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Gordon Dunn (MMus, BA(hons))
I have ownded and played a James Lister guitar for over one year so have had plenty of time to reflect on it as a concert instrument. It has been used for recitals, concerts with a classical/jazz/metal fusion group, functions and recording.
I had been testing potential guitars for a period of about 2 years, initially wanting a second concert instrument. One of my students had purchased one of James' guitars which I was truly impressed with - especially considering it was a relatively early model in James' career as a maker
Following meticulous testing and conversing with James I placed an order. During the making process he was always very friendly and enthusiastic in discussing the process and even provided detailed pictures of the various stages
Since the arrival of my Lister the other guitars I own have been hardly used and I now plan to sell a concert guitar (Jose Ramirez 1a) I thought I would never part with. The versatility, depth of sound and quality of the instrument are all hard to fault - close to perfection in almost every department, and I am an enormously fussy player!
Many well known professional classical guitarists have commented on the sound quality and one of them has even borrowed it for a recent recording session. Since its purchase several people I know have placed an order which confirms to me that James Lister is already an English guitar maker of great significance whose name should be on your “to try” shortlist. I will not hesitate to order another in the near future.
Nick Fletcher (L.T.C.L.) (Sheffield, UK)
I have been playing a James Lister Guitar for the past 18 months. It is very rare to read a description of a guitar that lives up to the expectation it creates. James listers guitars are not just beautifully crafted instruments, they sound and play better than just about any other hand-made Guitars I have ever played. They are warm but with a clear singing treble. They are very even, without any dead spots, every note sustains beautifully making the instruments a joy to play and to listen to. A guitarist wants to make music, not spend his life analyzing his instrument. If you find yourself doing this it is probably because your guitar is poorly constructed. If that describes how you feel about your guitar then consider a James Lister Guitar. You won’t be disappointed - you will simply find yourself making music, instead of talking about it. This is the mark of a master Luthier!
I have performed recitals and made recordings with my Lister Guitar. In the concert room it projects superbly well and when recording required no attention from the mixing desk to make the instrument sound well balanced! You can always rely on James' Guitars to deliver the goods in what ever setting you find yourself in.
Ara Kazazian (Toronto, Canada)
I had my new Lister Guitar for over a two month now, I must say it's a beautiful instrument to watch, and very comfortable to play. The intonation is dead on. The volume is great, the sense of security and control allows you to concentrate more on the music. The tone is rich, and still improving and growing, the basses are firm and focused, the trebles are sweet, the balance is maintained through all the registers, with great sustain "cello like" that makes this guitar very enjoyable to play.
Warner Iverson (USA)
While I was tuning the guitar to pitch I immediately noticed the beautiful sound coming from a spruce guitar only a few weeks old. The sound was warm and had a well balanced clarity. As I played on the guitar it responded with a sensitivity that made it both enjoyable and easy to play. I was very impressed.
Gary Parrott (Northern Ireland)
"I have to say that the guitar you made for me is the most beautiful instrument I have ever seen. It is just stunning. It will not be the last. It sounds fantastic and I am so delighted.
Thankyou !!!"
Martha Masters (USA)
"It was a pleasure to try James' guitar, it really was very impressive. I've heard a lot of guitars by relatively young or unknown builders, and this one far exceeds the typical level I hear. Very nice instrument, I'm sure he'll do very well with them!"
Marek Orszulik (UK)
“Having tried guitars from various luthiers when I was considering buying a handmade guitar, James Listers' certainly stood out! The high quality of his instruments was affirmed when I visited him and his workshop. He takes great care in all aspects of his work, and is (very rightly!) pleased with his guitars. I have now owned my Hauser guitar for several months, and it has certainly been essential in my musical and technical development since. (Particularly gratifying as finalist music student!) It allows me to create a very wide range of colours, and is suited to any genre of musical styles. A truly playable instrument, and very handsome-looking too!”
Satoshi Teramoto (Japan)
"Safe guitar reached me today. I was satisfied with the very wonderful finish. I played a sonata of Weiss immediately but this guitar is very wonderful. This wonderful guitar has the timbre which fits their music very much."
Jonathan Daniels (UK)
"... my teacher commented on 'what a very good sounding instrument this is developing in to'. He has always has taken a keen interest
in its development and he owns many fine instruments himself. I can only echo this, and say that the sound has constantly evolved into a very
fine musical guitar. My Seranata Espanol has never sounded better."
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