pull a string

Made by hand.
Signed on the headstock.

Custom guitars built in Pattingham since 1992, and everyone else’s put right for twenty years. Status Quo play mine. So do plenty of people who just wanted the buzzing sorted.

Tell me what it needs 01902 701175

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 to 17:30

Status QuoRobert FrippSladeAlbert LeeSmokieThe CharlatansNed’s Atomic DustbinRaymond FroggattScott MatthewsThe FutureheadsTyla of Dogs D’amourMagnumBjorn Again

Two ways in

One bench.
Two very different jobs.

Most people find me because something has gone wrong. Some find me because something has been missing for years. Both are welcome here, and neither one is treated as the lesser errand.

Repairs, setups and restoration

Something is wrong with it

Setups from £60 plus strings

Buzzing open strings. A fret that has given up. A headstock that met the floor. I evaluate the work before I begin, always with your budget in mind, and I will not sell you a full refret when two frets are the problem.

What I can do The Custom Series

You have wanted one for years

Builds from £749

Telecasters, Stratocasters and basses modelled on the great Fender classics, built to your spec. You do not have to be a touring rock legend. Beginners and session players come to this bench with the same idea and leave with the same thing.

The four series

“I bought some more (guitars) from Jamie Davey who, as far as I’m concerned, is a guitar god. … Every guitar he makes for you is better than the last one and sounds completely different. It’s fantastic!”

Andy Bown · Status Quo

Who else plays them

The last thing that happens

My name goes on it, or it does not leave.

“Here you will discover what makes J.Davey Custom Guitars unlike any other Custom Build, and why I’m proud to put my name on each and every headstock.”

A maple Telecaster headstock with six chrome tuners and the strings running over the nut, photographed against black

Every guitar and bass also leaves with an engraved back plate carrying your name and its serial number.

The Custom Series

Four ways to have one built.

Every one starts with solid alder, ash or mahogany, and ends with your name on the headstock. What changes is how far you want to go.

From £749

Standard

Solid alder, ash or mahogany. Vintage profile neck, custom colour, Alnico pickups, set up to your spec.

From £799

Seasoned

A brand new guitar that looks like it has been on the road for forty years. Aged paintwork, hardware given the used look.

From £799

Signature

Made to look, sound and play like the one belonging to your hero. Gilmour, Rossi, Sting’s famous Fender bass.

From £950

Showroom

For the player who knows exactly what they want, no matter how outlandish. Certificate of authenticity, high quality case.

See what goes into each one

General repairs and maintenance

Can a guitar sound better than when it was new?

It sounds like a ridiculous question. The surprising answer is yes, it can. Between the factory, the warehouse box and the shop wall, a lot works against an instrument playing properly from the first chord.