Testimonials

"I like it, Beautiful guitar, Very resonant sound."

“I feel very moved to tell you that your amazing guitar is an absolute joy to play and plugged in sounds just sublime. Not only a thing of beauty but in no small way could be a bit life changing for me as an old guitar player. Everything about it is amazing .The neck is so comfortable and I'm playing stuff on it that I have never quite played before. My hands aren't in great shape at the moment but even today they were coming up with new stuff.T he tone is so sweet. You truly are a master of your craft and deserve major recognition.

"I have just torn myself away from writing a new song on my T&B guitar to write this testimonial, so that feels appropriate..- because that's what these guitars are like, - Songs and Tunes spill out from the instrument and it feels like there is a lifetime of treasures waiting in this guitar. The tone was instantly beautiful when I first played it, and it has opened up more and more. Friends who come to my house and play it are instantly struck by the spell. Thanks Nathan for being a craftsman and a bit of an alchemist."

Thompson and Ball guitars are exemplary world class instruments. I am fortunate to have played and recorded many. Each guitar has had its own unique character and individual voice. Their responsiveness to dynamics is beyond impressive and they are also extraordinary works of art.

Having known Nathan for good number of years, it has been my absolute pleasure to have played a good number of his fantastic guitars and to observe with awe his development as a luthier. It is also my great pleasure to finally own one of these beautiful guitars, a semi-baritone made entirely of native European wood and featuring laburnum from my parents garden.  Each of his guitars is a unique entity, an individual in its own right with its own distinctive voice and characteristics, whilst bearing the distinctive hallmarks of Nathans personal style. The guitars are tonally rich and full, expressive, dynamic and with great depth. Interesting wood choices make for interesting tones that go beyond the qualities of traditional wood choices. They are incredibly playable instruments allowing for agile movements and great delicacy. Smooth in the hands and comfortable. As an excellent guitarist himself, Nathan knows exactly how he would like his guitars to play, which makes for great instruments. The inlay work is just breathtaking. Intricate, and complex. There are beautiful and interesting touches throughout. The herringbone of the grain in the neck heel, or the flower atop a bracing joint inside the body in my guitar, for example. Subtle and delightful. These guitars are not  only phenomenal instruments to play and hear, but great works of art. The level of Nathans craftsmanship is profound.

"As an recording artist and original writer, I tend to be incredibly fussy over my instruments. By which I don't mean that I must have all the latest high end stuff, almost the opposite, I mean that the instrument to be worth its weight to me, must be one that speaks, that shares something of itself with me, and positively influences the way I play or write my music. It is, in my opinion, much more difficult for new build guitars to deliver that same sense of warmth and story that you find in vintage instruments. Hence, many beautifully made candidates have been turned down in this process, but then Nathan put this guitar in front of me. In 48 hours it had changed the way I play, it's incredible warmth and resonance reaching forward and reminding me to breathe and take my time. Reminding me that my sounds dont have to immediately jump from the helicopter one after another like thrill seeking little sky divers, they can also wait up there a while, and take in the view. In my world I'm not sure there is a greater compliment."

I commissioned this guitar from Nathan in 2019. The concept was to make an instrument using Oak, Ash, and Hawthorn, with oak for the back and sides and ash for the neck. These are traditional woods, used magically in the ancient British/European folkloric tradition ... the woods were local to Somerset, including some fossilized bog oak for the bridge and fingerboard. Hawthorn that had blown down in a storm was used for the binding/purfling. It was built to the Avalon model dimensions but with a slightly wider fingerboard, which I prefer. It was exquisitely inlaid with images of Oak Ash and Thorn... and the druidic symbol of Awen or Three Rays, all of which can be seen in the photographs. I have been playing guitar professionally for a long time, and have owned many guitars from the likes of Gibson or Martin, and custom-made instruments from luthiers in both the USA and Britain. This OAth. guitar is certainly one of the very best. It has a full tonal range, and a lot of dynamic… Which means it can be played softly, and still be heard, and played more firmly to project to the far end of a performance space if necessary. By choice I do not have a built-in pick up or microphone and it mics easily. The guitar also has a distinctive sound and character, which stands out when playing with other instruments. I play primarily finger style and the OAth guitar responds beautifully to fingers/nails. I think it has taken a long time for modern luthierie to reach the peak represented by this guitar, and others from Thompson & Ball, with a balance of sound, artistic creation, and sheer musicality.

I’ve had my Thompson and Ball guitar for nearly 4 years now and I’m totally in awe, not only is this guitar a thing of great beauty (the inlay work both unique and stunning), but it's also an incredible instrument. Resonant and unbelievably responsive. I’d also like to mention the fantastic after care I’ve received all as part of the service. Dru, the guitars name, has had several visits back to the workshop for Nathan to make fine adjustments to the instruments set up to really refine the playability of my guitar to go my bizarre playing style.