Fylde Alchemist

I bought an Alchemist a week ago, so I've not had much time to assess it yet, but I noted, before buying, a number of comments on this site regarding the Hiscox case. I got the guitar from Hobgoblin in Leeds, where they discovered that it fitted exactly into the case they have made for their Gitane guitars, and a very nice case it is too.

manaufactured 2000 in Penrith, UK, all solid wood; cedar topped, English walnut sides and back, ebony bridge, fret-board and laminate mahogony/ash neck. I was able to chose which top back and sides in the factory from those in production. Distictive/ different body shape with cut away. Comes as standard with Headway Pickup but chose to replace this with Fishman prefix pro (mini version). Tuners are gold plated with perloid buttons. Hiscox case supplied which did not fit the guitar particularly snugly.

This guitar is an all-rounder although the sweet sounding cedar top can get a bit lost when playing in a band situation. Great for finger-picking solo work.

I have taken this guitar and compared it with Taylor 514c and 714c and it has out-classed them and drawn a crowd of music shop staff!

It is perhaps slightly weak in the base but otherwise has a rich sonorous sound that its easy to fall in love with. Great overtones and excellent for acoustic tapping techniques and body percussion.

Guitar was set uo to my specification and arrived perfect. There was one or two tiny finishing flaws but these were quickly sorted out by Fylde. The sides are figured english walnut and are a work of art in themselves.

I have no doubt that I will be using this guitar for many years without any significant problems.

Comes with lifetime warranty. Fylde staff seem helpful enough, but sensitive to comments on their instruments!

Been playing for 20 years and fylde has been a revelation. The instument feels hand made and distinctive. If I had to replace it I would probably get another Fylde, although I suspect Bill Kelday, Stefan Sobell or Larrivee would also be dream guitar replacements. This instrument is excelent value for money. I do not think a better guitar is avialable for this price.

This is a year 2000 guitar - a small-body "jumbo" with cutaway and Headway undersaddle pickup. Fylde are an English company that hand makes superb quality acoustic instruments. The Alchemist model has a cedar top, walnut sides and back, mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard. Build is fantastic, all solid woods and superb craftsmanship. It cam with a Hiscox hard case that was, unfortunately, way too big!

Fantastic sound. Better than my Martin, better than my Guild. It's rich, tight and focussed with amazing projection. Good for fingerpicking, plectrum or strums. Great all-rounder with bags more character than a Taylor. Everyone who hears it is knocked out by the quality of the tone.

The Fylde emphasis is on quality rather than flash. The guitar needed a minor setup to make it perfect but that was all.

This is an instrument to love and live with. It will grow old with me. I've already gigged it without a backup....

Fine company, very responsive. I hated the zero fret on the instrument as supplied - they very obligingly took the guitar back and reworked it with a standard nut and headstock fascia. Outstanding.

After 30 years, Fyldes are the best acoustics I've found. They have a "special" tone, an organic feel and an easy playing style. Such responsive instruments. I don't understand why anyone would buy a factory built Taylor or Collings in preference to one of these (not to say that Taylor and Collings aren't wonderful instruments but Fyldes are just so much nicer).