A little history, the backbone of the company was formed under the partnership of Bradley Clark, a sleepless fanatic and worthy CEO of this new enterprise. Creatively stifled in his days at Maton, the man responsible for their resurrection, now heads up this innovative collective in Melbourne. Clark is the creator of the "Mistress" and the Ben Harper "Violap" – on which Bradley Clark states that "Currently we have secured Ben Harper to work closely with the company to produce his own particular name guitar" (along with the soon to be launched Harper series guitars). Bradley is also the brainchild of the soon to be released, new generation of acoustic guitars, including an innovative pick-up and pre-amp system.
The other partner in the enterprise is Adam Cole. Adam takes charge of instigating and overseeing the transformation and transition of premium timbers and components into loved and played electric guitars. Adam is a working musician – guitarist and vocalist with Melbourne based outfit Bugdust - and experienced in CAD, CAM, guitar design and manufacture. When asked about the company’s birth Adam Cole said the company was originally "formed in September 2001, the concept was put together to manufacture guitars in a hi-tech manner, to be competitive and to export high quality products to the United States of America and Europe".

All guitars at Cole Clark in the acoustic and electric range are designed and built by both Brad and Adam, who are also the same design team behind the hugely successful Maton Mastersounds in Melbourne. With solid US alder, Queensland maple or Silkwood bodies and hand-wound pickups, the traditional body shapes such as the Defender (Strat style) are currently being churned out in large numbers at their factory. "We are probably shipping about fifty guitars a month" revealed Cole. "At the moment we have the machines running off the components for the acoustic guitars".
When asked how much support and response the company and its guitars were getting, Cole explained that "we have got currently thirteen retail dealers Australia wide who are selling our guitars already". Cole happily revealed that the support for the ever growing company was increasing and rising as time went on. "And it’s good to see companies and businesses supporting a new company such as ours" says Cole. "As guitars aren’t the easiest thing to make and in the world of electric guitars, it is really a very tough business as there is so much competition. But our main goal is the acoustic range of guitars and the acoustic lap steels that we make. We are also making little replicas of electro style lap steels. Something small but something that’s not readily available on the market out there".

Under the ANMI (Australian Native Musical Instruments) moniker, the company’s mission statement was born - "to export Australian made and grown guitars to the world, while providing the strongest of domestic competition and to import replace. These instruments will be high tech, yet will feel like tradition has returned".
Branded as "COLE CLARK" for reasons that will become obvious with time, the first chapter (fine electric guitars) is being written as we speak. "We like to combine as many features as we can that we like about certain instruments into our guitars” expressed Cole. "For example, our Mistress range of guitars has a 25 and a half inch scale which is combined with better string tension. So for example, when you strike a chord it actually hits the notes a lot quicker. These guitars are just phenomenal. They are probably the best guitars I’ve ever come across in originality".
Added Bradley Clark : “We’ve made some massive and radical changes in the way of guitar manufacturing, especially like after 150 years where Martin guitars have been the authority in guitar making. Our Cole Clark guitars are totally revolutionising the guitar making industry".

It has been recognized for some time, due to a weak Australian dollar, that more manufacturing in Australia makes sense, since there is currently only one domestic maker of size, who is therefore without competition. One major purpose of ANMI is to prove that CAD (Computer Aided Design) coupled with CAM (Computer aided manufacture), if approached intelligently, will produce a more simplistic and advantageous production process. In short, to use these processes to make substantially better sounding instruments with more efficient production systems.
Australia is a treasure-trove of suitable luthier or guitar making timbers, the Acacias, Flindersias and Bunya, or Auracaria Bidwilli, are examples of great timbers for instrument making. The name Australian Native Musical Instruments, reflects the dedication to this cause. This does not mean ANMI will not produce instruments from traditional and exotic timbers, it is simply that they love Australia and wish to value add its timbers. "We try to use as many species of Australian timber as we can" says Cole. "And we’re finding out that we do have the best tone woods in the world. You wouldn’t believe it but we do. Also this timber is not old growth, its plantation material. We try not use old rain forest materials as we believe it’s not a really good thing to do".
2003 is shaping up to a big year for Cole Clark guitars and also the start of their ascension to the most respected and highly valued ranks in the guitar making industry, both here locally and on the international level. Superb craftmanship, brilliant and creative ideas, revolutionary visions and most importantly of all, some of the finest electric and acoustic guitars in the world. And to know that it’s all being done in Melbourne, the country’s number 1 music capital.