I started building guitars for one very simple reason - I couldn't afford to buy a really nice one, and I had a feeling that I could build a better one than the one I was playing. I didn't intend for it to become a career at first. Who would? But it wasn't long into the actual construction process before I became enamored with it. It was one of the most exciting endeavors ever. And even now, nearly ten years later, it still is. Though, of course, it doesn't quite compare to the excitement of building that first guitar. The photos below are of a couple of guitars that I've built. Click on them for a larger view.


Sitka spruce top guitar
with French polish

Rosewood back and sides
with French polish

Cedar top guitar
with no finish

Rosewood back and sides
of unfinished guitar


We were living in a one-bedroom apartment when I built my first guitar and I didn't have a workshop. So I had to build it on the kitchen table. It was a nightmare of setting up and cleaning up each day. And the wood dust got everywhere, as you can imagine. Laura was an angel of tolerance and support. I was also limited in tools. In fact, the only power tools I had were a jigsaw and a hand held electric drill. I managed to borrow a router for inlaying the rosette. I actually planed and sanded all the wood to thickness by hand! Never again!! If you would like to see some pictures of that very archaic beginning of a luthier's journey click here. (under construction)