Handmade Guitars

Restless creativity married with intricate craftmanship

Artisan guitars handcrafted from sustainable Dorset wood

From the creative mind of me, British guitar maker Andrew Warne, I make Bear Guitars to inspire and spark the creative joy of musicians, whether you’ve been playing for five months or 50 years.

5 Examples of Andrew's handmade guitars standing in a row, with the background cut out. Different shapes and sizes, all electric guitars, all made from wood.

A body so smooth calloused fingertips can’t help but follow the undulations of its natural wood grain, tones so rich they demand closed eyes to listen, and the faint aroma of freshly finished Dorset timber transporting you to the ethereal beauty of ancient West Country woodland.

Lovingly handcrafted from beginning to end, playing a Bear Guitar is a unique sensory experience.

Which one will capture your imagination?

Browse the shop

The life of each handmade guitar begins with a piece of wood and a hint of an idea. Take a peek into the Bear Cave, and see if there are strings that speak to you.

A collage of two pictures of a handmade guitar side-by side, one a close-up of the body, the other a zoomed out shot showing the neck and headstock. It has a distressed metallic blue nitro finish, and a contrasting red plate beneath the strings.
A small bodied, handmade guitar in a deep red colour with a spalted top, and unique swirl carving at the tip of the headstock.
Handmade wooden guitar with a light spalted maple top in a piece of Dorset Sycamore. A pair of handwound Ben Fletcher pickups, Charlie Christian in the neck and a late 50’s style tele bridge pickup. Compensated wilkinson bridge with brass saddles

The sweet sound of six strings

Grab a coffee, get comfy, and have a listen to Jayden taking the utterly outrageous, truly one-of-a-kind Bear Claw design for a spin to demonstrate its big sound and delightful range.

Want to create your perfect guitar?

I love working with musicians to create the custom guitars of their daydreams. Whether you have a far out idea, need special modifications, or could do with some help teasing the perfect guitar look and feel from the depths of your subconscious - I can talk guitars all day! Drop me a line, and let’s arrange a no-pressure friendly call.