R H Guitars
Derbyshire
The R H Guitars Story
I began working as a luthier in the early 2000s, starting with instrument setup and repairs at a local luthier’s workshop, initially on a part-time basis. Within a couple of years, the passion had firmly taken hold, compelling me to make the leap to a full-time luthier.
In 2011, I made the pivotal decision to establish my very own workshop in the scenic landscapes of Derbyshire, driven by an unwavering commitment to craft extraordinary instruments of my unique design.
Nestled amidst the lush countryside, each instrument undergoes meticulous construction, where I personally handpick materials for both their sonic qualities and aesthetic allure. My goal with every instrument I craft is to fuse the warmth of vintage instruments with a contemporary design sensibility, while carefully tending to every detail.
My ultimate mission is to grant these materials a voice that serves as an inspiration to musicians and captivates audiences alike. Whether it’s the creation of stock items, innovative prototypes, or bespoke instruments, my unwavering pursuit is excellence.
How They're Built
Rob Hodgson builds every guitar by hand in his workshop in Idridgehay, a small village in the Derbyshire Dales. Each instrument undergoes meticulous construction. Rob personally handpicks materials for both their sonic qualities and aesthetic appeal, fusing the warmth of vintage instruments with a contemporary design sensibility.
The standard build starts at £4,500 and includes a choice of Sitka spruce or western red cedar top, with mahogany, walnut, or Indian rosewood for the back and sides. Necks are mahogany with a double-acting truss rod and carbon fibre reinforcement for long-term stability. The fingerboard, bridge, and bridge pins are ebony. Tuners are Gotoh 510, and the nut and saddle are unbleached bone. Rob also sources wood locally when the opportunity arises. In one notable example, he was present at the felling of a sycamore tree in Derbyshire that needed removing because it was growing through power lines. With his father's help, he milled the logs and air-dried them for six years before using the wood to build guitars. That kind of patience and connection to materials defines his approach.
What Sets Them Apart
RH Guitars offer three acoustic models, each with a distinct voice. The Model S is the smallest, with a 24.9-inch scale and 12 frets to the body, producing an intimate, detailed sound ideal for fingerstyle. The Model M is an OOO-sized instrument available in 12 or 14 fret configurations, delivering a balanced, wide dynamic range suited to both fingerstyle and flatpicking. The Model L is the largest in the range, with a 25.5-inch scale and a bold, authoritative low end that handles lower tunings with ease.
What players notice first is the responsiveness. Rob's guitars feel alive under the fingers. The combination of hand-selected tonewoods, precise bracing, and meticulous setup produces instruments that respond to the lightest touch while having the headroom to push when needed. Custom options are extensive, from premium top woods like Engelmann spruce and Bear Claw spruce to exotic back and side sets in Tasmanian blackwood, ziricote, and figured woods. Features like Florentine cutaways, forearm bevels, fan frets, and slotted headstocks are all available.
