Thinking back to when you first got in touch, how does the finished instrument compare to what I had imagined?
Honestly, it’s better than I could have imagined. I had watched the videos and looked at all the pictures online, but I had never seen one in person. It turned out to be a practical work of art. When shaping the spec, the qualities that mattered most to me were the practical ones – choice of soundboard, scale length and nut width. Aesthetics are important, of course, but ultimately this is about making music, and you want to know the instrument is going to sound good and play well. That said, you still want it to look right. The final decisions I made were the aesthetic ones. I had some ideas, but I’m not an expert, and I was grateful for Nigel’s gentle advice on what would work well.
“Custom instruments cost a lot of money and commissioning one can feel like a massive leap of faith. But Nigel inspired confidence throughout… He listens, and ultimately delivers a first-class instrument with a great aesthetic.”
How have others responded to the instrument?
Great! Everyone I’ve played with loves it. As a mandolin player, people are used to me being on the quiet side… but this thing is a monster, the loudest instrument I’ve ever played. Someone even suggested it would be perfect for heavy metal. If someone asked me about NK Forster Guitars, I’d say this: custom instruments cost a lot of money and commissioning one can feel like a massive leap of faith. But Nigel inspired confidence throughout. He is a clear and timely communicator, listens to what the customer is asking for, and ultimately delivers a first-class instrument with a great aesthetic.
During the build, did you feel heard and understood?
Very much so. Communicating arty ideas by email across thousands of miles and different time zones isn’t easy, but I always felt Nigel was listening and understanding what I wanted. The moment that stood out most was when he turned my half-formed idea about position markers into reality – the result was unexpected, and it looked fantastic.
Has the instrument changed anything about how you perform or express yourself musically?
Definitely. I’d previously played a short-scale octave mandolin, but the bouzouki is a step up. The longer scale length makes for a much punchier instrument. It’s fantastic for rhythm playing and has opened up new musical avenues for me to explore. Plus, it’s loud.
What would I say to someone who’s followed my work but hasn’t made the leap?
Just do it – you won’t regret it. Can I describe the moment it arrived? I hadn’t even told my wife about this one! After wrestling the large, well-built packing box through a rear window and spending half an hour cracking it open, I finally held it. I think I felt like Carter discovering Tutankhamun. It was awesome.
Looking back, is there anything you’d have done differently?
I wish I’d had the confidence to commission a custom instrument far earlier in my playing career. It’s inspiring to own something like this. You can waste a lot of time and money trading up – but this way, you start at the top.
If you’ve been following my work from a distance and hesitating to make the leap, Robert’s advice says it all: ‘Just do it — you won’t regret it.’ Maybe now is the time to start the conversation about your own instrument. Click below and let’s get to it.