Thursday 11 June 2009

Welcome to Pete Back Custom Guitars






Welcome to the only blogsite dedicated to guitars hand-built by the great British luthier Pete Back. Pete was one of the UK’s first luthiers to be adopted by elite UK guitarists, and personally made a host of guitars for icons such as Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy and many more since he began in the mid '70s. The Blue Book of Guitars (11th Edition) reviews Pete Back as follows:

Pete Back Custom Guitars

Instruments previously built in Richmond (North Yorkshire), England.

“Luthier Pete Back is noted for his custom handcrafted guitars of the highest quality. His electric, folk and classical guitar construction uses the finest woods available. Pete has his own original designs, but he will make whatever the guitarist requires.”


Pete finally retired (for the third time!) in May 2009, so we won't be seeing any more guitars made by him, which is a great loss to the art. I've set up this site because I thought it was high time Pete's work was celebrated and recognised on the internet, and so his guitars can be appreciated by more than just a lucky few in the know.

I'll be publishing some photos from my collection of his guitars, and hopefully will be tracking down a few other of his guitars (and their owners) from around the world, in what will become a tribute site to Pete's amazing work.


17 comments:

  1. I also am the proud owner of a Pete Back acoustic - one of his first, I believe.

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  2. hey i recently picked up a white pete back custom firebird with shadow pickups at an auction, if anyone could let me know more about it and its value i would be very greatful, thanks

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  3. Hi, i have a pete back copy of brian may´s guitar.i have no idea how old it is although i aquired it in 2007.does anyone have any more onfo?.

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  4. My dad recently gave me his explorer which your company made in 83, if you could give me any info on it i'd be most grateful, if you need anything off the guitar please let me know

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  5. i was a good friend of pete backs ,,do,s any body have a contact number ,i can email him ,,or call him ,,,, my name is chris lee ,,he made guitars for my father gerald lee ,,,whilst he was in his shop in rotherham ,,furnam rd ,,i think ,,please let me know ,, contact , chrisleeblues@gmail.com or call 0044 - 07776261633

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  6. Pete Back sucks, in my humble opinion. He did a guitar for me in the mid-90's. Took 14 months for a build that was supposed to take 4, jerked me about with endless excuses. When it came, it was okay-ish, even if he ignored a lot of my instuctions and even if the very tip of the headstock had been chipped off due to an outsized case and bad packing. Hasn't aged well though - action is pathetic no matter how you set it up and the lacquer is cracked in a couple of places despite the fact it's spent most of it's life in the case.
    Still, he got my money. Lots of luck to him.

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    1. You must have been unlucky. I was privileged to purchase two acoustics back in the mid 80s. They are outstanding and are easily some of the best work I've come across in terms of custom built acoustic's. My old Martin was made redundant for a long while before picking it up many years later.

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  7. I have a Pete Back Flying V built (for me, to my spec) around 1981.

    Still love it. The action is incredible. and the wood and colour are awesome. Will post pic shortly.

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  8. He still has a Hofner Bass I left with him in Reece, over a decade ago. (Or maybe he restored it and sold it?) I tried to contact him without success, so I'd be delighted to know how I can reach him since he's retired.

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  9. Can you send an email address if you are interested in buying a Pete Back guitar I have for sale.

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  10. I have 335 - brilliant-simply the best. Bought a couple of bits from him on eBay 5 or 6 years ago; a Flying V body with set neck - local luthier trashed it as uneconomical to put it right-lesson learnt . Also a strat clapton body - wierd paintwork - the paint had not cured and the bublewrap it was sent in left an unusual pattern.

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  12. I have finally got through a divorce and just picked up my 1994 flame red Pet Back with Schaller locking trem, I paid £495 back then to have it made, bargain I say, the action has been admired from all who have ever touched it.

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  13. I have bass/12-string double neck, done in an Ibanez Iceman shape. I picked it up second hand in Tooting some time in the early 90s for £200. The story I was told was that it was made for the sax player in a fairly well-known band, who wanted it for just one number in their live set, and the week after the guitar was delivered, the band folded.

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  14. Looking for any contacts selling Pete Back guitars ..chrisleeblues@mail.com looking for one i had 3 they were stolen in manchester they never surfaced again x i was a friend of pete x

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