Welcome to our website. We're currently moving web hosts, but feel free to email with enquiries at chris@franklynguitars.com or check out the in stock guitars at Reverb
Chris, located at Franklyn Guitars on the border of Hampshire and Surrey, is dedicated to crafting meticulously handmade guitars and basses. The collection features a blend of contemporary interpretations of timeless designs, inventive combinations, and experimental creations - all crafted to precise specifications. Enjoy the personalised experience of communicating directly with the builder to incorporate custom touches into your instrument.
Check out some of this awesome video of the SkyBeam Juno in action with Jake Leigh.
Jake checks out the Tangerine Scream SkyBeam.
This MM Mutant pickup is all the fun, one coil with Neodymium rare earth Magnets and the other with AlNico 5s. I've set it up so you can have each separately or both in series. Two very different sounding coils.
It'll be at the @wokingguitarshow tomorrow!
Hops and Chewie say "bass approved!". I need to take it apart to finish after dry assembly but I can't stop playing it.
Rhoads inspired V bass anyone? At a smaller 30" scale to stop you having to carry a space ship around with you! This and others will be available to play with at the @wokingguitarshow next month!
A tale of three PRSes. I did some tinkering with some guitars for Stu of @jbbcoversband tonight. Amazing how different three almost identical looking guitars can be. But the mission is to get them playing as well as each other.
Another from the Guitars on Holiday pictures. And no, there's no optical illusion here. This is a 20" inch scale MONSTER. Perfect for travel or alternative/complimentary tunings. Complete with the biggest mega chamfer I've ever done.
I had hoped to have this wicked V bass ready for the Forest of Dean Guitar Show this weekend in Coleford. But sadly no. There'll still be loads of my and other makers guitar related kit on show.
Got some fancy biscecting calipers as a father's day gift to myself from Nick at @goldenmeancalipers because I'm awful at the mental arithmetic needed to divide things by 2 all the time!
#guitartools #guitars #woodworking #carpentry
It's been over a year since we lost our buddy Jurgen, and the guitar build to honour him - the #jurgscup - is coming to an end*
The theme was to use what you've got to build a guitar. Hence the multi species top here and a white limba body I'd thinned too much on another project. I've since put better tuners and pickups in and it's fun to play.
@guitarbuilderscollective
#jurgscup23
* if you've not finished yet, no stress. It's not a competition.
Pickup came with no wiring identification and every forum I can find gives inconsistent results... So let's work out what these wires do!
It's a Wilkinson WJM, so half Music Man half Jazz Bass.
This comically small tape dispenser from Amazon is handy down the dusty end of the fretboard.
Head over to @jake.leigh.guitar 's YouTube channel for a wicked demo of the orange SkyBeam!
#guitar #guitars #electricguitars #electricguitar @alchemypickups #fkln #franklynguitars #skybeam
Bass business card holder!
Seriously though - Daniel @devilandsons has been doing excellent things for the @guitarbuilderscollective community, so get over to his YouTube channel for great community videos and the podcast with regular co-hosts Arran @adairguitars and Scott t @bonehead_guitars
#podcast #guitar #guitarbuilding #diyguitar
Sadly I won't now be at the @myclassicguitars Coventry show with @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk tomorrow now due to illness. But if anyone is near, do go and see the other excellent wares, especially from the BGC people!
Plus a photo of Wurzel showing you how disappointed he is about this.
BGC exhibitors will be;
@danielsguitars
@4thavenueguitars
@rdamplification
@lt_custom_guitars
@sbc_guitars
@mayburyguitars
@brelliottamps
#guitarshow #customguitar #handwiredamp #fxpedals #boutiqueguitars #boutiquepedals #boutiqueamps #oneofakind #highendguitars #guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricgutiars #coventry @franklynguitars
Who ordered the sapele, sheesham, sassafras, Indian rosewood, white limba and meranti top guitar? No-one 😁. But it's for the #jurgscup using what you've got challenge.
#guitar #guitars #recycle #upcycling
@guitarbuilderscollective
Thanks to Chris @kingbespokecreations getting industrious with his offcuts, I have a clock in memory of Jurgen on the wall. If you fancy raising a bit for charity then pick one up via Chris' eBay link in his latest YouTube video.
@guitarbuilderscollective #iamjurgs #jurgscup
No-one: ...
Me: purple metallic with a red fretboard!
A crazy idea I had once. Second partscaster I put together where I wanted to experiment with finishes. It's supposed to be a colour shift paint, but that needs a flat surface and I didn't even grain fill.
#straturday #stratocaster #strat #guitar #electricguitars
Inspired by Ben @lighthouseinstruments arty promo video I thought I'd go film noir... Film NAH more like!
#filmnoir #arthouse #guitar #photography #workinprogress #workbench #onthebench #workinprogress #imadethis
This may seem like a weird photo, but it's one of my favourite memories at @chinaguitarsceptic Mike's house. He gatecrashed the video with Jake and I and was messing around making us laugh and put us at ease.
What a lovely man. Sadly lost to MND.
I only met him once after watching for years, but still gutting.
It's not a Thursday, but these photos popped up on a "This day..." thing of my first ever guitar neck where I thought tying rubber bands to a claw hammer would be just the thing for fretting! 🤣 Well it worked... they're still in the neck!
#tbt #guitar #fretting #throwback #throwbacktuesday #pineguitar
Just reminding myself how awesome this guy looks... too many brown guitars on my feed recently 😜
#franklynguitars #skybeam #guitar #electricguitar #superstrat
I think my modelling game is on point! 🤣😂 Got some shirts made up to wear at shows... But still no idea how to hold a camera or what to do with my face!
Great fast service from @clothes2order
#instamodels #notmydayjob #tshirts
Necks glued in and initially finishing work done on these two basses.
Planning to have these ready for the @wokingguitarshow that's coming up.
Hey! Anywhere near Woking in Surrey in the middle of March?
Come see some beautiful guitars made be some beautiful people... and me!
I now feel fully justified and vindicated in my essential purchase of an embossing label maker three years ago.
The first Forest of Dean Guitar show is this weekend. Organised by @rdamplification and there will be loads of great gear to view. Going on at the same time as the Coleford Music Festival in the Forest of Dean. Do come if you're anywhere near!
#guitars #guitarshow
One Randy Rhoads inspired bass coming up! With an interesting pickup that has separate ceramic and alnico 5 coils for switching fun.
Going to be in Bristol this Sunday with the @boutiqueguitarcollective at the @mojoguitarshowsuk Bristol Guitar Show.
See also awesome offerings from these guys:
@lt_custom_guitars
@mayburyguitars
@sbc_guitars
@rdamplification
@danielsguitars
@brelliottamps
@cmgcustomguitars
@franklynguitars
@burmanguitars
@j_c_guitars
@parkhurst_guitars
@jasguitars
#guitarshow
#bristolguitarshow
#bristolguitarshow2024
#bristol
#bristol2024
#ashtongate
#ashtongatestadium
Come join @sbc_guitars @lt_custom_guitars @mayburyguitars @sempiternalguitars @franklynguitars @collisiondevices and @koolamplification on the @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk stand 80 at the last day of the @theguitarshowuk
Something for all the family! Selection of guitars that I'm bringing to @theguitarshowuk this weekend! Check them on stand 80 with the other awesome @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk exhibitors!
I had a lot of fun with Henning Pauly @eytschpi42 looking at some SkyBeam guitars back at the last @british_boutique_guitar_fest and they sound amazing in his hands. Check out the link via linktree in my profile!
#guitar #electricguitar #guitars #electricguitars #franklynguitars #fkln
Well I think that turned out better than the original plan! Now featuring a flamed walnut accent strip.
Here I am on Threads with guitar nonsense amongst the political infighting, memes and dodgy business experts. Rocking.
#threads #guitar
I should post more photos shouldn't I? Here's a red left handed Skybeam Juno with a @dimarzioinc Super Distortion in soap bar form. I really like this one.
#singlepickupguitar #onepickupguitars #lefthanded #lefthandedguitar #guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars @franklynguitars @guitarbuilderscollective @onepickuppower @onlyonepickup
Amazing how much one can get done in a day when you set your mind to it. Can't wait to get this strung up...
#bassguitar #bass #bassplayer #bassist #music #guitar #bassplayersunited #bassporn #bassgram #instabass #bassplayers #basslife #basstheworld #bassguitarist #electricbass
Anywhere near Coventry on the 15th of October? We'll be at the @myclassicguitars Coventry show with @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk
Our exhibitors will be;
@danielsguitars
@franklynguitars
@4thavenueguitars
@rdamplification
@lt_custom_guitars
@sbc_guitars
@mayburyguitars
And joining us for the first time @brelliottamps
#guitarshow #customguitar #handwiredamp #fxpedals #boutiqueguitars #boutiquepedals #boutiqueamps #oneofakind #highendguitars #guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricgutiars #coventry
Agh! That's this weekend! 😄 Yep looking forward to showing at the @brightonguitarshow with @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk and seeing everyone else. Come and say hi!
#guitar #guitarshow #brighton
G'day Blue! I've always loved a maple board on a blue guitar.
Alder body, flamed maple fretboard, maple laminate neck and @montysguitars Full Monty humbuckers.
Another that'll be at @brightonguitarshow
#franklynguitars #skybeam #monties #electricguitars #electricguitar #guitar #guitars @guitarbuilderscollective #customguitar #boutiqueguitars @osmo_uk #paf #superstrat
One of those days where you take your glasses off to see what you're doing...
#feltcutemightdeletelater
...and party 'round the back?
#guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars #singlepickupguitar #p90 #painting #finishing #blue #red
Refin action. Skybeam 2 was always meant to be blue so trying something to rectify that. The lefty getting some finish love after taking a knock.
#guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars #singlepickupguitar #p90 #p90pickups #skybeam #straturday @franklynguitars @guitarbuilderscollective #refinish
A couple of single pickup #skybeam monsters basking in the floodlights at the Bristol @mojoguitarshowsuk show yesterday.
#guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars #singlepickupguitar #p90 #p90pickups #skybeam #dimarzio #bareknucklepickups @onlyonepickup @bareknucklepickupsofficial @dimarzioinc
Sometimes you just have to let the wood do the talking. And yes, it's left handed and loaded up with some wicked hardware and electronics. Using a sustainiac is LOADS of fun.
Getting Chibby with it. Looks gorgeous when you're watching the light dance through the figure on the top. Plays awful though. High nut action, sympathetic rattling in the headstock, uneven frets, high overall action. Look how pissed up the tuners have been located! The owner already replaced the tuners, the pickups and the electronics. So let's make it nice to play.
#chibson
Time to see if Ben Crowe has completely lost the plot, or if these leather strop inspired fret sanding and polishing sticks from @crimsonguitars are the real deal!
All set up at the @brightonguitarshow in the corner with other @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk people. @jasguitars @danielsguitars @lt_custom_guitars @mayburyguitars and me @chrisfranklyn
Know anyone near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Lewis @lt_custom_guitars has made a convenient video showing how up get yo the guitar show.
I managed to bask in the enjoyment of saying "I've finally got my bearings" about 20 times to my wife* when the rabbeting set arrived. And I can also make the slightly enlarged template I was after too.
* she humours me.
A 30" scale bass and a Alto (52cm) guitar to join us at @theguitarshowuk this week on Stand 80 with @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk. Guitar in middle for scale, will also be there!
There'll also be some non brown guitars! 😀
#guitarshow #ukguitarshow #theguitarshow #guitarshow2024 #guitars2024 #guitar #guitars #electricguitars #electricguitar #fkln #franklynguitars #skybeam
What's a single dog hole called? A dogging spot?!
Handy though for a hold down or clamping things from both sides.
#woodworker #clamps #woodworking #guitarbuilding #headstock
Not every day you take a track saw to a guitar... with the neck already in. ...but if it's not right it's not right! This'll be a 30" bass when completed.
#guitarbuilding #guitar #guitars #bass #bassguitar #ukguitarbuilders #customguitars #customguitar #madeinbritain #madeintheuk #boutiqueguitars
Using this switch for selecting north and/or south coils but keeping them in series for humbucker mode. I didn't want a mini toggle... But mostly I'm in love with the label on it. Like some midcentury space program equipment... Shame I have to take the label off as it makes no sense in this context...
#bass #bassguitarist
#bassguitar #electronics #switch
Finalising what's coming with me to the London International Guitar Show tomorrow. Say hi if you're there tomorrow!
@guitarshowsnorthern #london #londonguitarshow #guitarshow #guitarshows #guitarshowsuk #ukguitarshow #ukguitarshow2023 #guitar #guitars
I'm back on it with an idea for shortscale Skybeam bass on the way! 30" scale, sapele body. Fits comfortably on the #skybeam guitar shape...
#bass #bassguitar @franklynguitars @guitarbuilderscollective #bassplayer #bassist #music #guitar #bassplayersunited #bassporn #bassgram #instabass #bassguitarist #shortscalebass
In the last days of summer sun, this'll be ripe enough to pick soon.
#jurgscup #iamjurgs @guitarbuilderscollective
It was an absolute pleasure to be stationed opposite Matt and George from @montysguitars at @brightonguitarshow and very generous of them to send me home with their instrument and montypresso waxes to try. Cheers!
I appear to have all my guitars tuned up and ready for @brightonguitarshow. That leaves tomorrow to panic about finding all the other little #guitarshow bits and bobs.
Oh look, it's something on Threads that I haven't put here first! Was having fun watching the wood figure moving around under a passing light.
Found this on a forum, didn't make it but it's to cool to see these car colours next to the guitars they were used on.
#stratocaster #dakotared #lakeplacidblue #daphneblue #burgundymist #surfgreen #fiestared #shellpink #sonicblue #fender #electricguitars
Slow week for guitars, but can't wait to get this strung up...
#guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars #singlepickupguitar @onlyonepickup @singlepickupguitars @dimarzioinc @osmo_uk #customguitar #boutiqueguitars #britishguitars #madeinbritain #lefthandedguitar
Blue with two applications and red with just its first of @osmo_uk Intense colours. Experimenting with ways of bringing flat colours to the party.
#red #blue #guitar #guitars #electricguitar #electricguitars #fkln #franklynguitars #singlepickupguitar #p90 #p90pickups #colours #woodfinishing #osmo @guitarbuilderscollective
If you've ever had to remove the finish from inside the horns of a guitar you'll know what a hateful task it is. With the neck already attached I was dreading it further!
@triton_tools Portable Spindle Sander made very quick work of it. I normally mount it in my router table, but handheld made it possible over the edge of the bench.
#guitar #guitars #tools
#powertools #triton #tritontools #wood #woodworking #woodworker #woodwork #luthier @guitarbuilderscollective
Sadly no FKLN badged @franklynguitars were involved in the making of the wicked new @metallica album 72 Seasons but I couldn't resist playing with their logo maker...
#metallica #72seasons #metal #thrashmetal
The @boutique_guitar_collectiveuk will be banding together at @myclassicguitars in Northampton. Know anyone in the area, send them our way! 😁
@sbc_guitars @lt_custom_guitars @mayburyguitars @rdamplification @bispellaudio @devilandsons @danielsguitars @franklynguitars
#throwback to this ridiculous beast of a headless, multiscale, carve top, through neck, offset, multi laminate fan fret SG in sparkle yellow. I was trying to be different 🤣
#throwbackthursday #multiscaleguitars #fanfret #sg #guitar #guitars #electricguitar #guitarist #guitarplayer #sparkle
#glitter @guitarbuilderscollective #multiscale