News Section

This section of the site will have some links to other web sites, bits of news, or a series of pictures that might be of interest, and also comments that people have made about the instruments.

Please use the links opposite to navigate

News

Links

Comments about Tobin Instruments

Who Plays Tobin Instruments

7th May 2010

Here are a few pictures of a guitar just finished and about to be packed off to its new owner. This is a 12 fret 00 size instrument with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a Sitka Spruce top.

The bridge is ebony with a fully compensated saddle. Ebony bridge pins with Mother of Pearl inlays.

January 2010

While the rest of the country has been feet deep in snow, it was our turn to get some a couple of days ago. Today we woke up to glorious blue skies and sunshine, so while I had some bits and pieces clamped up in the workshop and couldn't get on with anything else I took the dog up into the hills behind the house. Here's a picture of our village from Crook Peak.

November 2009

Quite alot has changed since I last updated the site. We have moved from Herefordshire down to Compton Bishop, a small village in Somerset. There's a new purpose built workshop too with great views over Crooke Peake and Wavering Down hills in the Mendips.

Sadly our dog Ruddles died a few of years ago. She was 15 years and had a great life.

This is a picture of her up in the Lake District in 2006.

We now have another dog Ruby, a red collie. She's just 2 years old and is completely exhausting. It's funny how you forget what they're like when they're pups. Hopefully in 10 years or so she'll calm down a bit. Here's a picture of her.

June 2009

Benji Kirkpatrick has recently taken delivery of his second instrument. This time he wanted a Large Body Bouzouki to compliment and add to the Standard bouzouki he has been playing since 1996.

The new bouzouki has a 650mm scale length, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It's also be fitted with a Headway bouzouki pickup and come complete with a Calton case.

Benji's new bouzouki

6th April 2010

Ibon Ordóñez came over from the Basque Country in Northern Spain yesterday to collect his new bouzouki. Ibon plays in a band called Ruaille-Buaille which is a folk music sextet who play their own compositions and a fusion of music from Ireland, Scotland, England, Galicia and the Basque County.

March 2010

Here's a couple of bouzoukis finished and just about ready to go off to their new homes. The big one is going to Northern Spain and the other up to Scotland. This is a good illustration of the difference between the two body sizes I make for the Bouzoukis. They're both 650mm scale length instruments with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top and both also have a Headway pickup fitted.

January 2010

Andy Morgan had just popped over from his new home in the South West of France to collect his new Bouzouki. This is a Large Body Bouzouki with a scale length of 620mm, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It also has a Headway Electronics fixed EQ on board pickup. Andy wanted the body on this instrument is very slightly narrower than the standard depth.

The bouzouki compliments the Cittern I built for Andy last year.

I'm about to start making a bouzouki for Paul McKenna - of The Paul McKenna Band. It'll be a Standard Bouzouki with a 650mm scale length, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It'll also be fitted with a Headway bouzouki pickup and come complete with a Yellow Calton case.

I'll post some images of this instrument as it is under construction.

The Paul McKenna Band have recently won the Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the MG Scots Trad Music Awards.

A couple of pictures of the latest mandolin to come out of the workshop. Big deep body and 36cm scale length give this instrument a full and deep tone.

Here's a couple of pictures of Steve Byrne on receipt of his new bouzouki delivered in August 2006

Links

www.headwaymusicaudio.com

www.stevebyrne.co.uk

www.paulmckennaband.com

A Leeds based charity promoting Traditional music

Web site designers in Ludlow

Composer, musician and producer based in Cork

Local Traditional Irish music band

Local Breton music band

Paris based musician and composer

Traditional Breton music

Mark Evans - a great fisherman, musician and friend

English traditional music band

Acoustic instrument pickups
Steve Byrne's web site

The Paul McKenna Band

Comments about Tobin Instruments

Steve Byrne - Bouzouki

I'd first heard about Andy's instruments from the late Davy Steele, and had been impressed by the number of players I came across who also played a Tobin, such as Quico Comesaña from Berrogüetto and Manus Lunny of Capercaillie.

I'd been after a really typical Irish bouzouki sound, when that tight, punchy, Lunny-esque sound is sometimes what's needed! With the work with Fred Morrison beginning to take off, I took the plunge and plumped for the Tobin and I've been thrilled to bits with it since it arrived.

Bob Dougherty - Tenor Mandola

The instrument is absolutely beautiful. You are quite the artist. The bottom end is exactly what I was looking for and the overall balance of sound and resonance is just phenomenal and I'm sure it's only going to become warmer as time goes by.

Niall Anderson - 10 string Cittern

It has arrived completely unscathed and intact, looks great, sounds wonderful and plays brilliantly. I am extremely happy with it!

Ross Ainslie - Cittern

Thank you very much man the cittern is feckin lovely, been playing it all the time totally perfect, can't wait to do a gig with it! so no problems at all, an excellent job altogether.

Karl Nesbitt - Bouzouki

The bouzouki Andy made for me is a well balanced, clear yet round-sounding instrument. Its pick- up system is excellent also, and gives me what I need for live gigs. It has a rich acoustic sound, ideal for playing in a session, to recording in the studio.

Mark Woodrow - Octave Mandola

The Mandola has just arrived....it is...absolutely beautiful. The tone and clarity is really amazing, unbelievable. The details and finish are great. It is much better than I expected. I can truthfully say my search is over.

Jean Pierre Sieczkarek - Mandolin

Sound -exactly as I asked deep and rounded with plenty power.

Looks - great I love the finish and the balance, the Gotoh pegs make tuning fun.

Accuracy is perfect and general feel great.

Overall I am delighted, well done and thank you.

Jean Pierre Sieczkarek's wife

On playing a new mandolin for the first time after delivery - "I thought you were buying a mandolin - that sounds really nice"!

Russ Davidson

I have been playing Andys bouzoukis for as long as memory permits. Yes I have picked up and played other fine bouzoukis, but I have always been glad that its a Tobin in my flight case. The tonal quality, sustain, projection and build of a Tobin instrument just delivers everything a player needs for live performance, recording and especially session playing.
I often throw a capo up and down the neck during tune sets and the Tobin bouzouki holds the intonation and tuning remarkably well.
Andys reputation as a luthier is well deserved...Oh, and he's one of the good guys too!

Paul McKenna - Standard Bouzouki

Bouzouki has arrived! Excellent, going to spend the next couple of hours getting to know it. It sounds fantastic! Thank you.

Who plays Tobin Instruments

Manus Lunny - Capercaillie - LB Bouzouki and Semi Acoustic bouzouki
The late Davy Steel - Battlefield Band - Standard Bouzouki

Steve Byrne - Malinky - Standard Bouzouki
Ross Ainslie - Salsa Celtica - 10 string Cittern
Russ Davidson - Standard and LB Bouzouki

Benji Kirkpatrick - Bellowhead, Faustus and many others - Standard and LB Bouzouki
Quico Comesaña - Berrogüetto - Standard Bouzouki

Pancho Alvarez - Carlos Nunez Band - Standard Bouzouki
Pat O'Reilly - Standard Bouzouki
Karl Nesbitt - Standard Bouzouki

Dominique Riviere - LB Bouzouki
Jean Pierre Sieczkarek - Octave Mandola and Mandolin
Andy Morgan - Cittern and LB Bouzouki
Paul McKenna of the Paul McKenna Band - Standard Bouzouki

.....and many more

	News Section This section of the site will have some links to other web sites, bits of news, or a series of pictures that might be of interest, and also comments that people have made about the instruments. Please use the links opposite to navigate		News Links Comments about Tobin Instruments Who Plays Tobin Instruments
	7th May 2010 Here are a few pictures of a guitar just finished and about to be packed off to its new owner. This is a 12 fret 00 size instrument with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a Sitka Spruce top. The bridge is ebony with a fully compensated saddle. Ebony bridge pins with Mother of Pearl inlays. January 2010 While the rest of the country has been feet deep in snow, it was our turn to get some a couple of days ago. Today we woke up to glorious blue skies and sunshine, so while I had some bits and pieces clamped up in the workshop and couldn't get on with anything else I took the dog up into the hills behind the house. Here's a picture of our village from Crook Peak. November 2009 Quite alot has changed since I last updated the site. We have moved from Herefordshire down to Compton Bishop, a small village in Somerset. There's a new purpose built workshop too with great views over Crooke Peake and Wavering Down hills in the Mendips. Sadly our dog Ruddles died a few of years ago. She was 15 years and had a great life. This is a picture of her up in the Lake District in 2006. We now have another dog Ruby, a red collie. She's just 2 years old and is completely exhausting. It's funny how you forget what they're like when they're pups. Hopefully in 10 years or so she'll calm down a bit. Here's a picture of her. June 2009 Benji Kirkpatrick has recently taken delivery of his second instrument. This time he wanted a Large Body Bouzouki to compliment and add to the Standard bouzouki he has been playing since 1996. The new bouzouki has a 650mm scale length, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It's also be fitted with a Headway bouzouki pickup and come complete with a Calton case. Benji's new bouzouki		6th April 2010 Ibon Ordóñez came over from the Basque Country in Northern Spain yesterday to collect his new bouzouki. Ibon plays in a band called Ruaille-Buaille which is a folk music sextet who play their own compositions and a fusion of music from Ireland, Scotland, England, Galicia and the Basque County. March 2010 Here's a couple of bouzoukis finished and just about ready to go off to their new homes. The big one is going to Northern Spain and the other up to Scotland. This is a good illustration of the difference between the two body sizes I make for the Bouzoukis. They're both 650mm scale length instruments with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top and both also have a Headway pickup fitted. January 2010 Andy Morgan had just popped over from his new home in the South West of France to collect his new Bouzouki. This is a Large Body Bouzouki with a scale length of 620mm, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It also has a Headway Electronics fixed EQ on board pickup. Andy wanted the body on this instrument is very slightly narrower than the standard depth. The bouzouki compliments the Cittern I built for Andy last year. I'm about to start making a bouzouki for Paul McKenna - of The Paul McKenna Band. It'll be a Standard Bouzouki with a 650mm scale length, Indian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. It'll also be fitted with a Headway bouzouki pickup and come complete with a Yellow Calton case. I'll post some images of this instrument as it is under construction. The Paul McKenna Band have recently won the Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the MG Scots Trad Music Awards.

	A couple of pictures of the latest mandolin to come out of the workshop. Big deep body and 36cm scale length give this instrument a full and deep tone.
			Here's a couple of pictures of Steve Byrne on receipt of his new bouzouki delivered in August 2006


			Links
	www.irisharts.org.uk www.perfectarc.com www.karlnesbitt.com www.killorglin.co.uk www.diskan.co.uk www.dom-riviere.tk www.kornog.net www.rivalheart.com www.bellowhead.co.uk www.headwaymusicaudio.com www.stevebyrne.co.uk www.paulmckennaband.com		A Leeds based charity promoting Traditional music Web site designers in Ludlow Composer, musician and producer based in Cork Local Traditional Irish music band Local Breton music band Paris based musician and composer Traditional Breton music Mark Evans - a great fisherman, musician and friend English traditional music band Acoustic instrument pickups Steve Byrne's web site The Paul McKenna Band
			Comments about Tobin Instruments
	Steve Byrne - Bouzouki		I'd first heard about Andy's instruments from the late Davy Steele, and had been impressed by the number of players I came across who also played a Tobin, such as Quico Comesaña from Berrogüetto and Manus Lunny of Capercaillie. I'd been after a really typical Irish bouzouki sound, when that tight, punchy, Lunny-esque sound is sometimes what's needed! With the work with Fred Morrison beginning to take off, I took the plunge and plumped for the Tobin and I've been thrilled to bits with it since it arrived.
	Bob Dougherty - Tenor Mandola		The instrument is absolutely beautiful. You are quite the artist. The bottom end is exactly what I was looking for and the overall balance of sound and resonance is just phenomenal and I'm sure it's only going to become warmer as time goes by.
	Niall Anderson - 10 string Cittern		It has arrived completely unscathed and intact, looks great, sounds wonderful and plays brilliantly. I am extremely happy with it!
	Ross Ainslie - Cittern		Thank you very much man the cittern is feckin lovely, been playing it all the time totally perfect, can't wait to do a gig with it! so no problems at all, an excellent job altogether.
	Karl Nesbitt - Bouzouki		The bouzouki Andy made for me is a well balanced, clear yet round-sounding instrument. Its pick- up system is excellent also, and gives me what I need for live gigs. It has a rich acoustic sound, ideal for playing in a session, to recording in the studio.
	Mark Woodrow - Octave Mandola		The Mandola has just arrived....it is...absolutely beautiful. The tone and clarity is really amazing, unbelievable. The details and finish are great. It is much better than I expected. I can truthfully say my search is over.
	Jean Pierre Sieczkarek - Mandolin		Sound -exactly as I asked deep and rounded with plenty power. Looks - great I love the finish and the balance, the Gotoh pegs make tuning fun. Accuracy is perfect and general feel great. Overall I am delighted, well done and thank you.
	Jean Pierre Sieczkarek's wife		On playing a new mandolin for the first time after delivery - "I thought you were buying a mandolin - that sounds really nice"!
	Russ Davidson		I have been playing Andys bouzoukis for as long as memory permits. Yes I have picked up and played other fine bouzoukis, but I have always been glad that its a Tobin in my flight case. The tonal quality, sustain, projection and build of a Tobin instrument just delivers everything a player needs for live performance, recording and especially session playing. I often throw a capo up and down the neck during tune sets and the Tobin bouzouki holds the intonation and tuning remarkably well. Andys reputation as a luthier is well deserved...Oh, and he's one of the good guys too!
	Paul McKenna - Standard Bouzouki		Bouzouki has arrived! Excellent, going to spend the next couple of hours getting to know it. It sounds fantastic! Thank you.
			Who plays Tobin Instruments
			Manus Lunny - Capercaillie - LB Bouzouki and Semi Acoustic bouzouki The late Davy Steel - Battlefield Band - Standard Bouzouki Steve Byrne - Malinky - Standard Bouzouki Ross Ainslie - Salsa Celtica - 10 string Cittern Russ Davidson - Standard and LB Bouzouki Benji Kirkpatrick - Bellowhead, Faustus and many others - Standard and LB Bouzouki Quico Comesaña - Berrogüetto - Standard Bouzouki Pancho Alvarez - Carlos Nunez Band - Standard Bouzouki Pat O'Reilly - Standard Bouzouki Karl Nesbitt - Standard Bouzouki Dominique Riviere - LB Bouzouki Jean Pierre Sieczkarek - Octave Mandola and Mandolin Andy Morgan - Cittern and LB Bouzouki Paul McKenna of the Paul McKenna Band - Standard Bouzouki .....and many more