He wrote two textbooks on making instruments,
Making a Folk Guitar and
Making an Appalachian Dulcimer, that were published by The English Folk Dance and Song Society, Cecil Sharp House.
Illustrated with line drawings, cover designs by Bailey's wife Maureen and a few photographs by Russ Woolnough, these scarce booklets are titles in The Folk Shop Instrumental Series; complete texts on how to make acoustic folk-style instruments.
George Lowden the Irish luthier has talked about the influence of Bailey's book at the start of his professional career as a luthier:
"1973 - After a fair bit of prayer! (I needed all the help I could get) I decided to make guitars professionally and armed with some wood, basic woodworking tools and an excellent booklet by English Luthier John Bailey, I began the journey."