On the clock

This month Alex Bishop unravels the intricate fretwork of a century-old concert mandolin

Can this early 60s Gibson Southern Jumbo be saved or has it gone belly up?

Charlie Wilkins explores why guitarists crave sustain, how to get it and why some guitars sustain better than others

Fender’s Custom Shop had a precarious start in the mid-1980s, but the story of its formative years is full of big ideas, some bizarre instruments, and a queue of famous guitarists

Nearly 40 years on from the Custom Shop’s inception, its creations are more ambitious than ever. Find out how the team walks the tightrope between ‘canon’ and ‘cannot’, and where its guitars are heading next

As the 514ce is retired from Taylor’s catalogue in Europe, we take a look at the new Builder’s Edition of the same model to examine the upgrades and refinements it brings to the table. A worthy alternative? Let’s take a look