Bespoke Electric Guitar Maker

Chris Polin 

Grandey’s Place QEST Scholar 

Grandey’s Place directly funds a number scholarships and awards in association with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), providing an alternative opportunity to express our on-going commitment to preserving and nurturing our endangered heritage crafts. 

PLEASE NOTE: Chris is not resident at Grandey’s Place. 

Chris is a self-taught guitar maker based in Manchester, dedicated to taking his craft to another level.

Originally from Ireland, Chris has been playing the guitar since he was 12 and at the age of 16, he built his first guitar on a week’s work experience with Alistair Hay of Emerald Guitars. It wasn’t until he was 32 that Chris built his second guitar and set up a workshop in his garage, focusing on electric guitars.

Chris would like to grow his business, Polin Guitars, to be able to build more top tier, bespoke, hand-made instruments that are collaboratively designed with clients.

With the support of Grandey’s Place, Chris will undertake training through his QEST Grandey’s Place Emerging Maker Grant to improve his skills across the board. He will complete two courses at Crimson Guitars that will cover every aspect of the build process, with deep dives into design elements.

Chris’ goal is to build guitars that are among the best in the world. His long-term goal is to take on an apprentice or work experience student to inspire a new generation of guitar builders.

‘An instrument is much more than just a commodity or tool to a musician; it is the means by which they can create and express their art.’