Furthering its reputation in the realm of custom-built acoustic guitars, Turnstone Guitar Company, located in the rural landscapes of southeast England, has been garnering recognition and prominence. Established in 2015 by Rosie Heydenrych, the main builder, Turnstone specializes in crafting about 20 tonally exceptional guitars on a yearly basis, ranging from smaller parlor-sized instruments to larger dreadnoughts.
Evidencing their appeal, Turnstone’s guitars have sparked interest in not only the UK and the US but also across Europe and Asia. Noteworthy musicians like Martin Simpson from Britain are among the prominent artists endorsing Turnstone guitars. In fact, Simpson, who features his TM model on the cover of his album Home Recordings, commends these guitars for their beauty and expressiveness. He praises Rosie Heydenrych for her exquisite craftsmanship and predicts a promising future in the industry.
Recently, I embarked on a train journey from London heading an hour south to Lingfield, Surrey, to meet Rosie Heydenrych at her workshop. Amidst her preparations for the Woodstock Invitational Luthiers Showcase, her husband, Karl, was diligently overseeing production. We engaged in discussions about her journey into lutherie and the future trajectory of Turnstone.
Starting her foray into guitar building in 2010 with a year-long weekly evening course, Heydenrych later transitioned to working with a repairer on Denmark Street in London. Subsequently, she embarked on a two-year internship with another builder before establishing her own workshop in 2015. It was during this period that she began formulating models, attending guitar exhibitions, and refining her craft.
Before venturing into the guitar-building realm, Heydenrych’s career background mainly involved fundraising in the charity sector post her time at the University of Liverpool. This journey transitioned into communications roles for a housing charity, where she was instrumental in developing the organization’s website and overseeing internal events.
The integration of music into Heydenrych’s life began at the age of 17 when she commenced playing guitar. Previously, she had dabbled in playing the saxophone, while her sister pursued classical guitar but eventually lost interest. Heydenrych seized the opportunity to borrow her sister’s guitar, with her father later purchasing a steel-string Aria guitar for her from a music store in St Albans. This sparked her journey into self-taught guitar playing, leading to her involvement in bands, both as a vocalist and instrumentalist across acoustic and electric genres.
The transition from being a musician to a guitar builder was a natural evolution for Heydenrych, deeply resonating with her at that juncture. Drawing from her background in woodwork technology during her schooling years, her proficiency in working with her hands further fueled her passion for the craft. Coupled with her desire for creativity, the shift from her hectic London full-time job to the realm of guitar-building seemed like the perfect fit.
In conclusion, Turnstone Guitar Company continues to carve its niche in the market for bespoke acoustic guitars with Rosie Heydenrych at the helm, merging expertise and creativity to produce instruments that resonate with musicians worldwide.