How we build
Your Guitar
Ancoats Guitars Necks
Every Ancoats neck starts life made to my exact specifications by trusted partners, then receives the finishing touches by hand in my workshop to ensure a premium playing feel. Once I receive them, each neck is carefully finessed—frets are precision-leveled and crowned, fret ends are rounded for smooth transitions, and fretboard edges are subtly rolled for a worn-in, comfortable feel. The entire neck is then sanded up to 1000 grit and finished with my favourite Osmo oil for a super-fast, silky satin finish that feels effortless in the hand.
Each neck features a 12-inch radius for a modern, versatile feel, and comes adorned with my signature offset dot fret markers, adding a distinctive Ancoats touch that sets them apart.
Standard neck specs:
- Nut width: 42mm
- Heel width: 56.6mm
- Depth at 1st fret: 21.5mm
- Depth at 12th fret: 23mm
I also keep a limited number of extra chunky necks in stock, for players who prefer more mass and grip:
- Depth at 1st fret: 24mm
- Depth at 12th fret: 25mm
To ensure long-lasting stability and a solid connection to the body, all necks are attached using threaded inserts and machine boltsrather than traditional wood screws. This method provides superior strength, consistent alignment, and allows for easy servicing or adjustment over the life of the instrument—no stripping, no compromise.
Necks are available in a variety of tonewoods, as shown in the builder—whether you're after classic maple, dark rosewood, or something more exotic, there's an option to match your style and sound.
Body Builds & Customisation
Every Ancoats guitar body is handmade from start to finish in my workshop in Manchester, built to match each customer's exact specifications. From the choice of wood to the contours, routing, and finish, every detail is shaped in-house with care and precision. By combining fully custom, workshop-built bodies with carefully selected outsourced necks, I'm able to offer a wide range of custom options - without pushing the price into boutique-only territory. It's this balance that allows me to deliver highly custom guitars at a fair, accessible price.
Semi-Hollow Guitars
Our semi-hollow models are built with resonance, weight, and style in perfect harmony. Every one features korina back and sides paired with a roasted ash top—a combination I've found to offer the ideal balance of lightweight construction and rich, open tone. The korina adds warmth and depth, while the roasted ash brings a crispness and clarity that really lets the guitar breathe.
What truly sets these guitars apart is the unique soundhole design, inspired by the grills of vintage radios. Not only do they give the instruments a distinctive look, but they also contribute to the guitar’s airy, resonant character. Super lightweight and acoustically alive, these semi-hollows feel just as good unplugged as they do through an amp.
Each guitar also comes with carefully matched body binding and pickguard, adding a clean, cohesive visual edge that ties the whole design together. It’s a small detail, but one that speaks to the care and thought behind every build.
As standard, these guitars come with a painted top and natural back and sides, all finished in a smooth, durable satin varnish that lets the wood breathe and feel great in the hand. Fully assembled, they typically weigh around 2.75kg, though this can vary slightly depending on the hardware used and the individual characteristics of each piece of timber.
Honestly, these are some of my favourite guitars to make. There’s something special about how they come together—how they feel, sound, and respond in your hands. Paired with a Goldo Shorty trem system, this is my ideal setup: expressive, resonant, and full of character.
Pickups
All pickups are hand-wound right here in Manchester by the brilliant Leigh at Green Pickups. As a professional electrical engineer, Leigh brings a rare blend of technical expertise and deep musical insight to every set. Together, we've developed a range of Ancoats-voiced pickups, designed to suit a variety of styles and preferences.
Looking for something more specific? Each pickup can be customised to match your ideal tone and playing style — whether that means tweaking the output, EQ curve, magnet type or winding spec. Just get in touch, tell us what you're after, and we'll take it from there.
Find out more at https://www.greenpickups.com/
Wood Selection
At Ancoats Guitars, tonewood isn't just about sound—it's about feel, weight, and aesthetics. I've carefully chosen two exceptional options for bodies that strike the right balance between resonance, character, and comfort.
Korina is the standard choice—lightweight, resonant, and beautifully grained with a subtle honey hue that takes finishes especially well. It's a superb all-rounder with great tonal balance and a touch of vintage mojo.
For those wanting something a little extra, Swamp Ash is available as an upgrade. It's slightly lighter on average than korina, with a more open and dramatic grain pattern that makes for striking natural, transparent, or burst finishes. Beyond the looks, swamp ash offers a snappy, articulate tone with a fast attack and airy resonance that many players love—especially for clean or twangy styles.
Both woods are selected individually for appearance and weight—no boat anchors here—so you can expect a visually stunning, well-balanced guitar that feels great on the strap and in your hands. These guitars tend to weigh about 3.5kg but this can vary depending on hardware and the individual characteristics of the timber.
Please note: wood is a natural material, so weight and grain pattern can vary from piece to piece. Photos on the site are representative, but your finished guitar may differ slightly in appearance. Rest assured, every piece is chosen with care to meet my standards for tone, feel, and beauty.
Hardware
Hardware should feel solid, perform flawlessly, and complement the overall character of the guitar. Every component I use is chosen with that in mind—no gimmicks, just parts that work hard and feel great.
Bridges come standard as Wilkinson hardtail string-through designs. I personally prefer string-through setups for their improved resonance and tension feel. You’ll notice a tighter, more responsive attack and excellent sustain. Plus, the feel under the picking hand is firm and reassuring—great for players who like to dig in.
For those looking for expressive pitch control without the hassle, I offer an upgrade to my favourite tremolo system: the Göldo Shorty Trem. Compact, beautifully engineered, and ultra-reliable, it's the only trem I use. Paired with a roller bridgefor smooth motion and enhanced tuning stability, it's a fantastic choice for players who want subtle vibrato without constant retuning.
Tuners come standard as smooth, stable units that hold tune and feel great. They're nothing flashy—just reliable and well-made. If you want an upgrade, I offer Guyker locking tuners: great build quality, precise, and quick to restring—ideal for gigging players.
Electronics on the Stage models use Alpha pots, which I've found to be just as dependable as CTS. They have a nice resistance and feel that makes volume and tone control intuitive and satisfying. I use them because they're tough, consistent, and perform well under pressure.
And yes—the oversized black control knobs are a bit of a trademark. People comment on them all the time. I use them because they feel great in hand—easy to grab mid-song, perfect for swells or quick adjustments, and they look cool too.
Future Relic Finish
The Future Relic finish isn't a fake relic—it's the beginning of your guitar's own story. This is my thin-skin finish, designed to wear and age naturally over time, just like the best vintage instruments. It's not factory-distressed or artificially beaten up—what you get is a lightly sealed, satin-smooth finish that will develop character the more you play.
All finishes are water-based satin coatings from the Little Green Paint Company, chosen for their eco-friendly credentials and beautiful, tactile quality. These finishes sink into the grain rather than sitting thickly on top, preserving the wood's natural texture and giving each guitar an open-grain, organic look and feel. It feels more like wood than plastic—and that's exactly the point.
After a few years of regular use, you'll start to see wear patterns emerge where your hands, picks, and straps make contact. That wear is yours—honest, earned, and unique to your playing style. It becomes a truly personal, road-worn guitar that evolves over time.
And for a bit of hidden magic, I sometimes include a secret colour layer beneath the top coat. As the finish wears, that underlayer gradually reveals itself, creating a one-of-a-kind visual story that unfolds the more you play.
The Future Relic finish is about authenticity, personality, and letting your guitar age naturally—with you.
Full Custom Builds
Looking for something truly one-of-a-kind? While the online builder covers a wide range of options, I also offer full custom builds for those who want to go beyond.
Small tweaks to the standard options—like pickup swaps, control layouts, or minor finish adjustments—can often be done at a small extra cost. Just ask! I'm always happy to accommodate where I can.
But if you're after something really special, we can craft your dream guitar completely in-house, from the ground up. Whether it's custom inlays, exotic wood choices, bespoke neck profiles, or an entirely new body shape—yes, we'll even build you a Stratocaster—anything is possible. These high-level custom builds are all about making something that's completely your own.
Prices are available on request, depending on the scope of your ideas. Just get in touch with your requirements, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible to discuss what's possible and how we can bring your vision to life.
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