PEM Stringed Instruments

10/14/2026

I'm posting lots of pics about my latest builds and ideas on Instagram, please have a look at

19 Followers, 41 Following, 18 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Paul Edwin Mason ()

07/23/2026

Win this guitar in the BAAFest 2026 prize draw (open to ticket holders only)
This handmade custom parlour guitar built by festival organiser Paul, (PEM Stringed Instruments) features native hard and soft woods and reclaimed hard wood. This build incorporates lots of experimental features:
* Compression braced cylindrical 3 piece back which increases the depth of the body to 106mm narrowing to 76mm at the lower bout resulting in greater sound projection and a very comfortable fit to the players body.
* Decoupled adjustable intonation bridge featuring a hand milled brass saddle retainer.
* Laminated neck constructed from Yew and Mahogany (an old bannister rail) with 2 way truss rod and carbon fibre reinforcement.
* The headstock is attached to the neck with a hand carved volute joint and features Klusner open back tuners.
* The guitar action is easily adjusted by means of a bolt accessed through the back of the instrument.
* The body is stiffened with carbon fibre struts.
* The Cedar soundboard is X braced with reduced mass laser cut bracing.
* Fitted with a PEM custom passive pick up system.
* The output jack socket is positioned on the upper side of the guitar. When an angled jack plug lead is used it should be more secure (time will tell on this one!)
Don't forget you need to be at BAAFest to get a chance of winning this unique instrument. The draw will take place on Sunday 6th of September after the afternoon concert
Hope to see you there! See less

12/12/2025

I recently watched a post by Daisy Tempest (luthier) www.tempestguitars.com who was reviewing an American binding/purfliing channel cutting jig. The jig looked very interesting until I saw the price ($420)
A mornings work later I was able to try out my own shop built version which worked very well utilising my Makita trimmer and attachments .... just wondering what to spend all the money I've saved by not buying the American jig on!

12/07/2025

Prototype No.3 Tenor uke, just about to close the Indian Rosewood box. This one is a long scale tenor, reduced weight and refined tilting neck joint. I've also fitted a custom made pickup.

11/08/2025

Is there another one like this "Guitar of Doom"? Prototype triple neck headless guitar, bass and lap steel. There are separate outputs on all three elements for directing to different amps. This version can be stand mounted. Great fun!

11/05/2025

Work in progress on the Bog Oak parlour guitars and Tenor Ukulele. The Bog Oak back, sides and fretboards for these instruments is rather special, dated at around 3500 years old!

10/14/2025

Work underway on 2 bog oak parlour guitars and 1 bog oak tenor ukulele. Laser cut top and back bracing, shop made purling, binding and inlay material. Flame maple neck blanks fitted with full titanium truss rods and bog oak fretboards with decorative binding. looking forward to continuing these builds tomorrow!

04/25/2025

I've finally got around to designing a logo to go on the headstock of my instrument builds. This test piece is maple inlayed into an 18mm square piece of indian rosewood. From this day on I'll be building PEM ukuleles and guitars!