Ancoats' guitars are made by David Roberts in a converted I shipping container in Pollard Yard, Manchester. "It was an old parking lot or something, but it now has around 130 shipping containers - just a lined empty container with patio doors on the front - and everyone's turned them into their own start-up businesses," David tells us. After attending an evening class at Merton College in London about a decade ago, before relocating to Manchester, David sold his first Ancoats guitar around three years ago and now splits his time as a radiographer and guitar maker 50/50.
The New Islington - which, like the brand, is also named after an area in Manchester - was David's first original design, and the guitar you see here is the recently upgraded version three. It's based on two of David's favourite guitars, a double-cut Gibson Les Paul Junior melded with some Rickenbacker style, but among his main inspirations are Matt Oram's Fidelity Guitars. "I don't think I'd be doing this without him," muses David. "He is kind of a trailblazer, one of the best independent guitar makers around."
It's certainly an original vision, but it's quite a flexible platform, too. For example, the base model comes with an ABM 3250 hardtail through-strung bridge, while ours swaps that for the Göldo DG Shorty vibrato you see here (with a roller saddle bridge) that looks like it came off some 50s European build. And while David is yet another fan of lightweight obeche for the body, here you can swap that for swamp ash. There's also a choice of scale length, fingerboard radius, pickup style and a huge colour choice from The Little Green Paint Company, also based in Manchester.
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Guitarist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Guitarist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
QUICK CHANGE
As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop line-up, Dave Burrluck revisits this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar
Return Of The Rack
A revered rackmount digital delay makes a welcome comeback in pedal form.
Pure Filth
This all-analogue preamp pedal based on Blues Saraceno's amp is a flexible powerhouse with a variety of roles.
Reptile Royalty
From Queen to King - there's another Electro-Harmonix royal vying for the crown of octave distortion
Tradition Revisited
Line 6 refreshes its Helix-based modelling amp range by doubling the number of available amp voicings - and more
Ramble On
Furch's travel guitar folds down so you can transport it in its own custom backpack and, the company claims, it returns to pitch when you reassemble it. Innovation or gimmick?
Redrawing The 'Bird
A fascinating reimagining of one of Gibson's more out-there designs, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound...
1965 Fender Jazz Bass
\"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.
Boss Cube Street II
Regular readers will know that the last time I took the Boss Cube Street II out, I was in rehearsal for a debut gig in London.
STILL CRAZY
One of the most creative yet reliably great-sounding effects makers out there, Crazy Tube Circuits grew out of a fetish for old valve amps. We meet founder Christos Ntaifotis to find out more