There is a joke that says, “How do you know he is a good luthier”?
When he waves to you, he has ten fingers.
Good work can’t be rushed. Rushed work can’t be good.
I wanted to be a luthier since I worked at Sandy’s Music in Cambridge, Ma. at 15 years old.
While there I had the privilege of meeting Tom Rush, Livingston Taylor, Holly Near, Peter Rowan, Jonathan Richman and many other Rounder Records recording artists.
I watched them tryout guitars and mandolins from 3 feet away and didn’t have a clue who they were.
I was hooked on Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the three Kings:
Freddie, Albert and BB.
My plan was to go to Berklee College of Music. My father had different ones.
So I listened to him, got two engineering degrees was in private practice, got married, had kids, built and sold two successful businesses, got divorced and here I am.
I never stopped tinkering with guitars. They were always my hobby.
Today, I’m doing what I wanted to do for 40 years – build and repair guitars.
They say if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. They never French polished a D-28.