Reviews

Ayers Factory tour with Fight Magazine

20 Years of Ayers handmade Guitar

 It is hard to believe that a small island as Taiwan was once a big site of instrument production. In the beginning stage, Taiwan is famous as an original equipment manufacturer. However, few years later, most factories moved to China and Vietnam pursuing the cheaper labors. Taiwan factories are forced to transform from OEM production to building their own brands. Decades past by, there are more than 30 Taiwan instrument manufacturers attend the international instrument exhibition regularly and if you want to choose one that always focus on high quality instrument keeps the valuable traditions and pursues innovations, it is definitely Ayers.

The Brand history

In 1989, the founder Mr. Chengfa Huang set up the very first factory in Hochiminh city. Mr. Huang recruited the local luthiers and carpenters and started his first handmade guitar line – Emotion. In the beginning, the factory only produced Nylon string guitars and after few years, he started the steel-string line.

In 1996, Mr. Huang moved the factory to Bianho and decided to change the brand name to Ayers. Ayers began the mass production in 1999 and now there are around 100 workers with daily capacity 25 pcs.

Compare to other factories with various machines, the quantity is rather low but the decent quality gets everyone’s attention in a short time. Lots of Taiwan artist use Ayers in concerts. Even the greatest finger style player Andy Mckee and Japanese guitarist Masa Sumide are fond of Ayers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guitars as Artwork

It is not a big surprise that people will doubt the guitar “made in Vietnam”. Actually that’s what we thought in the beginning. However, after I saw the stunning skills of Vietnamese crafters, I totally convinced that the workmanship is more than great! Most craftsman hired by Ayers worked in these for more than 7 years and they used to be carpenters or came from jewelry inlay family. Even the youngest craftsman that is only 20 years old has the incredible precisely skill. For us, this tour is like a two hour hand crafting show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The value of handmade guitar

Since nowadays most factories could use machines to produce guitars, why does Ayers insist on traditional handmade production like Martin? What’s the value of handmade guitars?

As luthiers always says: “The wood is alive.” Even if you take two piece of wood from the same tree or a same block, the intensity and the grain is different, not to mention the sound after it becomes a guitar. Therefore, if you make the guitar all with the cold machine, you won’t have the chance to feel the personality of the wood and it is not possible to bring out the best of it. So, a nice handmade guitar is the combination of mind, experience and efforts and that is the value we pursue.

Koa

Except acoustic guitars, Ayers also produce ukuleles. The Uke trend started by Beatles and this little instrument are usually made with best Hawaiian Koa. The Koa produces unique soundand  and it is not only suitable for ukulele but also for guitars. Ayers stocked lots of premium koa and they have to be natural dried for more than 18 months before production.

 

Next page I would like to show you some photos of the production!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 word/picture by Troy