I've been checking out Nick Benjamin, Alex Willis, Richard Osborne and Ian Chisholm in advance of the day I may consider myself worthy of a custom instrument (some way off, definitely).

Ian uses Nick as a "consultant" when there's a particularly interesting technical detail to work out. He's also currently building an archtop mandolin at a series of workshops with Richard Osborne.

We're very lucky to have a clutch of excellent luthiers clustered in and around Lewes - and also very lucky to have some good specialist wood dealers so close. Bob, who runs Timberline in Tonbridge, is also a part-time luthier, and Dave Dyke, who has his own wood business in Horam, is a skilled player.

(Don't worry about the extra smiley - my tongue was also glued to the inside of my cheek!)