About us

About Us

Having played guitar for over fifty years, Steve Alden is a guitar enthusiast and expert. A talented musician with a real eye for detail, Steve created Skylark Guitars in 2006 to offer what he believed the music world has always been missing… great guitars at sensible prices.

Steve’s daughter Kathryn Alden is the business manager. With over ten years experience of office management she looks after all the behind the scenes stuff.

Introducing our unique range of specialist and conventional guitars to buy online, over the phone or in person, our aim is to match the perfect guitar and kit to your requirements. The perfect partnership of knowledge, passion, design and workmanship.

But more importantly, we just love what we do!

About our guitars

We have found a niche with our range of unique guitars which we design and have created to our specifications in the Far East. This allows us to employ the great skill of well-established guitar workshops in China, South Korea and Singapore.

We realise that every guitar should be an investment and every purchase should be one you are happy with for years to come.

Steve says…”I’ve played in bands since 1967 and for most of that time used big names like Fender, PRS and Marshall. Taking a leap of faith I took the transition to using Skylark guitars and amps for live gigging some years ago. It wasn‘t painful or problematic in fact I regularly get compliments on my sound and tone (sometimes even my playing!). I can now, hand on heart, recommend Skylark guitars and amps to serious gigging musicians. For info I use a Skylark S-Style, a Skylark Offset Cutaway semi and a Skylark AT30 combo”

About our company

We started small but soon realised there was a need in the music market for a helpful and personal guitar buying environment and that was our aim when we set up our office and showroom in 2008. The showroom has been a continual source of delight for us and now boasts over sixty of our models along with our range of amps and accessories. Visitors are always welcome and our promise to you is no hard sell along with a fresh cuppa.

If would like to visit our showroom please call ahead, or make an appointment, to ensure we are available to give you our one-to-one service and to enable us to have your preferred style of guitar set-up and ready for you.

About our individuality

There’s no better way to while away a Saturday afternoon than shopping for that new axe. But over the last ten years the friendly, local music shops have gradually disappeared in the challenging economic climate and the faceless chain stores have moved in. Bored of the blank stares and shoulder shrugs from the spotty oik behind the counter, and the generic range, we knew we could do better and we genuinely believe we are. Small, personal, knowledgeable, efficient, unique. We love our products and know what we’re talking about. Great product + right price + great service = happy customer. 

Our range in constantly changing. Why? Because we like to keep things fresh. We continually tweak our models to improve and develop them, we bring in new and innovative designs (as well as some classics), we listen to your requests and stock what our customers want. We commission limited numbers of most models giving our range an element of exclusivity – ooh how posh!

About buying

So how does the whole process work?

Well, once you’ve decided what you fancy, let us know! You can do this one of many ways… It’s quick and easy to place an order through the website, but you can also order by giving us a call or dropping us an email. You can even send us a letter if you like!

Once you’ve settled up - which you can do by Paypal via the website, over the phone using your debit or credit card, or by cheque - the action really starts. Your objects of desire are hand-picked from our air-conditioned, climate controlled store rooms and checked over. Guitars are given our “quick set-up” treatment and final polish, but you can request a full set-up or any additional customisations.

Your precious items are then packaged up. Guitars are always double packaged in a case and double strength cardboard, or in double cardboard. All our guitars go by courier and you will receive a confirmation email with your timed, one hour delivery slot. Smaller items, shipping with Royal Mail, are trundled down to our local village Post Office.

It’s really that simple – no middle men, no delay, no hassle. Your product will only be handled by us before you receive it, which is why we can vouch for its quality.

We value your feedback. Full stop. If there is any element of your purchase you would like to share you can do this directly via the website or by email and phone.

Our aim? “The ultimate buying experience.”

About our future

We have no great plans to take over the world, but we have great desire to keep providing you with high quality guitars at a realistic cost. Our hopes for the future are to continue to diversify and specialise our range.

We always appreciate new ideas and inspiration, so don’t be afraid to get in touch and share your thoughts and requests. Think of us as your guitar DJ! We have an active list of requests and a wait list for items due to come into stock so feel free to add your name to the list.