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Turnstone Guitar Company

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Turnstone Guitar Company

Beautifully handcrafted guitars made in England. Commissioning a custom guitar means you get to define the sound, look and feel of your guitar.

At Turnstone Guitar Company we're determined to craft some of the highest quality handmade acoustic guitars in England. To us the guitar is an ever-evolving instrument and we're constantly innovating to advance the tone, playability and aesthetics. Crafting it by hand means we get to ensure it's built to the highest possible standard.

26/07/2025

Jim’s Reaction to His New Turnstone Guitar

Words from the man himself! 👇

“Alright guys here it is! I am so happy to have this wonderfully built built by Rosie and Karl Heydenrych. An absolutely lovely couple who hail from southern England.

I came to Rosie with the idea to build a guitar that I could hand down through future generations. With a rosette style in the theme of the painted turtle that is so prevalent in the rivers and streams here in Minnesota. She took on the job without hesitation, and was keen to make sure I got what I wanted through every step of the process.

I would describe her as a player’s maker. She really took the time to get to know me, my play style, and even my family! Many of the custom options that are packed into this guitar came from those collaborations. I had so much fun! If I was unsure, she was sure to guide through the process with a steady hand. Through Rosie’s incredible design sense, and impeccable woodworking skills. Coupled along with Karl’s excellent finishing with the gloss body and the satin neck. I am incredibly pleased. This guitar looks nice and the pictures don’t do it justice, but it sounds even better than it looks!”

Karl and I feel so fortunate to have worked with you too Jim and we’re so happy this guitar is yours ☺️

25/07/2025

Building Jim’s Dream Acoustic Guitar: The Final Reveal

Here it is, the finished TG model we built for Jim, designed with a strong focus on playability, feel, and personal detail. 🐢

Jim comes from mostly electric guitar playing, so attention to neck was a key part of the brief. We built this guitar with a 45mm nut, slightly wider than our standard, and adjusted it to a wider than standard string spacing within that, giving a more open, comfortable feel for Jim. The satin finished neck profile transitions from a soft V at the nut into a gentle C shape further down, offering a smooth, familiar feel under the hand.

This is our Grand Auditorium body shape with a Florentine cutaway and 14 fret neck join, giving full access further up the neck. The soundboard is English Yew, paired with Macassar Ebony back and sides for a clear, focused tone with strong note separation. Features wise, Jim opted for a comfort arm bevel and a side soundport.

The neck is mahogany, with a solid headstock fitted with Gotoh 510 tuners and custom Koa buttons to match the purfling detail. The fretboard, bridge, and binding are all Macassar Ebony, and the fretboard features our inlaid stone markers in yellow, chosen to complement the Satinwood used in the turtle-inspired rosette (see yesterdays post for more info on that!).

A guitar built for feel, tone, and connection. Check in tomorrow to see what Jim has said about his new guitar!

24/07/2025

Jim’s Custom Guitar, Build Highlights

Jim approached me to build him a special guitar, one he hopes to eventually pass on to his children as a family heirloom. From the start, one thing was clear, he wanted it to include a subtle personal detail connected to his last name, Turtle.

We found inspiration in the painted turtle which is native to North America, where Jim is from. We designed a custom rosette that reflects the striking patterning of the Turtle underbelly in a quiet, meaningful way.

Jim selected English yew for the soundboard, a less common wood that I love working with for its character and tone, paired with Macassar ebony for the back and sides, chosen for both its rich look and sound.

Swipe through to see some of the build progress: the raw yew top, Macassar back plates, body assembly, and the rosette taking shape.

Next up, we’ll show you the finished article!

02/07/2025

Here’s Danielle’s custom Turnstone guitar to celebrate 40 years as a professional musician ❤️ This was a true collaboration from start to finish.

Danielle decided on our mid sized TM model, featuring a 12-fret design and a classic slotted headstock.

The back and sides are made from richly flamed Tasmanian Blackwood, paired with a Swiss moon spruce soundboard for a clear, balanced tone.

The neck is also Tasmanian Blackwood, with an ultra-thin, flat D profile that harks back to what Danielle is used to on her classical guitars, to ensure comfort and familiarity.

Danielle worked closely with us to design the rosette, choosing shimmering mother of pearl to adorn the custom bird inlays which is also mirrored on the fretboard.

So what did Danielle think? Stay tuned for a full YouTube video with her first impressions and a special song she wrote just for her new instrument - coming soon!

01/07/2025

This guitar was commissioned to mark 40 years of professional musicianship — a milestone that deserves something truly unique.

We’ll share photos of the finished instrument tomorrow, but for now, here’s a look behind the scenes at some of the moments that brought it to life. From raw timber to fine detailing, each stage tells part of the story.

It’s always an honour to be trusted with a commission like this — not just to build an instrument, but to help mark a life in music.

25/06/2025

The Select Series is coming…..

More news to follow soon!

23/05/2025

We’re thrilled to share that our first Artist Program recipient, Dylan Fowlie has just released a brand new EP titled The Long Way Round and it’s out now on all major streaming platforms! Be sure to give it a listen and add it to your library or playlists.

The EP features five stunning fingerstyle tracks, four of which were recorded on his Turnstone Artist Program guitar. We’re incredibly proud and honoured to be part of Dylan’s musical journey.

🎧 Listen here: The Long Way Round on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/album/2U6yO54YRVb4NdP8133LFk?si=STjOvp5mQfKM5K151n8BfA

🎶 Catch Dylan live tomorrow night in Glasgow, supporting the one and only !

https://432p.seetickets.com/event/jon-gomm/the-hug-and-pint/3246231 #

18/03/2025

I’ll be at in Harrogate this Saturday 22nd March with this gorgeous TS Model, built with ancient English Bog Oak back and sides and a Master Grade Swiss Spruce top. Bog Oak is one of my absolute favourite tonewoods to work with and this guitar is no exception. It’s full of character, warmth and clarity.

As our smallest model, it has a short scale length of 635mm 25 inches and a 12 fret join, placing the bridge right in the sweet spot of the soundboard for a beautifully balanced and responsive tone. It’s a little like a parlour in some ways but with a voice all of its own.

If you’re coming along, come and say hello. Have a chat, pick it up and give it a play. I’d love to know what you think.

06/03/2025

Setting an acoustic guitar neck: Even after building nearly 100 guitars, this is one of those steps where I learn something new every time. The geometry between the neck and body is far more complex than it seems — every fraction of a millimeter matters. May the learning never stop.

GuitarMaking

27/02/2025

Exciting news from Japan! 🇯🇵

We’re thrilled to be featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Japan’s top acoustic guitar publication! The magazine includes detailed reviews of our guitars and an interview where I talk about Turnstone’s journey, our approach to guitar-making, and the inspiration behind our designs.

Huge thanks to our wonderful Japanese dealer, for helping secure this wonderful feature and sharing our work with the community of guitar lovers in Japan.

Stay tuned for more – and if you’re in Japan, grab a copy! 🇯🇵🎶

25/02/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that a stunning Turnstone guitar has just landed at in the USA!

Built with some truly show-stopping tonewoods, including mastergrade German spruce and old stock Madagascan rosewood, this TG cutaway model is crafted with the meticulous attention to detail you would expect from every Turnstone guitar. Every curve and every design choice reflects our dedication to creating guitars that inspire.

Head over to Cedar Rock to find out more!

24/01/2025

Some closer detail shots of the new TG cutaway with Fenland Black Oak and mastergrade German Spruce. 🌲

Now available at .

Address

Newchapel

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 1pm

Telephone

+441342545005

Website

http://turnstoneguitar.co.uk/

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