Research, development and Design for Cole Clark Guitars

Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work with Cole Clark Guitars on the research and development of their acoustic instruments. For me, it has been a fascinating meeting of two very different worlds — the traditional approach of the individual luthier, where time can be devoted to every detail, and the realities of guitar manufacturing, where an instrument must not only sound and look exceptional, but also be practical and efficient to produce.

Cole Clark approached me with a clear challenge: to help develop the acoustic voice of their guitars while creating designs that could work within a modern production environment. The challenge was not simply to make a great-sounding guitar, but to develop bracing and structural ideas that could be manufactured consistently and efficiently without losing the sensitivity, responsiveness and character I would expect from a handmade instrument.

One of the most rewarding outcomes of this work was the development of the Recording Series where my contribution focused on the bracing and acoustic response of the instrument. At the Sydney Guitar Show, the model received a Best In Show recognition — a particularly satisfying result for a project centred on developing the natural acoustic voice of the guitar.

The Parlour - Designing from the Ground Up

Unlike the other projects, where I was working within an existing Cole Clark body shape and concentrating on the internal bracing, the parlour gave me the opportunity to start from the ground up. I designed the body shape and depth, together with completely new bracing systems for both the soundboard and the back.

The challenge was to retain the sensitivity and individuality of a luthier-designed instrument while making every element practical for production. Each decision had to work acoustically, visually and structurally, but also had to be repeatable and efficient to manufacture. Finding that balance became one of the most interesting parts of the project.

Of all the R&D work I have undertaken with Cole Clark, the parlour is particularly personal to me because it began as a complete design rather than an adaptation of an existing model. Seeing that design move from an idea into production, and then into the hands of musicians who genuinely enjoy playing it, has been enormously rewarding.

Working with Cole Clark has given me the opportunity to look at guitar design from an entirely different perspective. In my own workshop, time is rarely the defining constraint; I can refine an idea until I am satisfied with the result. In manufacturing, every additional operation has a consequence. The challenge is to find elegant solutions that preserve tone, responsiveness and character while remaining practical to produce. Bringing those two ways of thinking together has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of my work with Cole Clark.

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