Having studied independently for a period Stephen studied guitar making with José Romanillos in Spain over a number of years. This has led to his conviction that the Torres model of guitar is the best basis for a high quality classical guitar that produces both good quality and high volume sound.

José Romanillos and Stephen Cadney in the Manchester workshop.
Photo courtesy of José and Marian Romanillos.

He has become familiar with a number of variations based on the Torres model of instrument and has also studied the Granada makers techniques.

Learning one example of the Granada makers methods from Francisco Santiago Marin.

Research is being undertaken all the time to investigate different aspects of sound quality and sound perception. Studies of the physics of musical instruments and the characteristics of instruments by the best makers are being carried out continuously.

Investigating the differences between soundboards with and without
a tornavoz in the workshop in Spain with Gerhard Oldiges.
Photo courtesy José Romanillos.

Several guitar making students have undergone a period of training in Manchester:

A conversation about the Spanish method with Maike Mosch.

Katherin and Nikolay Chervenkov:

Stephen grew up in the South of England but moved North to do his first degree in Engineering at U.M.I.S.T. (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) and his second, Masters degree, also in Engineering, at Salford University. He was for some years a designer and builder of machine tools for high speed metal-forming, successfully starting and running his own company, which he sold in order to start a career in guitar making.