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Chris George Guitars
It is with deep sadness that I am informing you of the death of Chris George, who passed away at home on 3rd June following a struggle with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), a cruel neurological condition which he battled with for over three years. He will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his wife, friends, family and musicians alike. Chris led a very full life as a teacher, headteacher and guitar builder and he has left an amazing legacy with the beautiful guitars he made for friends and musicians.
Donations in Chris’ memory will be for the benefit of both St Barnabas Hospice and PSPA, and may be made via his tribute page.
Tribute taken from Hunter Muskett website:
Chris George - original Musketeer
24 January 1947- 3 June 2026
We are very sad to report that our dear friend and co-conspirator Chris George has died after a lengthy illness.
Chris first began playing with Terry and Doug at Avery Hill College back in 1968. Bert Jansch was everyone’s hero and Chris decided to build himself a guitar using an instruction book by John Bailey, Bert’s luthier. It was a sign of things to come.
When a deal with Decca arrived, and the name Hunter Muskett was adopted, the trio found themselves playing alongside Pentangle bassist Danny Thompson. Time for Chris to build again - this time a fretless bass guitar.
His next project was a little left-field for a Jansch fanatic. He decided to incorporate electric guitar, with duties to be shared between himself and Doug - another George production. If this, together with the PA Chris had already built, proved something of a departure for 1970s folk clubs, his next move, the ‘Cecil Sharp distortion booster’, was the coup de grace - the first pedal board we had ever seen.
While Terry wrote the songs and Doug bent the riffs Chris’ inventive guitar lines and tricky low harmonies were at the core of the sound. Meanwhile his practical skills got the band on the road. He provided a van, painted it and kept it running. There is a memory of us stranded on the M1, and Chris vanishing into the night to return hours later with the vital component. We missed the gig, but got home.
In Muskett there was always humour and Chris became master of the pithy one-liner - often perfectly judged. He was up for a bit of honesty too, memorably launching his guitar at a wall in Bedford College, and later, offering a deft ‘V’ sign to two thousand punters at Manchester Free Trade Hall. On the same tour he saved the day at a sold-out Festival Hall when he was the only one to realise we had forgotten to turn the PA on - a fortuitous ice-breaker.
Chris was not only player, luthier and innovator but problem-solver extraordinaire - once even using a Woolworth’s John Bull printing kit to forge the carnet for a European tour. Sadly even he wasn't able to solve the world oil crisis, and in 1974 the band split. Happily we were still around 36 years later to have another go, and once again it was Chris who provided the wherewithal. He bought a PA, built a practice room and provided the hospitality (admittedly with a little help from Mu’).
Of course Hunter Muskett was just a corner of Chris’ life, but a corner he cared about deeply. It’s hard to believe we are writing this. Rest well old friend -‘hope to see you By and By.’
Guitars
Our aim is to make each Chris George guitar unique and special to the owner. Each guitar should take on it's own identity; whether it be an acoustic archtop or electric resonator - or any point in between!
There is no production line and there is no batch building. Every guitar is focused on individually for the customer. Each guitar may be loved and cherished but above all it is made to be played and played. If you would like to discuss your own custom build then please contact us by by phone or e-mail and, of course, you are very welcome to visit us to explore details and options in greater depth. There can be up to a six month waiting list but this does vary. Allow about 6 weeks for your guitar to be built from the time we start the build.
Prices start from £1800 but vary dependent upon the options that you choose.
Acoustic
Different players demand different guitars, big bold brash strummers, delicate pickers, earthy slide players or the mellowness of nylon strings.
Electric
The electric guitar is a modern design icon and a custom build is your chance to blend all the designs and features that you have ever wanted to create your perfect instrument.
Electro-Acoustic
These are dedicated electros - rather than acoustic with pick ups. They are designed to be played plugged in, often in a band situation (and as we all know drummers can't turn down). However they may be softly noodled whilst watching television and they don't annoy the dog too much.
Variax
Chris George Guitars is one of the leading exponents of combining digital modelling technology with beautiful custom builds, with or without magnetic pickups.
Reviews
"I discovered Chris George when he sent me a photo of one of his superb instruments. We had both been experimenting with Line 6's Variax technology and had both concluded that the technology was superior to the guitar it came with! Chris had loaded Variax guts into what, when I actually got to see it, was a simply superb instrument.
I subsequently commissioned an instrument from Chris and when I went to pick up the guitar my initial faith was confirmed - another superbly made six-string. But what impressed me most was the fact that he built exactly what I wanted. Too many custom builders build you what they want. Not Chris. From the finish, the neck shape, the tuners, the fretwire. it all was spot on to my specification. But a specification list doesn't make a great guitar. Chris took these ingredients and turned them into something far greater. I honestly believe his own single-cutaway outline is up there with modern designs like PRS's Singlecut; his top-carving could grace a fine violin and his attention to detail is on par with the finest 'boutique' makers of today. A second Variax loaded custom-order followed and again the work and interpretation was flawless.
Both instruments have been extensively used and have received nothing but praise from other players. Both are working instruments not museum pieces. Here is a British custom guitar maker that understands the art but most importantly understands the needs and desires of his customers.
I look forward to working with Chris on another guitar."
Dave Burrluck, Gear Reviews Editor Guitarist Magazine
(Dave has since had two acoustic guitars and one Cavaquinho from Chris George Guitars)
Guitarist Magazine
2004 "George is up there with the best"
2006 "Aside from being a wonderful player (The guitar not person Ed ) the heel joint is especially impressive"
2008 "In short Here's a British maker who really delivers"
2012"As one of the UK's finest custom makers"
2013"Here's a guitar that proves that not all innovation comes from major brands-A beautiful instrument"
2015 "Clearly, it isn't just the Yanks who can turn out a cool "bashed about" looking axe. It's time to look closer to home we reckon."
"Guitarist presents Acoustic" Magazine
2015 "It's a beautiful lightweight, very manageable guitar (7 string fan fretted acoustic- Ed )-the low string easily drops down to A, overall there's rich, complex resonance"
2017 "Chris's build and attention to the smallest details puts his work up amongst the best there is in the world"
2019 It goes to show you can get into handmade luthier style, from a very competent and experienced maker,for a lot less than you might think.