Andy Manson

Andy Manson

Also known as: Andy Manson Custom Guitars, Andy Manson Guitars, Andy Manson Luthier

Unclaimed

Andy Manson is a British luthier who has been hand-building acoustic guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, and multi-necked instruments since 1967. He trained at the London College of Furniture in the late 1960s and opened his first workshop in Sussex in 1969 before later relocating his operation. In 1985 he opened a shop in Devon, England with his brother Hugh Manson (who focused on electric and bass...

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Andy Manson is a British luthier who has been hand-building acoustic guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, and multi-necked instruments since 1967. He trained at the London College of Furniture in the late 1960s and opened his first workshop in Sussex in 1969 before later relocating his operation. In 1985 he opened a shop in Devon, England with his brother Hugh Manson (who focused on electric and bass guitars), a partnership that later became Manson Guitar Works.

Manson's approach is rooted in traditional methods — hand tools, hide glue, and natural finishes — and his output skews toward flat-top acoustics, but he is also known for unusual commissions including collapsible travel guitars and multi-necked instruments. Among his most famous builds are a triple-neck guitar made for John Paul Jones in 1974, combining six-string, twelve-string, and mandolin configurations, and a later triple-neck for Jimmy Page used during the Unledded performances in 1994.

Over the course of his career he has completed roughly 1,200 instruments, with a client list that includes John Paul Jones (for whom he built seventeen instruments over several decades), Jimmy Page, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Andy Summers of The Police, Mike Oldfield, Mark Chadwick of the Levellers, and Irish musician Dónal Lunny.

Andy Manson has 2 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Mandolins and Classical & Nylon-String Guitars. Their gear is featured by 2 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock. Notable users include John Paul Jones and Ian Anderson.

Artists Who Use Andy Manson

John Paul Jones uses 1 Andy Manson product

John Paul Jones

Bassist, Keyboardist · Led Zeppelin

Ian Anderson uses 1 Andy Manson product

Ian Anderson

Singer, Guitarist · Jethro Tull

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