About

 Meet the Makers

Charlie Orme

Along with Kenlock and Orme Guitar Workshop, I am a sessional guitar making lecturer at Merton college. Here I get to pass on my skills and experience by guiding others in reparing, designing and constructing their own instruments.

I started my journey into luthierie around 2007. From playing in bands and having an interest in how things work, I would always fix and modify my own guitars. This interest started to grow and I started to design and build my own guitar effects pedals and electric guitars. The goal was to build my own sound from the ground up.

Being mostly self taught, I decided to further my skills in guitar making by studying under experienced makers. I went to build a custom electric guitar with Mark Bailey of Bailey Guitars. Following this I went to focus on acoustic guitar making and repair by enrolling on a degree course at London Metropolitan University, where I graduated with a first class honours degree in Musical Instruments BSc.

Upon graduating I started working as a luthier in Gloucestershire. I was working in Nailsworth community workshop, building harps for Hands on Harps, whilst also building, teaching and repairing guitars. In term time breaks and weekends, myself and Gavin Pond, would challange ourselves to build guitars from old recycled materials within 24 hours for fun.

These prototype builds eventually evolved into ‘Pi Guitars’; a charity project conceptualised Gavin that focuses on building confidence and transferable skills through the medium of guitar making, making guitar building accessible for everyone. The instruments are made from recycled and sustainable materials.

George Kenlock

I've been building guitars since 2008. As hobby turned into obsession, I began developing my knowledge of luthierie while incorporating my own designs and ideas, with the aim to put my own stamp on guitar building. I hold a first class BSc honors degree in Musical Instruments where my focus was design and material/acoustic sciences.

I have worked in design for my whole career, in roles ranging from furniture design, interior design and engineering, in roles demanding technical skill and a high attention to detail.

I bring together practical experience in craft and CAD production with a trained design background to my love for the guitar. My methodical approach and skill set has enabled me to design jigs and tools specific to the craft of luthierie.

My design philosophy within luthierie is to combine my love of the craft, design and engineering to create innovative and inspiring instruments.

My Father, is a former member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen and a furniture maker with clients including Liberty of London, he taught me most of what I know about woodwork and gave me the best possible start. For that I am incredibly grateful.