Fylde Eric Bibb Signature

Buying this guitar came out of the blue. I’d only recently acquired a BSG Grand Jumbo and was very much enjoying it’s qualities. But I like to check out quality guitars and had gone to a shop, in Manchester, to check out the Moon CZ3. Unfortunately it had been sold, a few days earlier. Whilst there, I checked out a K’Yairi baritone and an Atkin BGW and was very charmed by the baritone.

Now, in the past, I have been quite critical of Fylde guitars, having never found one that did it for me and had heard a few, in clubs, I positively didn’t like. Yet recently, I’d heard some amateur recordings, by fellow guitar enthusiasts, playing Fyldes and had realised, I needed to think again. So I tried a Fylde Alexander, cedar/mahog, and was impressed. Wow! Then the shop guy pointed out the Eric Bibb model. But I figured it was out of my price range. Not so, it was in a clearance sale and had a miniscule ding, on the soundboard. Reducing the price, by around a third. Wow! again.

I had to try it and yes, it was lovely. Fylde’s guitars don’t conform to the usual Martin/Taylor shapes and sizes, we often use for reference. But I guess the Eric Bibb would be like a rose/spruce OM, with a wider lower bout and slightly deeper body.

The materials are infact:
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood.
Top: Master Grade Engelmann Spruce.
Neck: Cherry/Rosewood/Ash, 5-piece laminate.
Fingerboard & Bridge: Ebony.
Tuners: Gotoh – gold, with ebony buttons.
Binding: Rosewood.
Purfling: Multi-coloured marquetry.

The measurements are:
Nut width: 44mm (1.73 ins). Scale: 648mm(25.5 ins).
String spacing at the bridge: 57mm(2.24 ins).
Overall length: 1010mm(39.75 ins). Body length: 473mm(18.6 ins).
Upper Bout: 288mm(11.3 ins).
Lower bout: 395mm(15.6 ins). Body depth (tailpin): 108mm(4.25 ins).


The FYLDE Eric Bibb Signature model is an attractive, English, handmade guitar. I’m sorry to say, that I had to ask the guy in the shop, who Eric Bibb was. A rather stylish bluesman apparently. This is him: With the sainted Danny Thompson, on bass.

The guitar has a lightness about it, both in tone and feel. The neck has a wide, flat feel, although it has a 1 11/16 inch nut. The action is low, all the way up the neck and the strings have a very comfortable, low-ish tension to them.
The sound is woody and ringing, with a great amount of sustain. Whilst not the loudest guitar, it does pack some punch. Initially, I thought it far more suited to fingerpicking. Sounding good with nails or fingertip-flesh. But after changing my flat-picking technique slightly and the pick I used also, the Fylde sounds pretty awesome with a plectrum too.


This guitar has a rather wide truss-rod cover, that covers the lower width of the headstock. This apparently was designed for Mr Bibb, as he practises the old blues technique of bending the strings, behind the nut. Fylde seem to prefer the technique of not filling in the wood’s pores, before lacquering. Though not as pleasing on the eye, I take it, it may have some effect on, not interfering with the wood’s vibrations. The laminated neck is beautiful, with a lovely combination of woods.
I also really like the multi-coloured purfling and classy head design. The ebony fretboard plays and looks just right. I prefer no fret-markers but these diamond pattern ones, look very nice indeed. Unusually, the double markers appear on the 5th fret, rather than the more usual 7th fret.


This Eric Bibb model, is a pleasure to play, it has a woody vibrancy, all it’s own. It’s probably the most intimate guitar I have owned. Yet it can be pushed, as I’m prone to do, at times. But not too hard. The guitar’s response to the lighter touches, is a joy and is where this guitar really excels.

One disappointment was, that when I got home and opened the Hiscox case, the guitar comes with, I was very surprised at how much space around the guitar there was. I've usually always found that handmade guitars, that come with a case, have a seriously snug fit. Not aloud to move around. I’ve heard from another Fylde owner that the case situation is common to many of their models. Strange.

So overall, I’d say the Fylde Eric Bibb Signature, is a very individual, classy guitar. It’s no thrasher but sings out, once you’ve tuned into it’s needs. Though strongly made, this intimate guitar rewards more sympathetic playing. With it’s musical vibrancy and long sustaining, sweet tone, it really is a thoroughbred.