THE GUITARS THAT STARTED AN OBSESSION
Bold shapes. Striking finishes. Unmistakably Palm Bay. Explore the guitars and basses that made this British brand stand out, from the iconic Tidalwave to its lesser-known creations.
CULT UK GUITARS • EST. 1991
PALM BAY
THE ARCHIVE
Celebrating and documenting the distinctive British guitars and basses built by Palm Bay from 1991 to 2018 by luthier Andrew Mackenzie.
Explore the models, discover their history and help preserve the story of one of Britain’s most individual guitar makers.
Preserving the story of Palm Bay
Palm Bay produced some of the most distinctive British guitars and basses of the 1990s and 2000's. With their bold body shapes, striking finishes and performance-focused designs, these were instruments made to stand apart.
Yet surprisingly little information about the original Palm Bay range survives online. Model histories are incomplete, specifications can vary and many rare instruments are known only through old photographs, magazine features or the memories of the people who owned and played them.
The Palm Bay Archive is an independent project created to bring that scattered information together. Its aim is to document the instruments, record their serial numbers and preserve the stories connected to them.
THE MACHINES
THE MODELS
Explore the machines that defined Palm Bay. From iconic superstrats to forgotten basses, each model tells part of the story.
THE ICON
TIDALWAVE
The guitar that reignited the obsession. Bold, aggressive and unmistakably Palm Bay.
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CLASSIC PALM BAY
TYPHOON
Explore the Typhoon’s origins, distinctive looks and place in the brand’s history.
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BEST SELLER
CYCLONE
Explore the Cyclone’s different versions and discover its place in the Palm Bay story.
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FIXED BRIDGE
TEMPEST
A little drama, plenty of character. The Tempest brings a restless energy to the Palm Bay family.
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SIMPLICITY REFINED
AVALANCHE
Big on presence, short on subtlety. For players who like their guitars to make an entrance.
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RARE ELECTRICITY
LIGHTNING
Sharp looks with a spark of attitude. Rare and brings sense of energy to the line-up.
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FOUR STRING BEAUTY
ATLANTIC BASS
Confidence with a solid sense of purpose. The kind of presence that holds a band together.
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HOW LOW CAN YOU GO
PACIFIC BASS
Laid-back style with a character of its own. The Pacific Bass brings a different groove to the family.
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UNPLUGGED
ACOUSTICS
Unplugged, up close and full of possibility. A subtler side of Palm Bay.
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JOIN THE ARCHIVE
Own a Palm Bay? Help preserve the history of one of Britain’s most distinctive guitar brands by sharing photographs, serial numbers and stories.
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