Questions and Comments for Nigel Forster

Have you ever thought 'Enough is enough with the complex engineering aspects, I'm going to build '52 butterscotch Telecasters from now on'?

Well not really. I do find guitars are getting a bit over the top as far as appointments go, but no one could ever accuse me of that. 




I've noticed your guitars tend to avoid Martin sensibilities, have you ever considered building a vintage inspired scalloped X braced 12 fret 00 or something?

no.



I've asked you about bracing, being ladder bracing, laminated Larson Bros bracing and you used to offer standard X bracing and laminated bracing for your guitars but you no longer offer it. Would it be possible to ask what kind of bracing pattern you use now and what lead to it's inception? Also how important do you consider the bracing to be? As an enthusiast, I myself consider the bracing to be 'the soul of the guitar', however wrong that might be!

You can ask, but I'm not telling you. What brought me to this point is all the work I've done in the past.

Bracing is probably the commonest way makers delude themselves into thinking they've make an important difference, improvement or discovery by shifting or shaving something a tiny amount. So in that sense it is very important, if it's a diversion from the bigger picture of what colours sound.




I read the Session King/Howe O, have 'fruitwood' bridges; would it be possible to ask what kind of fruitwood was used - is it plum? I noticed Lakewood have started offering plum for bridges now.


I'm trying several different ones, but I've never seen plum. They all get stained black on my guitars so look like ebony anyway.




I've noticed your guitars seem to be short of of '42/45' style adornments, would you ever build a guitar with pearl/abalone? (I myself despise that kind of stuff...)


No. Never inlaid anything more than a dot. Though I did study Makie-e a traditional Japanese lacquer decoration last summer in Tokyo. It's beautiful. I may well make a guitar with some Makie-e on it for one of the shops in Japan. It's more like "onlay" than inlay.




How well stocked is your wood locker? Do you ever suffer from the luthier counterpart to GAS (Guitar Acquisition syndrome) which is WAS (Wood Acquisition syndrome)?  


The wood locker is groaning and yes I have suffered terribly from WAS in the past. But I'm going through a period of remission brought about by the realisation that I've more wood than I could ever use. Just bought some nice reclaimed mahogany last week mind....



Do you have a favourite tonewood for the soundboard and for the back and sides?


If you can't make a good guitar with European spruce and Indian rosewood you're doing something wrong.  All this is covered in the book.



I've not noticed there is no 12 string guitar in your line up, have you ever built one or do you plan to? (I love the 12 string)

I've made a few for people, any of the models can be made into a 12 string.




What do you see to be the future of guitar building?


Like any other aspect of the luxury goods market it all depends on the state of the larger economy in general. In which case, whatever long term future there is will probably to be found in the east. But in the meantime I suspect guitars will get more and more crazy, with more and more wacky decoration and features, but as long as folk keep directing their attention on all that, I doubt they'll sound much different. Fine by me!



It was mentioned that if any contemporary guitarist could play one of your guitars it would be Johnny Marr. If any deceased guitarist could play one your guitars who would it be?


Me Granda Charlie. It would be nice to see him again. I'd give him one of the "Charlie" archtops I named after him. And have a whiskey with him.




What is your favourite flavour of crisps? Or type of cheese?


Plain and goats.



One of my favourite Smiths songs is the following, do you have one?


I don't listen to them these days but anything from the first three albums is great.

I went to see them in Carlisle when I was 16. Ran away from school and slept in the train station. Very exciting. Naturally I was right at the front so to join in the popular game of "gobbing on the support band." (Tut tut)  When The Smiths eventually started the first song I jumped up with the crowd and when I landed my shoes were missing. It was quite busy. Didn't get one of them back till the end of the gig.

The Session King looks very well worn in... it got me wondering whether there is just as much work in creating that worn look as there is in getting your more traditional gloss finish?

All the best, marcus