The Dream Continues

I fell into guitar making before I even realized it. I have always been involved in music in one way or another for as long as I can remember. My first job was behind the counter at a small shop called Pasadena Music Emporium. Far from an Emporium, we sold & rented band instruments, along with sheet music, and some accessories, I strung my first guitar in the back room. After some time of stringing I thought I should learn to play the guitar, so I was able to take lesions from the resident teacher when his regular students were no shows. For 3 years I got lesions free of charge, not a bad setup. I was paid a meager sum of $5.10 / hr. to watch the store, and practice guitar.

About 3 years into this gig, I was told that I might make a good Luthier…”Luthier” I said, “what’s that?” soon after I was attending the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, the Total students in my class…4. There we 4 teachers at the school, so we got excellent attention. There I learned the intuitiveness that goes into building…feel, the foreplay (for lack of a better word) was the place where I got my feet wet.

Many years after leaving the greater Phoenix area, I took a Job in Hollywood…well just north of Hollywood, Valley Arts USA. This was a small firm that was making between 3 and 5 electric guitars a day. Knowing now what I didn’t know then, we were way overstaffed, and it’s understandable why things didn’t take off. I worked there for only 6 months, but I used it as a springboard to greater things.

Later that year I made the move to San Diego, and Taylor Guitars.

When I arrived they were making 10 guitars a day. We had 25 skilled craftsmen, working in specialty areas. I started out making parts, and literally worked my way up the ladder. I was cross trained in many departments, and could cover a multitude of absences if needed. I was like a fish in water. My job was mostly woodworking…making parts, working on saws and getting dirty. I eventually took over the department and outlasted most everyone in that era. When I left 11 years later, we were making 375 guitars a day, and I had 20 employees, and managed nearly a million dollars worth of inventory.

6 years ago, I left that company…in good standing I suppose. I’ve been back now and then, but I realize that those people are dealing with the same problems still, that I was dealing with at that time, and leaving was the best thing that I could do.

So where do I go from here? I’m ready to start making guitars again. Not for a big company, but for my own satisfaction. There is a pride that goes into a job well done. That’s what I want to accomplish. My goals are small to start out, but I feel that I can do some really great stuff.

I’m writing this blog to chronicle the building of musical instruments. As well as anything else that strikes my musical fancy. Follow me as I live out my dream