Fylde Goodfellow

The Goodfellow is a basic, near parlour sized guitar. It has enough frets, as an acoustic one doesn't venture too much onto the 'dusty end' of the fret board. Check the Fylde site for the mega geeky stuff. It is a purists guitar though.

Surprisingly loud for a little guitar, it 'cuts through' as they say. Great top end but a full bass sound (I dunno how!). It has an aggressive, woody sound as opposed to a creamy one - I'm comparing it to a friend's Lowden. My Goodfellow has a 'raw' quality that I like and it responds to agressive picking - you can strum it but that is not playing to its strengths in my view. I note other reviewers of Fyldes say they don't strum that well, I don't think that's quite how I'd put it - they have to be strummed judiciously! It is a beauty to play; I did have it set up by a good luthier though.

Can't remember the initial set up, but I bought it after playing it in the shop for an hour or so. I must've liked it enough. It had no pick ups in it, I've had a Headway fitted.

It is perfect for studio use but the lacquer seems rather brittle and I've already smacked it a couple of times. The build quality is superb - you just can't fault this. I would never gig without a backup. In fact the Fylde is my back up! I gig with my Variax acoustic 700 at the open mic night I run. My Goodfellow is too good to put in the hands of a stranger but I take it along in case I snap a string etc. But I have had a problem, see below.

I took the guitar to Majorca in 2006 and it seemed to have trouble in the 'atmosphere' there. It swelled up a bit at the back and a tiny split seemed to develop in the varnish on the back. I emailed Roger Bucknall when I got back. He was like a father wanting to dress a wound on his child. His opinion was that, despite the heat, it could still be quite a damp air in hot climes. He fixed the problem which turned out to be cosmetic. He ran his eye over it seeing more in 10 seconds than I had in ten days. Response was instantaneous, I emailed at 2.00pm and was in his workshop at 4.00pm being helped by the man himself. I'm only just down the motorway. I really got the feeling he cared about his guitars.

Ive been playing, oh dear, 35 years. I was very attached to an Ovation Balladeer Acoustic but I never picked it up after I bought the Goodfellow. I wish I had played a Fylde Orsino before I bought this guitar, I still want the Orsino. But I would never have bought this had the Orsino been there and this guitar has improved me as a guitarist. I love the way it draws a crowd. People actually come over and gather round, asking to hold it like its a new baby.

I bought it because, although I would never have chosen a small bodied guitar, I knew it had character. At the time I nearly bought the Fylde Ken Nicol signature. It was, I think, a bit better, but not ??700 better. And now I love this baby anyway.

I have been caught sat looking at it (whilst drunk) and paying it compliments like it was a woman. Aaahhh well!

Fyle Goodfellow 547 Late 1970's

I hadn'r played this guitar much for 20 years and recently started again. After fitting a set of Martin SP extra light strings I was amazed by the volume and depth of tone of this small guitar. I'm in love again

Not a mm of movement on the neck over 25 years. Beautifully made, perfect finish

Well made

Never needed it

Fantastic Instrument

This 1979 English made Fylde Goodfellow has a Mahogany Neck and Back with a dark European Spruce top. I have added a LR Baggs dual source. The finish has checkered with age but kind of adds flavor to the looks. Although a small bodied guitar it has a small scale 14 fret neck.

As a finger stylist I love a guitar that talks. This guitar does that for me. Some say it the sound reminds one of a great blues acoustic. What I love is the clarity and seperation of each strings tone. Although this guitar is not what I'd call rich in tone what it has is real distinct, clear, and unique. Recently I was at a bluegrass festival (yea I was using a pick instead of fingerpicking) and the constant comment I received was "Man that guitar really cuts through!" They were all amazed that something so small could stand out so clear. I have other instruments that cost much more and yet this guitar is my first choice out of the case.

The action is wonderful on this guitar. The zero fret makes a difference with action and intonation. Stays really true all the way up the neck. The wood is high quality and wonderfully put together.

The great thing is that although this guitar has been around the block (made in 1979) it is really solid. This is a guitar for the road and truly dependable. I have a wonderful handmade guitar costing four times as much but it's too delicate for constant banging the road brings. No such worry with the Fylde. It's made for the road and can take abuse--although I'm not about to mistreat it!

If you have a problem Roger is there quickly. Several times I've asked questions by email and received a reply within a day. They really stand behind their instruments and love to know where their older instruments have ended up.

I've been playing for 37 years. I own a wonderful Breedlove, and a handful of other acoustics. I also have a Sobell mandolin--nothing better--and a unique bluenote mandolin from the 30's.

If something happened to this instrument I'd get one built for me. It is a wonderful finger picking instrument. There is something about the neck that just fits my hands. The small scale makes complex picking picking easier than on larger instruments--I can even make Am or E chords with two fingers making an extra finger to move around. I admit that if you want an instrument with tons of overtones, or just desire a large guitar then this guitar is not for you. If you need an instrument with clear tone, that adds flavor when playing or recording with other guitars--not just more sound-- and is just a fun little instrument then give the Goodfellow a try. Also, if getting around the airport with a hardshell case is a must this little baby slides right through the scanner--my Breedlove won't fit and it's not a large instrument either. Makes getting to your next gig wonderful if you want to make sure your guitar gets there too.