“He approached life with a gusto, intensity, a wicked sense of humour”: 12-string acoustic maestro and prolific guitar designer Paul Brett has died, aged 76

Paul Brett.

Paul Brett, the 12-string acoustic virtuoso turned guitar designer who collaborated with the likes of Arthur Brown and folk-rock legend Roy Harper, has died, aged 76.

Born in London, latterly of Pwllheli, Wales, Brett was in many ways a renaissance man of guitar, enjoying a portfolio career that saw him grace Roy Harper’s 1966 debut album, Sophisticated Beggar, playing lead guitar with the Strawbs, Al Stewart, Lonnie Donegan, and the Velvet Opera, before striking up a formidable collaboration with Vintage Guitars, with which he designed over 20 signature guitars.