Pickard Acoustics - handbuilt acoustic flat-top steel-string guitars, mandolins, mandolas, bouzoukis, citterns, etc. |
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My Pickard Mandola is a joy to play and beautifully made. I play it in sessions and occasionally Ceilidh dances. It always gets attention from musicians that have not seen one before and sounds perfect. There is more volumne and woody tone in the instrument than anything else I play - it has real character. Thanks Ivor.
Matthew Gerring, Oxford, April 2008. Ivor. I would like to let you know what a fine job you have done. Because of work and recent flood precautions I have not had chance to really play and assess the guitar. The tonal balance and sustain are much improved, it really is a joy to play. Thanks very much. Paul Everitt, July 2007. Thanks for the fabulous repair on my 1943 Martin 0-15 - it should be good for another sixty-odd years now! Andrew Lawson, May 2007. As I, once again, pick up the Octave mandola that you made for me 18 years ago to put it in its case to go to play yet another gig, I suddenly felt I thought to contact you to thank you. I put a SDP pick-up in it as soon as I got it and I am still using it today without any problems. Averaging around 40 barn dance gigs a year since then, I imagine that it is probably the most gigged of all the instruments that you have made - not to mention the instrument's many visits to folk clubs, sessions and festivals...... Vic Smith, September 2006. What a fabulous job you did on my Yamaha 12 string!! It plays like a dream. As usual you understate your talents by miles. Thanks very much indeed. Andrew Lawson, February 2006. I have been the very happy owner of one of your bouzoukis for about 10 years now ... that I bought S/H and which is still going strong. Roger Gall, June 2005. My latest Pickard continues to improve. It was a little similar to the mahogany six, inasmuch as I was a little disappointed with the overall volume but particularly the treble. I thought at first that I had gone a size too far for my taste. However, after a couple of weeks it had loosened its tonsils and was singing like a lark on a sunny afternoon. The appointments are brilliant. The neck is the best that I have on any guitar that I own! Andrew Lawson, April 2005. I just got a beautiful Pickard octave mandola (number 37-OM) via The Music Room. Well made and finished, with a remarkable and (for me) highly desirable bright tone. Really audible in sessions! A great acquisition, congratulations on making such good instruments! Pete Timmins, April 2004. Pleased to see you are making instruments again - I was told some while ago that you'd given up - used one of your Octave mandolas ... professionally for years - it always sounds great and attracts a deal of interest. Peter L.Sharp, November 2003. It was great to hear that Pickard have started building instruments again. I would recommend the acoustic guitars and mandolins to anyone and have seen an excellent Octave Mandola. My own acoustic guitar was purchased directly from Ivor in 1991, is kind of a largish body, but with a tighter waist and smaller fore end than a dreadnought. Also it has a slimmer body with a bent back that reflects the vibrations out of the sound hole. I think this design gives the umph of a good dreadnought, but without the tubby, boomy overtones. It has a Spruce top, for brightness and Mahogany back/sides for warmth, usually my favorite combination. The unusual strutting pattern probably gives it a fairly unique blend of sweet but cutting treble, loads of punch and presence, with a solid (not boomy) bass and huge volume, which doesn't run away with itself on sustain. The neck is comfortably fully dimensioned, rather than the usual, current crop of cramp inducing, electric guitar inspired slim jobs, which rarely hold the tuning properly. It is a great all rounder, although more for the strummer who does some picking, than for a dedicated fingerstyle player. The small bodied versions would be the ones for most pickers. I've played the hell out of it for years in late night sessions, plus amplified in "Sixteen String Jack", a very loud folk rock band which toured in Europe, plus in "Hurry The Jug Barn Dance Band" and an Irish Pub band called "Rattling Gate". It has had numerous re-frets due to my general heavy handedness and also survived having the headstock knocked clean off after falling onto a stone floor in a pub, then being glued back on by Paul Hathway. From the mid 90's the instrument was also used as a tool to help design and fine tune the sound of Headway Electronics active under saddle pickup systems, which are now being exported to South Korea in quantity, in a coals to Newcastle manner, as well as supplying lots of much smaller, high end makers. If anyone is taking some time out to meet Ivor in Binbrook, Lincolnshire, I am sure they will think it well worth the trip. Also they have good fish & chips shops up there. John Littler, Headway Electronics (Partner), September 2003. Built in 1984, my guitar has well stood the test of time and gives me the beautiful mellow but strong sound I want. I'd love to have a sticker saying 'my other one's a Lowden', but this would always be the first choice. Sheila Mosley, May 2003. Many folks ask me who made the cittern...it does sound superb...probably has something to do with the heavyish strings and the pin bridge...and the guy who made it...but it has MUCH more depth of sound than anything else I've played or heard....If you would like an endorsement for your site would be glad to oblige... Pete Sumner, May 2003. You’ve done it again. My new guitar is absolutely magnificent. It looks better than I expected and sounds better than I thought possible. Also your latest design refinements are to be applauded. Will this be my fourth and final Pickard? Andrew Lawson, April 2003. Although it is certainly another very beautiful guitar, with the same high standard of workmanship, the sound is where it scores the highest marks. I really do believe that this man's talents deserve recognition.It has been very difficult to put it back in its case, I just want to play it all the time. The string to string balance is very even. The intonation is perfect and it just sings. Andrew Lawson, July 1991. It is now several weeks since I took delivery of my twelve-string guitar and I would like to give you some of my thoughts. It is almost unbelievable. The standard of finish is second to none; even on the closest inspection. However, it is not just a very beautiful guitar. It sounds rich and full with an even balance from bass to treble. Even though it is a twelve-string it is extremely responsive and capable of great subtlety. It plays effortlessly and the sound is just magnificent. If it is played hard it stays with you all the way and loses none of its clarity. I can hardly wait for the improvement that its maturity will undoubtedly bring. Should any of your prospective clients wish to see it or contact me, I would be happy to oblige. I thank you for your time and effort on my behalf for my superb guitar. I recommend your work to anyone, without hesitation or reservation. Andrew Lawson, November 1990. |
Last updated:
April 2008 |
Acoustic guitars, mandolins, octave mandolas, bouzoukis, citterns, banjos, ukuleles are all handbuilt. Six-string and twelve-string guitars are both available. All instruments are flat-top, flat-back, steel-string and can be customised at affordable prices. Repairs and after sales service available and ordering is simple. Specifications include tonewood, inlay, binding, purfling, neck, fingerboard, bridge, peghead, nut, saddle, bone, ebony, rosewood, mahogany, spruce, bracing, strutting, frets and body size. 
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ickard Acoustics