JOHN LYNCH GUITARS & MANDOLINS
John Lynch is an old friend and work colleague of mine, who just also happens to be a semi-professional luthier. Just the man to know for those odd occasions when the neck drops off the old Hofner, you may think!
John makes 6 and 12-string guitars, mainly acoustic (but he has been known to produce the occasional electric), together with rather beautiful mandolins. This work is carried out in his spare time on the basis of a labour of love rather than in order to make a living. Consequently, many hours of both thought and craftsmanship are put into each instrument, which are, of course, all different from each other. John takes the attitude that, when putting in so much time committment, it is pointless to use anything but the best in materials, and so a feature of his work are the superb, all solid, timbers used as well as the highly ornate inlays and bindings.
Below are featured two examples of John's work:
JOHN LYNCH SIX STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR
This guitar is of similar size and shape to a Martin 000, with a solid, subtly flamed sitka spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Body bindings are of contrasting wood.
It was made for a guy who seems to have somewhat of a nautical fixation, as can be seen from the inlays that John was asked to apply by his customer; i.e. terns on the ebony bridge, dolphins as markers on the ebony fingerboard, and a rather dishy (or is that fishy?) mermaid in mother of pearl and abalone on the headstock. (The work on the mermaid is so complex that it had to be carried out by a professional inlay artist called Adrian Farmer).
Now will you believe me that every guitar that John makes is unique!
JOHN LYNCH MANDOLIN
A traditional mandolin, which is finished in a superb antique sunburst which really sets the instrument off. The top of the mandolin is carved spruce, with the back and sides of solid myrtle. A flamed maple neck capped with an ebony fingerboard, poplar burr veneer on the headstock, and ivoroid binding throughout complete the specification.
As on many of his other instruments, John has inlaid the neck of the mandolin with an elongated floral pattern in mother of pearl and abalone. The instrument plays as well as it looks!
FURTHER EXAMPLES OF JOHN LYNCH INSTRUMENTS:
As well as making guitars as commissioned custom orders, John also carries out general repair, refretting, and setting up of guitars and mandolins, as well as pursuing a full time career in the construction industry. Output of new instruments is therefore comparatively low, with a waiting list! However, he is always more than happy to talk about his guitars (or any others come to that!) with anyone who is interested. If you wish to make contact with him :
CLICK HERE.
