My Story
My interest in guitars started early in life with my mom, who would play an old nylon string guitar and sing with my sister and I. That was over 40 years ago! Recently I pulled that old guitar out of the closet and made some repairs to get it playable again. My journey to guitar making started a little later in life....
I got my start in woodworking in middle school shop class. I found making things out of wood was a wonderful outlet for creativity. In high school I formed a friendship with the woodshop teacher Michael Flaherty and often found myself in the shop before and after school.
Over the years since I focused on fine furniture, hand tools and even cedar strip kayaks. I enjoy the challenge of making things, especially things that can be used. I love climbing into my cedar strip kayak and paddling away. Or handing one of my guitars to a friend and seeing the joy on their face as they play one for the first time.
I was always interested in making a guitar, just to see if I could. So, one day back in 2014 the research began. I bought William Cumpiano’s book Guitar making: Tradition and Technology and studied it thoroughly. My first guitar was a success, it still hangs on my shop wall as inspiration. I often pull it down and play a tune, it still sounds great!
In the years since, many guitars and ukuleles have left my shop for family and friends. And now as the luthier behind Madrona Guitars I can share my passion for handmade guitars with many more people!
I never stop learning; with each guitar I find joy in expanding my skills. I continue to pour over books like Ervin Somogyi’s Making the Responsive Guitar and articles in American Lutherie. I enjoy designing my own guitars and hand selecting the most beautiful woods available.
I love the opportunity to share my guitars with people, to see the joy they bring and hear the beautiful music they make. That is my goal with Madrona Guitars, I hope to make for you “an heirloom that you will want to share.”