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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If perfection could be attained, it would not be worth striving for. Having lived from the age of four in a beautiful Elizabethan manor house surrounded by woodland, Kif quickly gained a fascination and deep respect for the natural world in all it’s forms. Early observations of the symmetry and superlative engineering structures found in shells and plants etc. have had a profound effect on all his design work. Having frequently visited the Natural History Museum in London and admired the skeletal reconstructions of various animals, at the age of 10, upon the discovery of a copious quantity of Barn Owl ‘pellets’, he removed the bones of mice, voles and shrews and with the aid of thin wire and glue, managed to rebuild the miniature skeletons to duplicate the Museum displays. With a civil engineer for a stepfather, he was taught to use any and all available tools to design and make things under the motto… ‘You haven’t learned anything until you’ve got your hands dirty!’ At the age of 14 he was building Go Karts (and a water kart!) and stripping and modifying 2 stroke engines. Lawnmowers suddenly cut the grass twice as fast for a week and then blew up! After a brief spell in the Queens Dragoon Guards as a ‘Short Service’ officer, he attended college and gained his qualifications as an Industrial Designer in Engineering. Having become disillusioned by the world of ID, and having spent a year as a mechanic and test driver in an import garage in London…to gain hands-on experience of practical motor engineering. He met and worked with Dan Armstrong, genius musician and designer of radical electric guitars and amplification. Essentially, Dan’s influence, and a love of music in all it’s forms led Kif to build his first guitar. He moved to West Cornwall in 1970, and to finance his self-teaching was employed as a boat builder and marine engineer. Further part time work involved fitting kitchens, interior design and decoration and making replica Art Deco furniture for a shop in New York. Since then he has made over 300 instruments of various types, built cars and designed boats. He writes songs and music, makes jewellery, breeds tropical butterflies, enjoys sailing as fast as possible and rides a 750cc Yamaha. His great desire is to make guitars that take their owners into new areas of creativity. His even greater desire is to inspire and enthuse people of all ages into the wonders and delights of the natural, real world and the common factor that binds all things… Music. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- » Contact --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © Kif Guitars 2003 - 2006 |