More About Me
Furniture Maker/Designer for 45years. Worked on guitars and most other stringed instruments during that time. Began making F-style mandolins after moving to the Smokies in 2000. Met and played in a band with a dear friend, Gary Hughes who studied guitar making with Bryan Galloup. I finally talked him adding his equipment with mine and I began learning how much I didn't know about luthiery. The 5+ months sharing the shop with him leave me with warm memories. Sadly, Gary had a massive coronary while at the shop and I was unable to revive him. His wisdom and laughter continue to inspire me.
I started on gourd banjos while making guitars with him at that time, first just because their sound was so entrancing. Over the years my banjars have evolved quite a bit, as I want to stretch the medium to its fullest.
My other instruments are OM size flattop guitars and large carved archtops. Instrument repair and re-building rounds out my luthier work-anything from mandolins to stand up bass.
Since my home and shop are on the slopes of English Mountain, English Mountain Stringed Instruments is the name my work goes by. So far word-of-mouth has been my (marketing?). I hate the idea of advertising but folks feel I need to get my work out to more musicians.
