I’d long been fascinated by Stefan Sobell’s guitars — I first heard them through Martin Simpson — but a Sobell was beyond my budget. At the time, I was playing a Lowden O10. A good guitar, but too large, and not quite the sound I was after.
Then I stumbled upon a clip of a Forster Model F. It sounded better than any Sobell I’d heard. As it turned out it was available. I didn’t have to wait a year and a half for a build, and the price was within reach.
Nigels’ guitars have everything I admired in Sobell’s work, but they go deeper in the low register. That sound — pure, open, with rich sparkling overtones — just clicked. I knew it immediately.
Visually, I love the simplicity — no flashy trim or inlays, no cutaways. Just natural beauty. And the feel? I had no idea what to expect, but from the moment I opened the case, I was looking at a refined masterpiece. His guitars are heavier than most, which only adds to their distinctive character. There are less demanding guitars but his are educational. They ask something of you, and that’s part of what makes them special.
The experience of working with you was exactly how I like it: direct, no-nonsense, and unpretentious. He doesn’t romanticise or over explain. He’s simply a true expert — someone I felt I could trust to get it right.
“There are less demanding guitars, but his are educational. They ask something of you, and that’s part of what makes them special.”
Both the Model F and the Model S have become part of my musical identity. Both guitars are wonderful — just in different ways.
Would I recommend NK Forster? Absolutely. If you’re chasing the best of the Martin sound, there are great options out there. But if you’re after something from a different tonal universe entirely, you should put NK Forster Guitars on your shortlist.
Had I not discovered Nigels’ guitars, I might not even be playing today. They gave me what I needed: a sound of my own, with no compromises.
Alex said, ‘Had I not discovered your guitars, I might not even be playing today.’ If you’ve been searching for a sound of your own, maybe now is the time to begin the conversation.