I started making musical instruments in 1995, at the ripe age of 24, in Port Townsend, Washington.  I am still making them, some 22 years later.  

What got me started was my falling in love with the mandolin at the Strawberry Music Festival in Yosemite, CA.   I bought a $300 mandolin and played it so much that soon I wanted a better one and I then realized that the handmade ones were very pricey.  It was the recommendation of master luthier Michael Lewis that I just try to make one, by following a book called “Make your own bluegrass mandolin”  Either it would work or it wouldn’t, and if it did I’d have a new mandolin...

and if I made another one and somebody bought it then I’d have a job!   I was sold on the idea and very naively went into the monumental task of making an F5 arch-top/back mandolin, with no experience of real woodworking at all -except for what I learned in 7th grade wood shop class, where I made both a square cutting board and a vertical napkin holder.  Needless to say, when I began making my first mandolin, I had a huge learning curve to tackle...  in fact, it was not really a curve, but a straight line UP. 

But despite all the trails and tribulations of not knowing how to do any of the procedures as well as not really having any real tools, I kept at it.  It took 3 months and a couple hundred hours of labor.  Guess what?  it worked!  I played it for awhile and then grew curious about making another mandolin, but a different kind/shape.  So I made one and then... someone bought it!  and as Michael Lewis told me, I found myself with a job- a new career.   That was about 200 instruments ago and what seems to be a lifetime of learning.

What I started to notice about how I do things is that I never really do the same thing twice.  I realized soon enough that I was not doing this like most other luthiers were.  I never had a catalog, or models (so to speak) and though I initially did take commissioned work, I stopped doing that years ago- at least in the traditional style.  Where I have come to is the point where I realize that this really has just been a passionate hobby for me the whole time and its best that I keep it that way- making what I want to make, when I want to make it and if someone comes along that likes what has been created, then I sell it.  Every once in awhile I will make something that someone is interested in, but for art’s sake (and my sanity’s sake), it needs to be pretty loose so that the creative license is still mine.  That is why I do not accept money up front and I do not make any promises about whether or not the idea will actually come to fruition.  But often, it does!  So don’t be afraid to send me a wish list and if I make something that matches your desire, you’ll know about it, as I keep all the emails and chats about what people are wanting made.

All in all, its been a really fun experience making the musical items.  I have learned a lot and have met a lot of really great people and have had the great pleasure of hearing great music being played on them.  It is a love of art and music as well as a labor of love.  I could not imagine life without this particularly interesting and satisfying craft.   I have taught many people how to make and love to see people playing something that brings them joy.

If you feel inclined to send me a note to say hello, or if you’d like to inquire about what I currently have for sale, or perhaps to discuss learning about lutherie for yourself, please feel free to send an email.  I also selectively do repair work of all types.  Thank you for your time and interest-  I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit!