The name H.M.S. stands for, "Her Majesty's Ship". It's a nod back to an early 1900's naval-destroyer which was called, The H.M.S. Dreadnought. 

The H.M.S. was influenced by some of the most popular instruments of all time. While others strive for accurate reproduction of guitars from a forgone era, we strived to make a guitar for people who wanted a little more. The best guitars of all time weren't reproductions or reissues. They were the best guitar that could be made, given the materials and tools available at the time. With that in mind, we created the H.M.S. 

Simple, Stiff and Strong. The H.M.S. shares many qualities of the best vintage guitars and is an heirloom-quality instrument.