With a love of woodworking I built my first guitar whilst at school – as many people do. Sadly for me, with the lack of suitable apprenticeships when I left school I followed a career in Civil and Structural Engineering while still maintaining this inborn love of woodworking and music.

Redundancy and changes in personal situations caused a rethink in my future so with re-training became a tutor of woodworking skills at local colleges and schools.

Using woodworking skills and experience developed over the years what better than to combine the teaching with the love of music and instrument construction.

The mandolin and mandolin family of instruments has become my main interest although, as can be seen, I’m always up for a challenge.

John C Barnes I.Eng. A.M.I. Struct. E

Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

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