Rob Tempest

Handmade guitars,
built by Rob Tempest.

Self-taught. Seven years at the bench. Every guitar built, wired, and set up by hand — start to finish.

About

I've been building guitars by hand for seven years, entirely self-taught. It started with a love of the instrument — I play myself, and there's a particular sound and feel I could never quite find off the shelf, so I started making it.

I specialise in rock guitars, with a lot of my work drawing on the instruments played by Jimmy Page and Wilko Johnson — guitars with real character, built for a specific sound rather than a catalogue spec.

Every build starts with the wood. I select each piece myself for grain, weight, and tone before any cutting begins. I wire up the electronics on every guitar too, so the instrument that leaves the workshop is entirely my own work.

Because I play, every decision — neck profile, fret spacing, setup — is made with how it feels in your hands, not just how it looks on a wall.

The guitars

Every build is one of a kind. Below is the current catalogue — more added as they're finished.

The Van Halen — full front view

Eruption - Van Halen Twist

[Status: Available]

Wilkinson tuners / 2 point trem and Warman "Lil' Hot Devil" humbuckers

Body
Black Limba
Neck & fingerboard
Jaguar Body base, Roller Nut, Steel Frets
Machine heads
[brand / type]
Pickups
[spec]
Scratch board
[material / finish]
Build notes
[hand-cut, hand-wired, etc.]

Plays lovely, sits well on your body, this one was entered for Jurg's Cup 4

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Olive Guitar - Front View

Olive Wood Special

[Status: Available]

Lovely Olive Wood varnished

Body
Olive Wood, varnished
Neck & fingerboard
[wood, profile, frets]
Machine heads
[brand / type]
Pickups
[spec]
Scratch board
[material / finish]
Build notes
[hand-cut, hand-wired, etc.]

[Short paragraph — inspiration, sound, ideal player.]

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[Guitar 3 name] — full front view

Spanish Fly Guitar

[Status: Available]

Gigging in Spain with my Trumpet Man

Body
Hard Wood, slick finish
Neck & fingerboard
Got wood, bad profile,doesn't fret
Machine heads
Bald and Balding
Pickups
Really easy to pick up
Scratch board
Mainly due to pubic lice
Build notes
Pot bellies and knobbly knees

I am smokin' a fag!

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Contact

Interested in a custom build, or want to know more about a guitar in the catalogue? Get in touch.