Tom Sands Guitars

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Tom Sands Guitars

Tom Sands builds some of the most responsive custom acoustic guitars available in the world today.

08/03/2026

‘Calida’ - German Spruce, Brazilian Rosewood Model S. An absolute corker presented for you here by .
A couple of years ago, what I can only describe as a ‘once in a lifetime’ stash of outrageous Brazilian rosewood came into my life, comprising of 9 or 10 sequential sets of the most astonishing Rio. I’ll never forget laying the sets out on the workshop shop floor with Our Ted, completely gob smacked by the beauty and on the verge of weeping. 2 sets are gone now, 4 more spoken for, all with papers enabling me to ship worldwide. ‘Calida’ now lives in Hong Kong 🇭🇰.

02/03/2026

Things I’ve seen this past week.
and at Will McNicol’s Guitar Getaway in The Purbecks - Katie is playing her signature Model M in and Royal Fenland Oak.
and playing .ripon - Ellie is playing her Native guitar in spalted sycamore and cherry.
Getting out of the workshop and seeing music being played on the guitars me and Our Ted have built never gets old. It’s mad really.

25/02/2026

A snippet from our latest shop session with Ellie Gowers. Ellie is playing her Native guitar, ‘Mossy’ made entirely from English hardwoods. The back and sides are spalted sycamore and the neck is wild cherry rescued from a bonfire over 20 years ago. Head over to YouTube for the full session, it’s a dream.

23/02/2026

Ellie’s guitar ‘Mossy’ - The first of a new ‘Native Range’ of guitars. Made completely from English hardwoods. Our take on a Martin 0-15 and specifically inspired by the ones played by John Frusciante, even more specifically the one he shreds on during a performance of ‘Venice Queen’ live at Slaine Castle. IYKYK.
This guitar is made from some rather lovely spalted sycamore and some cherry I rescued from a bonfire about 20 years ago. Finished in hardwax oil. Simple.

22/02/2026

A beautiful new Shop Session with is live over on YouTube. Ellie is playing her Native model in spalted sycamore and cherry.
Ellie is playing a sold out show this Thursday .ripon - rumour is there might be room for a few small ones…

07/02/2026

‘Edith’ - Fenland Black Oak, Santa Cruz Redwood. Model S12

05/02/2026

A word on raking - This guitar features a brushed or ‘raked’ finish. The process involves scrubbing the wood with a wire brush to gently abrade and remove the softer early growth fibres leaving a gorgeous textured surface. We specifically use a bronze bristled brush for this technique as not to scratch the late wood and medullary figure. Oak lends itself beautifully to this technique given its open grain structure and highly contrasting seasonal growth. Once the raking is complete, we apply a couple of coats of a hard wax oil and that’s it! An absolutely gorgeous, tactile and traditional finish.

04/02/2026

‘Edith’ - Model S12 in Santa Cruz Redwood and Black Oak. Gloss top, scrubbed and oiled back and sides (sounds like a haircut) this combo doesn’t miss 😮‍💨Shout out to my Mexican soul sister for hooking me up with the best redwood around 💖 Demo by the worlds greatest acoustic guitarist

28/12/2025

The greatest acoustic guitar player in the world? plays ‘Aguta’, a Tom Sands Model M12 in Brazilian Rosewood and Glacia aged Sitka Spruce from Alaska.

27/12/2025

‘Aguta’ - Brazilian Rosewood, Ancient Sitka, Copper. Gorgeous colours!

21/12/2025

Our beautiful custom tuners with Brazilian rosewood buttons over a glorious patinated copper backstrap.

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Ripon

Website

http://www.tomsandsguitars.com/

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