West Valley Guitars

Josh Stopford — Founder & Luthier, West Valley Guitars

Josh Stopford’s journey into guitar-making began early: his first memories are of discovering his dad’s acoustic at age 10, then falling in love with a white Encore electric at 12.

He studied music at Dartington College of Arts, then spent a decade touring Europe and the UK as bass-player for the indie/ska band Yes Sir Boss.

After the birth of his first child, Josh retrained as a carpenter — and eventually merged his two passions: woodwork and guitar playing. In 2018 he established West Valley Guitars; prior to that, he spent 18 months teaching guitar building at Crimson Guitars, Europe's largest guitar-building school.

Based in a studio near Glastonbury / Frome, Somerset, Josh handcrafts high-end custom electric guitars — focusing on a distinctive offset-style model with nods to classic designs but refined for modern playability.
He builds to demand (rather than mass-production), with finishes using nitrocellulose tops and oil-and-wax necks, and customisable hardware, pickups and timbers. 

Over the years, West Valley Guitars has attracted notable musicians: among Josh’s clients and collaborators are members of IDLES, The Vaccines, Alberta Cross — as well as session and touring players across a diverse scene. 

Josh is also active as a teacher: through West Valley he offers hands-on courses — from guitar maintenance and setup, to full builds and fretwork — inviting enthusiasts to learn the craft in a workshop environment. 

Philosophy. For Josh, guitars are more than instruments: they have lives — they witness writing, performing, touring. Building them is a privilege, and every instrument is shaped by his commitment to tone, playability and craftsmanship.