"I have owned several guitars by both English and Spanish makers, and when it was time to look for a new instrument, an Ambridge was on the short list. What I was looking for was an instrument whose sound was distinctive: a complex tone, something rich, interesting and woody but not in the Spanish way. I also had the idea that I wanted something favouring tonal complexity over volume, because I already owned both a very loud guitar, and an amplifier. All the really loud guitars I have heard or played have seemed to me to achieve their projection at the expense of a subtlety of tonal interest.
I would say that all these areas of interest were fully met by the instrument I picked up in the spring of 2005, though to pursue the volume question, I have to say nobody would ever accuse this guitar of being quiet. Right from new the instrument produced an attractive and malleable tone: at the time of writing, almost exactly a year from first possession, the sound has grown to possess all those qualities of complexity and character I was looking for, with the versatility of tone that can sound appropriate for any musical period and style."
Stephen Kenyon, Dorchester, England

"I’ve been playing the new guitar endlessly for almost a week now and it has surpassed all expectations. Every note is pure, and focussed in a way that I’ve seldom heard on a guitar. I have the sense that there is more fundamental and less overtone to each note, which gives each one a solid centre. Intonation is very good, as is playability. Sustain is excellent. It can produce a variety of tone colours easily, unlike many guitars that may be louder but are less flexible in this way. By the way where did you get that UNBELIEVABLE Brazilian rosewood? I haven’t seen rosewood of that quality in 30 years and doubted that I ever would again."
Fred Dilzel, New Jersey.

"I’d like to commend you on building such an excellent instrument! Beautifully crafted, with incredibly balanced tone, and a lovely treble, easy to play and wonderful to look at."
James O’Hara, Toronto, Canada.

"Your instrument is a joy. It is easy for me to play, with an almost buttery mellowness. The palette of colours I can achieve on it is extraordinary. It is also gorgeous, with the spruce top a very unique ‘bearclaw’ pattern I just love."
Nancy Niederman, Los Angeles.

"I've played quite a number of original early 19th-century guitars, and although 150 to 200 years of 'maturity' adds a certain quality to the sound, I could never quite square the fragility of the instruments with the robustness of the music. Consequently I always wondered what sound Sor heard when he received a new instrument. Now I know...Simon Ambridge's Panormo copy just blew me away as soon as I took it out of the case. With gut strings and no-nails technique, the sound is strong, projects extremely well and has all the subtlety that Sor's music demands. I even got out of bed at 4am just to play this guitar - it has been years since that happened! The soundboard is of the highest possible quality and the workmanship of this Master Craftsman complements it perfectly. Perfection."
Rob MacKillop, Fife, Scotland.

"It is much easier to describe a great guitar than it is to acquire one. A great guitar sounds great; the basic tone is beautiful and can be coaxed into revealing a wide palette of tone colors. The notes are very even and consistent from the lowest to the highest pitches. The treble, mid-range and bass notes are perfectly balanced. A great guitar not only plays easily and comfortably, it is a pleasure to play it. When finished playing a program of the most difficult music you know you are refreshed and ready to play more. The look of the guitar is most pleasing to the eye; just seeing the guitar makes you want to play it. Such guitars are rare. Two months ago Simon Ambridge delivered a great guitar that he had built for me. An eight-string guitar, it is the instrument I have waited for since I switched to the eight-string instrument in 1979. Fourteen guitars later the sound I had been chasing with patience had been rewarded. I found Simon Ambridge to be a delightful kindred spirit to work with. He will build more guitars for me. I unhesitatingly recommend him to anyone seeking the highest level of artistry in the world of guitar making."
Andrew Schulman, New York City.

"In the last thirty years I have had the opportunity to perform on guitars made by some of the best known makers from South America, France, Spain and the USA. It is from this perspective that I can say that Simon Ambridge ranks among the very best guitar makers in the world. To say that his instruments are second to none is an understatement. Simon has raised the standard of excellence for guitar making to a level that is unmatched today. His refined craftsmanship and attention to detail are so compelling in themselves as to rise to the level of art. I am fortunate to own two Simon Ambridge guitars; the second was made specially to commemorate the 100 anniversary of Joaquin Rodrigo’s birth. After only a few months use, it is becoming the most expressive, balanced, finest projecting guitar I have ever played."
Pablo Cohen, Ithaca College, New York.