Dave recounts approaching Sam Shipstone about crafting a guitar shortly after Yard Act's debut album release. He explains: "I loved the sound, his playing and the ethos of what the album was saying." Though Ancoats Guitars was only a year old at the time, the collaboration proved worthwhile as the band progressed from small venues to major festivals.

About Yard Act

Yard Act, hailing from Leeds, represents a fusion of post-punk, indie rock, and socially conscious commentary. The group—featuring vocalist James Smith, guitarist Sam Shipstone, bassist Ryan Needham, and drummer George Townend—gained recognition for sharp songwriting and dynamic live performances. Their trajectory includes high-profile festival appearances and television slots, establishing them as one of the most exciting acts to emerge in recent years.

The New Islington Guitar

The instrument is heavily customised around Sam's preferences. It features a G&L MFD bridge pickup renowned for its "high output tele style with a really harsh tone," which defines much of his sonic character. Dave collaborated with Jaime of Creamery Pickups to create a tapped single-coil neck pickup with switchable output levels. Rather than a traditional tone control, they installed a rotary pickup selector and a kill switch.

Specifications:

• Golden yellow swamp ash body
• Brass pickguard with green pearl rocket fins
• Maple fretboard and mahogany neck
• Notable detail: Sam uses tape markers on the neck to locate specific frets without looking

Dave expresses pride seeing his guitars featured on television and festival stages globally, all handcrafted from a Manchester shipping container.