"I’ve always made things. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t - it's all I've ever wanted to do. I’ve worked as a saddlemaker, carpenter, joiner, aircraft toolmaker, racing motorcycle chassis maker, racing motorcycle engine builder and tuner, guitar repairer and now guitar maker."
~ Damian Probett
UK-based Damian Probett is a renowned luthier whose expertise and passion for guitar building have earned him a stellar reputation among musicians and collectors alike (his name regularly appears in conversation alongside the likes of Johan Gustavsson, Gil Yaron, and Michael Stevens).
Over the years, Damian has honed his impressive skills to produce guitars that not only pay homage to the golden era of guitar-making but also incorporate modern innovations to meet the demands of contemporary players.
Handcrafted in North Yorkshire
Each Probett guitar is crafted entirely by Damian Probett in North Yorkshire, UK - combining his background as a toolmaker, saddlemaker, and motorcycle-builder with a deep understanding of vintage instruments and modern playability
Hybrid Designs with Heritage Roots
Probett melds classic electric guitar design elements - think 1950s Californian body styles, mahogany set-necks, and carved tops - with contemporary construction techniques. Models like the Rocket, Meteor, and Rocket ’59 channel vintage tone and feel while offering modern ergonomics and build quality.
Lively, Balanced Tones
With features like full-width tenons for seamless neck-to-body vibration transfer, high-grade mahogany bodies, and custom-voiced vintage-style pickups, these guitars deliver tone that’s lively, balanced, and deeply resonant - built for players who feel and hear the difference.
Damian Probett Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Damian Probett guitars - the builder, the craft, and how to find one near Boston.
Where can I buy a Damian Probett guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Damian Probett dealer. Probett guitars are built in small numbers in North Yorkshire, England, and inventory rotates accordingly - when instruments are in stock, players from across New England come to our showroom near Boston to play them. Reach out to our team directly if you want to be notified when a Probett arrives.
Who is Damian Probett?
Damian Probett is a luthier based in North Yorkshire, England, whose path to guitar building ran through an unusually wide range of trades: saddlemaking, carpentry, joinery, aircraft toolmaking, racing motorcycle chassis building, and engine tuning, before working as a guitar repairer and eventually a guitar builder. That breadth of hands-on craft shows in every instrument he makes. His name regularly appears in conversations alongside other elite boutique builders like Johan Gustavsson, Gil Yaron, and Michael Stevens.
What makes Probett guitars distinctive?
Probett melds classic 1950s Californian body shapes with mahogany set-necks, carved tops, and custom-voiced vintage-style pickups - designs that feel rooted in the golden era of electric guitar building while incorporating modern construction techniques. A key detail is the full-width tenon joint, which allows seamless vibration transfer between neck and body. The result is tone that players describe as lively, balanced, and deeply resonant.
What Probett models does The Music Emporium carry?
Our Probett selection has included the Rocket, Meteor, Rocket '59, and SGteor - each a different expression of Damian's hybrid approach to vintage-inspired design and modern construction. Because Probett builds in small numbers, specific models vary with available inventory. Contact us and we will let you know what is currently in stock or arriving soon.
Why are Probett guitars so hard to find?
Because Damian Probett builds every guitar himself in North Yorkshire, production is limited by design. Each instrument receives the same hands-on attention across every stage of the build - the same reason the guitars play and sound the way they do. The limited output and strong reputation among serious players means Probetts move quickly when they become available.