Rob Armstrong – over 40 years of outstanding guitar making in England’s heartland

This ‘portrait’ provides a timely look at the work and thoughts of Rob Armstrong, one of the United Kingdom’s most prolific and well-known acoustic guitar makers. For over 40 years, Rob has been hand crafting exceptional musical instruments from the modest facilities of his garden shed at the end of his Coventry garden. With a reputation as a formidable innovator rather than being satisfied with reproducing standardized instruments, this article seeks to understand Rob’s approach to his trade, the nuances in his making activities, and his unending motivation and curiosity to keep pushing the boundaries of acoustic guitar design and construction. On 23 July 2013, the authors made a special visit to Rob’s premises to witness his latest work and to engage in a revealing conversation about his love of guitars and his passion for crafting outstanding instruments.