The Starling
The Starling is a guitar crafted with care and precision, designed to inspire musicians with its unique character. SL Guitars has incorporated distinctive features, such as their re-imagined F hole, adding a modern twist to a classic design. These guitars are built to inspire creativity, offering a balanced and responsive playing experience. The Starling delivers exceptional performance, with a design and sound that reflect the passion and craftsmanship behind it. It’s an instrument with a character all its own.
Spec | Materials and Components -The Starling - Natural |
|---|---|
Scale Length | 25.5" |
Body | Sapele/Ash/R W Binding |
Finish | Natural Oil |
Neck | Sapele |
Fretboard | Rosewood/Sapele Binding |
Radius | 12" |
Bridge | |
Pickups | Bare Knuckle |
Tuners | Gotoh |
Frets | 22 Stainless Steel |
Fret Markers | Abalone |
Nut | Graphite Compound |
Hardcase | Hiscox |
Price | £1795 |
December Sale Price | £1695 |
The Starling - Natural
The Starling is a guitar I’m particularly proud of building. It's designed around the style of a well loved classic with the addition of my own, unique touches. As with all my guitars, every detail has been very carefully considered to create an instrument that you will come back to again and again.
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For the body, I chose a combination of Sapele and Ash—not just for their tonal qualities but also for their natural beauty. The oil finish highlights the wood’s unique grain, and the Rosewood binding adds a refined, elegant touch. You will see in the picture that the guitar top has been book-matched to give a stunning effect.
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The Starling fingerboard is crafted from Rosewood with Sapele binding, offering a smooth playing experience and a polished look. There are 22 stainless steel frets for long term durability. Markers are made from Abalone.
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I selected Bare Knuckle pickups for the Starling because they offer incredible versatility, delivering everything from crisp, articulate tones to powerful, full-bodied sounds. To ensure stability and reliability, I opted for Gotoh tuners—they’re precise, durable, and make string changes effortless.
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For me, building guitars like the Starling is all about creating instruments that inspire. Whatever kind of musician you are, the Starling is made to bring out the best in your music.
Spec | Materials & Componens - Starling Blue |
|---|---|
Scale Length | 25.5" |
Body | Sweet Chestnut/Walnut |
Finish | Blue Stain & Oil |
Neck | Birdseye Maple |
Fretboard | Rosewood |
Radius | 9.5" |
Bridge | |
Pickups | Green Pick-ups Hybrid Tele Set. With 4-way switch |
Tuners | Schaller Staggered |
Frets | 22 Stainless Steel |
Fret Markers | Aluminium/Abalone Dots |
Nut | Graphite Compound |
Hardcase | |
Price | £1895 |
December Sale Price | £1795 |
The Starling - Blue
My Blue Starling is a guitar that I’ve put a lot of thought and care into. I’ve always been passionate about creating one-of-a-kind instruments, and this model is no exception. I have hand selected Sweet Chestnut for the body and paired it with a stunning English walnut top. To bring out the natural beauty of the woods, they've been finished with a vibrant blue stain and oil to finish. This particular guitar is one of a pair. Please see my left handed version below.
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The neck is made from Birds Eye Maple, which creates a striking, almost shimmering effect. It’s paired with a Rosewood fingerboard, chosen for its playability and warm tonal response. I wanted to make sure every element of the guitar was carefully considered to create a balanced, responsive instrument.
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When selecting the pickups, I like to use local and British suppliers whenever possible. That’s why I’ve chosen the Green Pickups Hybrid Tele set—they offer a fantastic combination of clarity and warmth, and they’re made right here in the UK. It’s important to me that the guitar is not only a great performer but also supports local craftsmanship.
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The guitar is thoughtfully bound with aluminium, adding a modern edge to its classic design, while the Schaller staggered tuners ensure perfect tuning stability and smooth string changes.
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The Blue Starling is more than just a guitar; it’s an expression of everything I love about the craft.
Spec | Materials & Componens - Starling Blue |
|---|---|
Scale Length | 25.5" |
Body | Sweet Chestnut/Walnut |
Finish | Blue Stain & Oil |
Neck | Birdseye Maple |
Fretboard | Rosewood |
Radius | 9.5" |
Bridge | |
Pickups | Green Pick-ups Hybrid Tele Set. With 4-way switch |
Tuners | Schaller Staggered |
Frets | 22 Stainless Steel |
Fret Markers | Aluminium/Abalone Dots |
Nut | Graphite Compound |
Hardcase | |
Price | £1895 |
December Sale Price | £1795 |
The Starling - Blue Left handed
As a guitar builder, I’ve noticed that left-handed musicians are often overlooked in the market, with fewer options and less attention to detail than their right-handed counterparts. I wanted to change that and offer left-handed players the same opportunity to own a top-quality, hand-built instrument.
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As with my right handed version, this Starling's body is crafted from Sweet Chestnut, paired with a hand-selected English walnut top. The stain and oil finish I apply enhances the natural grain of the wood, creating a smooth, rich look that feels great to the touch.
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The neck, made from Birds Eye Maple which gives an almost shimmering effect adding a stunning visual element, while the Rosewood fingerboard is chosen for its smooth playability.
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For the pickups, I've chosen local British maker, Green Pickups Hybrid Tele set. These pickups offer tonal versatility and are every bit as good as larger well known brands. I think these give an extra level of quality.
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The guitar is bound with aluminium, giving it a modern yet timeless edge, and Schaller staggered tuners provide rock-solid tuning stability and smooth string changes.
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The Blue Starling is built to inspire and bring out the best in your music, with a character all its own.