My primary goal as a small scale builder is to offer quality guitars and lapsteels of unique design at prices that are affordable and doable to working musicians.
I live and create instruments in Western Montana, having graduated from Roberto-Venn in Phoenix in the mid-nineties. Thereafter, returning to Montana and living in Missoula and working primarily as a baker while building my guitar work skill-set and slowly acquiring the necessary tools.
I estimate that over half of the instruments I have made over the years are lapsteels. Steels were appealing instruments early on for making use of scrap materials, requiring less tooling and time than necks and fretwork do on standard guitars, and they allow for unusual, abstract carving -- one of my favorite ways to work. I also just love the vocal nature of slide guitar.
For standard guitars, basses, bass VIs, and mandolas I most often offer variations of the Tele and offset styles, with a T and J Model.
In 2023 my intention is to complete and deliver a few existing projects, and then to focus primarily on making Ripple lapsteels in more numbers.
Once caught up and shop flow is established, I may consider taking on more ambitious custom instruments and repair again.
Thank you for your interest!
I live and create instruments in Western Montana, having graduated from Roberto-Venn in Phoenix in the mid-nineties. Thereafter, returning to Montana and living in Missoula and working primarily as a baker while building my guitar work skill-set and slowly acquiring the necessary tools.
I estimate that over half of the instruments I have made over the years are lapsteels. Steels were appealing instruments early on for making use of scrap materials, requiring less tooling and time than necks and fretwork do on standard guitars, and they allow for unusual, abstract carving -- one of my favorite ways to work. I also just love the vocal nature of slide guitar.
For standard guitars, basses, bass VIs, and mandolas I most often offer variations of the Tele and offset styles, with a T and J Model.
In 2023 my intention is to complete and deliver a few existing projects, and then to focus primarily on making Ripple lapsteels in more numbers.
Once caught up and shop flow is established, I may consider taking on more ambitious custom instruments and repair again.
Thank you for your interest!