About Me - Potipher Guitars

What makes Potipher Guitars

Hand built Guitars of the highest quality.

Get the most out of music

Guitars built by Simon Potipher

I have been building guitars since 2002, - I was a late starter with learning guitar …… I had always wanted to play since childhood, but my start came at age 33!

Within the following weeks I became hooked & within months I decided to build my first electric, - a swamp ash Telecaster with maple neck! I already had an engineering background, & have been able to put this to good use over the years. I continued to build electric guitars for friends for a number of years, but always thought that acoustics were beyond my skill level.

In 2010 I decided to go for it & build what I thought was going to be my only acoustic build, & to incorporate the features I wanted, ……… OM body, scoop cutaway, & arm bevel. I sourced the best woods I could afford & set about making this guitar using an excellent book by Johnny Kinkade as my guide.

The following months progressing through this build took my enjoyment to a completely different level, & I began to realise that this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life!

That first guitar (known as Scar - it has a bit of a story to it!) has been my go to guitar for the past 10 years, & is always a joy to play.

Since then I have mostly concentrated on acoustic builds, - covering OM, Dreadnought, 00, & a beautiful tenor Ukulele, - all built to commission.

During this time I felt privileged to become part of an amazing group of people that build the most amazing instruments, all across the world, & realising that it is a very supportive niche that encourage & help each other rather be in competition.

On this journey I have met some of the most talented musicians & guitar builders that have become good friends ……… it has been gift that keeps giving ……it’s simply just good for the soul!

Testimonials

About my clients

I take great care of my customers, and will make sure they are completely satisfied before finishing a build or repair.

As a professional musician my guitar is like an extension of me, to hand it over is like entrusting a loved one to someone that is going to take the care, time & attention to replenish it with a new lease of life. My guitar needed a refret & some TLC to the body, Simon returned the guitar gleaming with new polished frets, a new bone nut & saddle, & repair to a chip in the lacquer on the body. I would recommend Simon for any guitar work requiring care & attention to detail to the highest standard.

Emily Slade Professional musician, folk singer songwriter. Nomminee for best newcomer for BBC 2 radio folk awards.

Simon is a highly skilled luthier and guitar tech who takes the greatest pride in his work. He’s also the loveliest of fellows and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that his customers are happy. He’s carried out a number of jobs [re-frets/cosmetic customisations and repairs] for myself and other guitar-playing friends, and on each occasion I have been more than delighted with the results. I’ve also had the pleasure of trying some of the guitars Simon’s made; his “Reverend D” dreadnought acoustic is by far the very best acoustic I have ever played… Be it a simple string change or bringing you dream custom-built guitar to life, I highly recommend Simon’s services to anyone.

Mickey Davenport Musician, tutor, owner/manager of Galleria Guitars Ltd (Leighton Buzzard)

“Simon is a consummate craftsman. Very welcoming and informative with great attention to detail. He re-fretted and set up my Fender Telecaster so well that it feels like it could now play by itself! I have no hesitation in recommending his services."

David Bridges May 2023 - Musician

'Simon's work is really first rate. He's done several repairs and modifications for me, including bringing back to life a broken lap steel that had languished 50 years in a friend's cupboard. He's a quick worker, a pleasure to deal with and his prices are always reasonable.

Peter Stokes Guitarist with OMJ big band, Jazz 56 sextet and retired guitar teacher from Bedfordshire

"I took my acoustic guitar to Simon because of a dodgy connection to the pickup. He replaced with a new, more reliable pickup very quickly and reasonably. I will definitely have further work on my guitars done by him."

Edmond Musician from Bedfordshire

“I use Potipher guitars regularly to maintain and service my electric and acoustic instruments … service and quality is totally reliable, workmanship is outstanding and they provide excellent value for money ….. honest people who love guitars as much as I do ! Simon also builds guitars from scratch and I have just placed an order for a high spec. acousto -electric which I look forward to playing at gigs and open mics”

Peter C. Musician from Hertfordshire

“Simon did an excellent job setting up my electric guitars. Turnaround was fast and the cost very reasonable.”

John L. Musician from Hertfordshire

“We were given Simon’s name at the local guitar shop when looking for someone to repair my son’s electric guitar which had sustained a chip to the base. He was professional, reassuring and delivered a very good result having repaired the damage & matched the colour almost exactly . Additionally it was great that he was local too.”

Helen Musician from Bedfordshire

Simon has actually built me an acoustic guitar. He excels with respect to his knowledge on the type of tones that different woods produce for tops, backs and sides of a guitar. He provided me with great advice and support in picking the woods to get the tone I wanted. His attention to detail and finishing touches are excellent. His passion matches his build quality. No request was too much trouble. He is so approachable and always strives to provide a service that’s second to none. You can’t pick a more committed individual who wants to deliver a great quality of service.

Mike P. Pembrokeshire

Potipher guitars is my go to solution for anything guitar related. Simon is a very honest and helpful guy . My first experience was a discussion regarding a guitar pick up that had been written off by another tech, Simon took it and days later it was back and fully working! Since then I have had several great set ups and many friends now use Potipher Guitars.

Tony O Hertfordshire

I highly recommend Simon. He’s worked on a couple of my guitars and I couldn’t be happier. I think the main difference I find is Simon’s talent for understanding what I need and his genuine passion for building, fixing and setting up guitars.

Jamey D Buckinghamshire

My current demo Guitar

hand built by simon potipher

THE REVEREND D

Based on a Martin D28 Design with rear shifted, scalloped bracing. Adirondack Red Spruce top and Ovangkol back and sides, Honduran mahogany one piece neck. Ebony appointments, and Waverley butterbean tuners.

Hand Made

Each Guitar is hand built from scratch using the finest woods and resources. Depending on clients wishes a number of different finishes can be applied.

See Acoustic Builds

See Electric Builds

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