Summer festivals 2026
Excited to announce that we'll be at Wickham (July 30th - August 2nd), Shrewsbury (August 26thth-30th), Swanage (September 11th-13th) and the 'Old-time' King Harvest Festival (September 25th - 27th)
Workshop news
A very busy winter turning out five custom instruments: a D-Style guitar, two guitar-octave mandolins, an archtop mandolin and a soprano ukulele!!
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The B&H range of instruments - made for sessions!
I primarily focus on making mandolin family instruments which I play regularly in our band 'Bridestone' and at local sessions
Celtic style mandolins Flat top or archtop constructions with various tone woods. Tremendous projection and tone. More information here
Celtic octave Mandolins Big sounding instruments with carved arched tops and carved or flat backs. Soundport on top bout as standard. These have a 21" scale which is suited to both tune playing and accompaniment. More information here
Guitar octave mandolins A new design instrument with a 23" scale, large bout and a top with V bracing giving a massive mid and bottom end tone. K&K pickup fitted as standard. The optional arm bevel makes this very comfortable to hold and play. More information here
I also make bouzoukis, guitars, citterns and ukuleles.... :)
Celtic octave Mandolins Big sounding instruments with carved arched tops and carved or flat backs. Soundport on top bout as standard. These have a 21" scale which is suited to both tune playing and accompaniment. More information here
Guitar octave mandolins A new design instrument with a 23" scale, large bout and a top with V bracing giving a massive mid and bottom end tone. K&K pickup fitted as standard. The optional arm bevel makes this very comfortable to hold and play. More information here
I also make bouzoukis, guitars, citterns and ukuleles.... :)
Instruments available now
I usually have a stock of hand made mandolins octave mandolins, guitars and ukuleles for sale - see the 'instruments for sale' tab for details, but get in touch as there are always more in the pipeline!
Commissioning a custom instrument
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I mainly make mandolins, mandolas, octave mandolins and bouzoukis which all have fabulous tone, playability and attention to detail at a reasonable cost. I also make the odd guitar, cittern, weissenborne or ukulele so do get in touch to discuss a commission to build an instrument to your specification and budget... or find out more here |
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Set-ups and repairs
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I am an experienced player of electric and acoustic instruments who can accurately set up tour instrument for best playability and tone.
I can fit pickups pickups undertake partial or full, refrets and carry out minor repairs - please get in touch. Please note I do not undertake restorations of antique instruments (e.g. bowl-back mandolins) but might be able to put you in touch with luthiers who could help. find out more here |
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Hand-cast tailpieces in bronze... or solid silver...
The archtop mandolin family instruments come with a bespoke hand-made cast bronze tailpiece. These add volume and sustain to the instrument as energy from the string is reflected back to the bridge and not dissipated into the back of the instrument. Choose from the unique caltic harp design or a classic simple trapeze style. Both can accomodate loop or ball-end strings.
Some testimonials...
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...and the sound of our instruments played by a few well known faces who came to the trade stand...Mike McGoldrickTim EadyKieran Szifris (Katherine Tickell)Rupert and Niles from Often Heard
Simon Cattermole (Courtiers)
Jock McLelland (The men from county hell)
Daygan Robinson (Dragonsfly)
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From Ian Dennis March 2025 I’ve been playing mandolin for about 4 years now, mostly on an instrument on generous extended loan. In summer 2025 I decided it was time to upgrade and to buy my own Celtic mandolin. Dave’s flat top model was perfect for my needs. Beautiful tone, powerful sound and incredible sustain (around 9 seconds on the bottom strings). The wider neck makes chord playing much easier. All at a very reasonable price. My mandolin playing has come on in leaps and bounds since the purchase. Our friend and tutor, mandolin maestro Simon Mayor, has graced the instrument twice – including at a recent workshop – and was very appreciative, as were the other players.
I entrusted my Mike Vanden mandolin to B&H Mandolins for fret dressing, fretboard cleaning and set up. They have performed an excellent job on my best Mando and it sounds superb. Thanks to Dave for his excellent and speedy workmanship. EJM Edwards July 2024
Dave has done some superb work on 3 of my instruments, including my much-loved old Martin D-18 (he restored a sticky and claggy finish to a level I wouldn’t have thought possible.) I’ve also been impressed by the quality of the instruments he has built and may well ask him to make one for me some day!
MOT for a Gordon Smith Tele and American Schecter nicely executed. I definitely recommend Dave's services.
I was having trouble with a new octave mandolin that hadn't been set up correctly in the shop. I emailed Dave and he responded really quickly and we set up an appointment for me to take it by. He was able to set it up properly for me and answered all my questions while he was at it!
Dave is super friendly and gave my Martin acoustic some much needed TLC. It now plays like the first day I purchased it. I would highly recommend Him for any guitar work. His own build guitars also look superb! Will absolutely use again.
After waiting 8 years for a Viola Braguesa I found the right maker. Dave said he’d not heard of them but that didn’t stop him. Within a few days he’d sorted the details. I was initially nervous but friends who bought hand made instruments by him were in no doubt. It took him only a month & the result was a bright clear sound with easy action on the finger board. The design classic, with some Mattey original touches. His care & attention to detail exceptional. He experimented with different tunings & was able to advise on the best tuning for sessions. It sounds like a ringing small 12 string guitar but with ten strings. Mr Mattey is a master. March 2023
I took a rather beaten up Martin to Dave and asked him to repair damage to the soundboard and carry out a partial refret. The end result is way better than I was hoping for. The improvement to the soundboard is incredible (see the pics) and with the partial refret and set up, the guitar is playing beautifully. Great craftsmanship for a very reasonable price and a lovely chap to chat with to boot! March 2023
Two jobs: First, a complete overhaul and new Lindy Fralin pick-ups fitted to my 1980s Fender Telecaster. Second, a restoration and deep-clean of my 40-year-old Ovation Adamas. Both beautifully done. The Adamas is like a new guitar once more. And the Tele plays wonderfully and sounds fantastic. Great work, thank you! Highly recommended. January 2023
I first met Dave from B&H Mandolins on his stand at Wickham Festival 2022 when I stopped to admire the beautiful instruments that he had made. We discussed some 'issues' with my mandolin (not B&H). I followed up our chat and recently had Dave make the changes that he had suggested. I am delighted with the work done and the service and advice that I received. Dave is a really nice guy, he is interesting, willingly shares his knowledge and experience, and his work is of a very high standard. I am very glad to have met him., January 2023
Dave has done some superb work on 3 of my instruments, including my much-loved old Martin D-18 (he restored a sticky and claggy finish to a level I wouldn’t have thought possible.) I’ve also been impressed by the quality of the instruments he has built and may well ask him to make one for me some day!
MOT for a Gordon Smith Tele and American Schecter nicely executed. I definitely recommend Dave's services.
I was having trouble with a new octave mandolin that hadn't been set up correctly in the shop. I emailed Dave and he responded really quickly and we set up an appointment for me to take it by. He was able to set it up properly for me and answered all my questions while he was at it!
Dave is super friendly and gave my Martin acoustic some much needed TLC. It now plays like the first day I purchased it. I would highly recommend Him for any guitar work. His own build guitars also look superb! Will absolutely use again.
After waiting 8 years for a Viola Braguesa I found the right maker. Dave said he’d not heard of them but that didn’t stop him. Within a few days he’d sorted the details. I was initially nervous but friends who bought hand made instruments by him were in no doubt. It took him only a month & the result was a bright clear sound with easy action on the finger board. The design classic, with some Mattey original touches. His care & attention to detail exceptional. He experimented with different tunings & was able to advise on the best tuning for sessions. It sounds like a ringing small 12 string guitar but with ten strings. Mr Mattey is a master. March 2023
I took a rather beaten up Martin to Dave and asked him to repair damage to the soundboard and carry out a partial refret. The end result is way better than I was hoping for. The improvement to the soundboard is incredible (see the pics) and with the partial refret and set up, the guitar is playing beautifully. Great craftsmanship for a very reasonable price and a lovely chap to chat with to boot! March 2023
Two jobs: First, a complete overhaul and new Lindy Fralin pick-ups fitted to my 1980s Fender Telecaster. Second, a restoration and deep-clean of my 40-year-old Ovation Adamas. Both beautifully done. The Adamas is like a new guitar once more. And the Tele plays wonderfully and sounds fantastic. Great work, thank you! Highly recommended. January 2023
I first met Dave from B&H Mandolins on his stand at Wickham Festival 2022 when I stopped to admire the beautiful instruments that he had made. We discussed some 'issues' with my mandolin (not B&H). I followed up our chat and recently had Dave make the changes that he had suggested. I am delighted with the work done and the service and advice that I received. Dave is a really nice guy, he is interesting, willingly shares his knowledge and experience, and his work is of a very high standard. I am very glad to have met him., January 2023
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