye Span was my intro and I dug deeper. Thanks Ted. I checked their website and they have a Martin Simpson model! They have some really nice guitars.

[@SBanas]

15:40 this might be one of the best, casually presented tips I've ever come across. I've always did it, without knowing why I do it...

[@captainchaos3053]

In the UK hemlock is a highly toxic herbaceous biannual. It's like a hollow stem and the milky sap smells! Either way great video and superb work as always. Ps Yes I'm an idiot. It just occurred to me you obviously mean Tsuga.

[@guyzumpetta9369]

Lignum vitae is also a very dense wood -- one of the few that sinks in water.

[@chickenlickin3820]

Lignum Vitae is also used for blade 'bearing stops' in bandsaws instead of roller bearings. It sure is sturdy x

[@zapa1pnt]

@twoodfrd : The knowledge and skill you have, of your craft is Impressive! Add to that the knowledge you hold of the, various instruments, makers, players, bands, as well as literature, which you often quote, truly makes you a luthier of distinction. You, richly, deserve the accolades you receive. 😁✌🖖

[@dooleyfan]

Good advice about caring for a guitar in the north. I learned the hard way about what happens to a Martin in a Canadian winter when the power goes out.

[@mikew42906]

Always a joy to watch, the famous Fylde is the "Oberon" as played by Nic Jones, give Canadee-io a listen to.

[@KeithChesterton]

The Penguin Eggs LP, including Canadee-i-o was recorded using Nic's Orsino.

[@larryholland7192]

Amazing!! First time seeing this guitar!!

[@jeromestevenfaigin6059]

Very nice tone & volume. The wood choices of wood is news for me.

[@leewyton7975]

YOU DO GREAT WORK, AND HAVE GOOD INSIGHT !!!

[@mikesonneson2824]

Sounds loud and well balanced.

[@jimnoakes9394]

Made one with a hemlock top.Iive on Vancouver island ,lots of hemlock here.a very strong straight grained wood .Guitar sounds great.ps used yew wood for back and sides.Yew wood is also very common in the Pacific North West.

[@galeng73]

Wow! I never thought I'd see you cover a Fylde!

[@davemorriss2552]

Great Video, I have a Fylde Lysander from from the same era, Maple back and sides and Spruce top, same truss rod. The neck is perfectly straight but could possibly do with a refret. Some years ago my buddy tried to get me to swap it for his Martin HD 28, no chance....

[@glynnepritchard2526]

For some information on the name, Fylde is an Brough of Lancashire England north of Liverpool and South of the Lake District

[@HBSuccess]

Ted I’ma ditto all these other folks. I do a Cpl fret jobs a year..nowhere near enough to remember all the details without reviewing your videos. I’m probably old enough to be your dad BTW but still try to get better w every job and you’re def the bar I’m trying to reach.

[@daveandrews5485]

Always happy to see a Ted video.

[@208414]

I like the quality of construction on that one.

[@donaldholman9070]

Thank you

[@NoCantsAllowed]

Some great tips on this one! I think I'll save it.

[@markvonwisco7369]

Gorgeous guitar! It really does remind me of some of the older Larrivees I've played.

[@ianrose5505]

Thank you very much, fantastic video and information

[@ambsquared]

When I spent a year at Lancaster University, I was in Fylde College.

[@Alchemetica]

Excellent video, with great framing and close ups of the process. It's getting bookmarked. I always wonder if Ted finds time to play in a band.

[@3373-g8z]

Sounds awesome!

[@artiefisk5291]

Ted, I'm so fucking happy to hear you quote Henry IV. You are a man of many surprises!

[@MrTkeddo]

As a Bass player my Favourite English Bass Guitar maker’s are Jaydee, Wal, Status , Overwater, Ashley Pangbourne.

[@robertnewell5057]

A masterclass with a gentle history lesson included. If you're out there, Ted, thanks for this one. Great to hear a call out for a seriously under-rated maker. Other famous UK Fylde players include Bert Jansch, Nic Jones, Gordon Giltrap, Martin Simpson, John James, but Roger has made for many others. He has never had more than a very few co-workers, but has produced large numbers of guitars through streamlining his working practices over the years. He answers the phone and emails himself and is generous of his time and expertise. I got a 2nd hand early 80s Orsino (all Fylde guitars are named after Shakespearean characters - Orsino's in 12th night; Falstaff's in Henry IV Parts I and II and The Merry Wives of Windsor) in need of a neck reset and with a bowed non-adjustable neck. A local luthier (Alex Bishop of Bristol, UK) fixed it for me including the reset and planing the neck straight, and was in contact with Roger throughout. Roger advised him regarding the exact specs of the dovetail, etc, some 40 years after it was made. Zero fret same height as the others and actually had LESS divot wear than the cowboy frets! Roger has definite views on the zero fret (amongst many other things). Different bracing pattern from the Falstaff, but still with the massive transverse brace, and looking equally rough and ready inside, but my goodness the sound is amazing.

[@parsnipfingers]

Is "Alchemist" the name of a Shakespearean character?

[@MrDblStop]

@@parsnipfingers Maybe referencing Prospero?

[@parsnipfingers]

@@MrDblStop you could well be right, but that leaves me wondering why would he not call it the Prospero? If not, there was a play by Ben Jonson called The Alchemist, maybe refers to that, I don't know. I'll ask him one day if I remember.

[@robertnewell5057]

@@parsnipfingers Great spot! There are two minor characters, a painter and a poet, in Timon of Athens, one of whom is addressed by Timon as an alchemist (great play, by the way, if you haven't seen it - but in the interests of full disclosure, I didn't remember the reference; I had to look it up!). But there is no named character. Likewise there is a Fylde Magician, which is somewhat similar to the Alchemist as I recall. Prospero is certainly a magician. I'm going to ask Roger about this. I should mention that his bouzoukis and citterns don't have Shakespearean names and nor do his signature models (although one is based on the Alchemist); his mandolins are all called after Touchstone, I think. Thanks for the correction - I'll get back if I find out (if anyone is even interested 🤣.

[@parsnipfingers]

@@robertnewell5057 by no means is it a correction, friend! I thought Romeo & Juliet was written by Mark Knopfler... It'll probably be October next year by the time I see Roger again, by which time I'll have forgotten all about this - I'm not interested enough to contact him about it but I'd be interested to know, if you know what I mean. Please do ask him and let us know, Robert 👍

[@bengordon2330]

Thank you.

[@mccjoe01]

My God man! The vocabulary on you! Lubriciouse.... I hope I live long enough to use that one in a sentance...out loud...and correctly

[@jsmall4050]

Thank you!!!

[@rabereno]

super vid as always

[@deejackson5930]

I usually have to pause and look up something when I watch your offerings. Today, it was lubricious. Just another reason I keep coming back. Thanks.

[@stevenkarnisky411]

A handsome guitar, with a nice sound.

[@trevorfromengland]

These guitars are fabulous........ probably better in the last two decades than the two before (and they were excellent then!)

[@kendavis8046]

I was awaiting the trademarked "polishing, polishing, polishing." Good content, and the instrument still sounds wonderful.

[@seanj3667]

That should be on merch

[@chillpillology]

that is a nice sounding guitar. i wonder why ted doesn’t give a little tap on the zero fret string similar to a new tune o matic bridge setup. great work ted very enjoyable from here

[@nixielee]

Sounds great. Wouldn't wanna play that neck, but listen to is another thing

[@jeromestevenfaigin6059]

I would like to see one someday to. I played a Lowden, not that good. I have a narrow palit when it comes down to steel string guitars. Light, loud balance.

[@baabaabaa-El]

Nice work on a lovely Fylde!

[@garrettraylor4947]

Thanks again

[@cowcrapper]

Lovely rendition/adaptation of Time to Say Goodbye...absolutely beautiful.

[@doe53]

This is great learning about obscure companies I've never heard of.

[@Furtheronmusic]

I'm a big Gordon Giltrap fan, USA etc people look him up, they made a signature model for him I once played. I bought his mass produced Chinese signature model in the end. Anywoo the Fylde was amazingly good.

[@jscruffins8767]

Always love your videos (did a neck reset on a 1957 lubin lubnecki with your help) but really nothing compares to hearing you quote Falstaff!!!! Have you seen the BBC repros, The Hollow Crown? They got Patrick Steward in Richard II which is a big draw for a lot of people but Hanky 4 and their Falstaff are top notch. Anyway. Thanks for doing what you do, you do it very well.

[@barryfarmer5325]

Zero-fret - what a good idea!

[@HarrySinanian]

Brother, it's my dose of reason and sensibility on a Monday morning, each and every week. Of all the content providers on KZbin, you're the only one that takes that significant clip, with narration and spares me the trouble and pain of watching junk footage at high speeds, no details, just lazy editing and a poor sense of production. But that's not all, you're the channel early on an Australia Sunday morning that doesn't find the sounds of grinders, dremels, cncs and routers at all entertaining. It's a soft toned, intelligent voice discussing the joys of Luthiery and some thought provoking banter [ while masking and polishing a fret board with fine grades of wet and dry]. I still have an wonderfully thoughtful envelop and sticker to remind me, way over on the other side of the world, there's one person keeping it real! Thank you... PS: Dear Santa, if you wouldn't mind dropping off one of, or all Fender Jazz Deluxe, Roland XL80 and BOSS RV6 and those YAMAHA DM3 mixers would be nice. A spectrum analyzer, some nice new spade soldering tips and a packet of Blu Tac, because it's the handiest cleaning gum and solderers friend I know! just sayin! :) #LOVEYOURWORK

[@philgallagher1]

Nice comment, mate! I also cherish my sticker, envelope and hand written note here in Liverpool, UK!

[@Gibsongoson]

Thanks for sharing cheers

[@mitchilito99]

Just a PERFECTLY set up guitar.

[@jjcale2288]

Glueing the frets in the board really makes a difference in most cases. The energy transfer from the string to the neck is much more consistent and it's audible, not psychosomatic. In extreme a badly seated fret wire is prone to a dead note. But you know all these for sure. It's just my two cents, more for your followers who are at the beginning of their journey in guitar repair.

[@martybrown6095]

👍 when Ted sang! More singing please Ted. Suggest a polishing song, possibly a waltz cuz 3 syllables. You’re welcome