Experience Level: Purty Good

desert rose has made 77 recent additions to Banjo Hangout 

Interests:
[Teaching] [Helping]

Occupation: Stringed instrument craftsman, engineer and consultant

Gender: Male
Age: 72

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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 2/7/2003
Last Visit 3/7/2026

From 1973 to 1974 worked in a Government secure machine shop making internal engine components for rocket and jet engines. Starting in 1974 studied acoustic instrument repair and restoration at McCabes Guitar shop, and banjo building from Larry Brown.This lasted three years formally. In 1977 made my first instrument a five string banjo. March 1977 to October 1984 CBS Fender Musical Instruments. 1977 to 1980 lead a team building Jazz Master and Jazz bass necks in the woodshop. 1980 to 1984 Research and Developement, sole Factory Masterbuilder of stringed instruments, building prototype guitars and artist special order guitars. 1984 to 1986 Factory Supervisor of Charvel Jackson Musical instruments. 1986 to 1990 Charvel guitars Japan production project manager and engineer. 1990 to 2001 Fujigen Musical Instruments. 1990 to 1994 Research and Developement making prototype samples and artist guitars for Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, Greco Casio G and L etc. 1994 to 2001Quality Control Engineer and Inspector for Fender and Ibanez guitars 1994 Founded Desert Rose Musical Instruments 2001 Founded Stringed Instrument Technologies with partner Nick Sugimoto, concentrating on detailed consultant projects with Western and Asian manufacturers and suppliers and distributors. Offering engineering, design, quality control, artist relations and marketing assistance. 1977 to 1986 had my own private repair and construction shop concentrating on acoustic instruments mostly acoustic guitars and five string banjos. Current consulting work deals with electric guitars and a lot with acoustic guitar and banjo developement capabilities in Asia, bringing their knowlege base up to par and stretching the envelope to allow them to compete with American quality at their price, thus writing a new chapter in the music business.