I have known Peter for many years and have had him make a wide range of instruments from Bass Guitars to Double basses and this 12 string guitar. Regarding my 12 string, people comment on how it plays and feels like a 6 string. The action is light and fast, the sound dynamic is superb, particularly the separation in tones across the scale.
I'm a writer performer, when I got this parlour come mini jumbo guitar, well I have never put it down, it has shaped my music.
I wanted an instrument that could play across a wide dynamic, I love being able to play contemporary music in all formats from Rock to Jazz.
Peter built the bass for me, there was a process of ideas and styles of design that we went through and as we worked through this, the more the instrument became mine.
I know all this sounds odd when you consider the other option of walking in to a shop and walking out with an instrument. Personally nothing compares to having an instrument made just for you, especially when it is built to such specification.
I love music and always have, and to have such a beautiful guitar is one of the great pleasures of my life, I write and play to many different audiences, my Peter Stephen guitar has become part of my music, you could say we are good friends.
I had Peter build this for me over twenty years ago, the only thing I can say is it gets better the older it gets, I love this guitar.
Hello, I studied at the school of music in Christchurch and did a degree in Jazz, I play around the traps and teach when I'm not being the wizard.
I have a recording studio, I do a lot of session work and my old strat 65 has seen a lot of music, that means it needs to be maintained, Peter Stephen is the best I have ever come across, so that is who I use.
People ask why did I get a 6 string bass, if you ever played on this bass guitar, then your only question would be how do I get one. I played a lot of off the shelf instruments and many of them were excellent, but none ever had the touch and fell of my 6 string bass. The workman ship is superior to anything I have ever come across, including the big names.
I'm a keyboard Piano player, I write and perform but one day I wanted to pick up anther instrument. I've known Peter for years, one day I dropped into his studio, we discussed a bunch of things from the style to the setup of the instrument. I could have bought something off the shelf, that would have been a quick instant process, I am very happy I didn't. The waiting process was well worth it, because now I have a stunning instrument.
We play a lot, it's hard on our gear and that is where Peter Stephen comes into the picture, when you play live it comes down to getting the most out of your guitar and for me when I hit a chord it has to perform, I rely on that delivery. If the guitar is set up correctly, you know the difference.... Here I'm playing one of Peters 12 string medium Jumbo guitars.
I build a wide range of flat top guitars in a diverse range of styles.
The combinations of materials used in the build of an instrument all contribute in some way to the out come of the instruments sound.
The size and shape of the sound hole is critical to how the sound cushion or the instrument projects the volume of the instrument. The sound hole is the mouth allowing the instrument to inhale and exhale.
Studio hours : Mon - Fri 10.00 am - 5.30