How did you become interested in lutherie?
"Unlike most everyone else, I didn’t come about it because I am a good guitar player or wanted a guitar of my own. My dad is a well known builder and I asked him to help me build a guitar to help pay off my law school loans. I ended up loving the work significantly more than writing grants for the environmental nonprofit I was working for at the time. I kept asking for time off so I could go make more instruments and knew it was probably time to make a change."
How have you experienced changes in the business climate for luthiers over time?
"I think with more experience and time building, I have been able to demonstrate my expertise which has in turn proven that I know what I am doing so more people seek me out for building questions and luthiery help."
What qualities would you say are good to have as a guitar builder?
"The most important qualities I think are the ability to spot when an element of your work is not the absolute best you can do even if it is good enough to move ahead, and then you have to have the work ethic and drive to choose to redo it."
Is there a difference in the view of hand-built guitars today compared to back in the day - in what way?
"Growing up in a very small farming community in VA, I have noted an interesting pattern. Like most things, hand built instruments and people going after them feels a bit cyclical. Back when my dad was growing up, bespoke things, farmed food, handmade goods etc were necessary because folks weren’t able to procure a store bought instrument, or food or quilt or clothes, and store-bought was the ‘cool’ thing because it demonstrated you could afford such a luxury. Now it is in the fashion to make your own or purchase a bespoke instrument because they are all unique and special and demonstrate you are able to get someone to make you a specific item rather than purchasing a factory cutout everyone else can get."
If you were to choose two work steps from the entire construction process, which steps do you think are the most fun?
"Inlay is my absolute favorite thing to do, I prefer the art to the more mechanical aspects of building, and the freedom to create and design is where my passion lies. I also love watching a client open the case and see the instrument I have crafted for them. If that is not an appropriate work step, I also enjoy simply choosing the wood and dreaming up the instrument it will become."