With Summer just around the corner, It usually means guitar shows are starting up again. For me, first up this year was String Break, held at Roosters Taproom in Harrogate. Guitars are a great way for me to show off my guitars and get a lot of people trying them!
I had a special guitar to make just for this show, and I had held onto a special piece of African Ebony for over 8 years. Which to be honest I had forgotten about until I sifted through the wood pile when I moved workshop.
I decided to make an S-12 Model guitar. I used bearclaw Italian Spruce for the soundboard, reclaimed Cuban Mahogany for the neck, and the African Ebony set for the back and sides. The guitar also features the McClaren signature 24 carat gold rosette.
The show took place at Roosters Taproom in Harrogate on 30th May 2026. The show is organised by Tom Sands of Tom Sands Guitars and features 25 guitar makers from around the world. The show also features masterclasses from guitarists Will McNicol and John Smith, as well as concerts from Toria Wooff , John Smith and Adam Miller. The show was sponsored by Stewmac, LR Baggs, Ernie Ball and Elixir strings.
The show started at 12 and ran till 10pm, there was plenty of trying guitars and chatting away to people. And because it’s held in a brewery, most people had a pint in hand!
Fortunately, I had my friends George Boomsma and Maxim Yarushkin helping me on the stand on the day, they did a great job of showing off the McClaren Guitar! Hopefully there will be another String Break in 2027!
Other luthiers included,
Tom Sands (www.tomsandsguitars.com)
Ian Dickinson (www.guitarworkshopglasgow.com/)
Oliver Marchant (www.marchwoodguitars.com)
Jamie Swannell (www.swannellguitars.co.uk)
Brendan O’Gorman (www.ogormanguitars.com)
Oska Burman (www.oskaburmanguitars.com)
Matt Oram – Fidelity Guitars (www.fidelity-guitars.co.uk)
Dan Hall – Molyneaux Guitars (www.molyneauxguitars.com)
Sam McClaren (mcclarenguitars.co.uk)
Rory Dowling – Taran Guitars (www.taranguitars.co.uk)
Isaac Kahir (www.cranmerguitars.co.uk)
Rosie Heydenrych – Turnstone Guitars (www.turnstoneguitar.co.uk)
Naia Simon
Mear & Gray Guitars (mearandgray.com)
Giuliano Nicoletti (https://www.iuliusguitars.com/)
Virgile Pilon (https://www.blindguitars.com/)
PJD Guitars (https://www.pjdguitars.com/)
Alex Bishop (https://www.alexbishopguitars.com/)
Max Spohn (https://www.spohnguitars.com/)
Viviens Guitars
JKM Guitars (https://www.jkmguitars.com/)
Thompson & Ball Guitars (https://www.thompsonandballguitars.com/)
Dan Moar (https://moarguitars.com/)
Blanchflower Guitars (https://www.blanchflowerguitars.com/)
