Manson Guitar Works evolved as an offshoot of the repair and custom work that had been a big part of the legendary Mansons Guitar Shop, founded by the equally legendary guitar maker, Hugh Manson. Some 20 years on the company is now based in Ashburton – after moving in August 2016 – where in-house finish spraying, pickup manufacturing and CNC processes all take place under the same roof. “We can now make between 100 and 150 guitars a year depending on the build specs,” says head luthier, Tim Stark, “but we’d like to double or triple that over the next six to 12 months.”
Back when the company started it was just Adrian Ashton (now Manson Guitar Works’ MD) and Tim building a small number of instruments in a very traditional
