Page 13 - Shapemag Issue 4

Mike Burton

But here was a question I asked him when we first
met. “So what style do you play, Mike?” His answer
kind of left me a little dumbfounded.

“I can’t play a note.” He said with a smile on his
face. That’s right, despite Mike’s talent for creating
great instruments, he’s never learnt to play. He also
says that he only made them out of passion and for
something to do. He’s never thought about selling
them. The Guitar Studio has recently stepped in to
help him out on that side,
Despite not being able to play, it hasn’t stopped
him creating some wonderful instruments like the
Stratocaster style guitar shown in the collection
below and the stratocaster made and donated to a
local lad who was terminally ill with cancer with the
proceeds going to Cancer Charities. Sadly, the lad
passed away not long after.

He has even created a Lap-steel guitar from a lump of 4 x 2 wood. That particular one is
on display, with many more from his collection at the Guitar Studio on York Road. These
lapsteels are a favourite amongst Blues players and Country & Western players.

Mike currently makes his guitars at the Hartlepool Men’s Shed, a place for males to make
and mend things, a larger version
of your typical garden shed! Well,
that`s true, but they are much
more than that. They are equally
about reducing isolation, helping
people to make friends and
improving health and well-being.
One final touch to all of Mike’s
guitars is the addition of the
Penny from the Penny-man. A
real great finishing touch to real
works of ‘Blues’ Art.

Get along to the Guitar Studio
and take a look at his collection
or maybe even part with a few
pounds to own a real piece of
music craftsmanship.

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