Barnes & Mullins Company

Brian Cleary, managing director and owner of the renowned music company Barnes & Mullins, embarked on his musical journey as a self-taught guitarist. His expertise expanded while assisting a violin maker, honing his craft in instrument making. By night, he graced pub stages with his guitar skills, while by day, he meticulously crafted chin rests for violins— immersing himself in the business of instrument craftsmanship. In 2002, he seized an opportunity to create his own guitar line while working on budget-friendly acoustic guitars for Barnes & Mullins’ Brunswick brand.

Wally Evans grew up in Wales with music all around him. He played piano and sang in church. He later learned to play the guitar and worked in several bands at night and worked in a power plant by day. For two years he studied electronic musical instrument technology in London before being hired by Rose-Morris Company as the assistant factory manager. In 1970 he joined the Rosetti Company as an electronic engineer and worked closely with Yanagisawa saxophones before forming his own company, A&W Ltd. Wally brought the saxophone line with him when he joined the Barnes & Mulli

Bruce Perrin is the Managing Director for Barnes & Mullins, located in Oswestry, England. The company was formed in 1895 and published the famous banjo magazine called “The Jo.” The company soon expanded to produce their own brand of banjos as well as importing instruments. Bruce became director of the company in 1986 and moved the company in 1999 from London to its current location in Oswestry, Shropshire. A decade later Bruce and Brian Cleary achieved a management buy-out of the Barnes family. Over the years Bruce has been an active member of the British Music Industry and a