Got my first Sears guitar at 10 in 1960 but my love of two piece, single cutaway style guitars began in 1970 when I traded a 1960 Epiphone Sorrento thinline for a grocery bag full of a 1954 Blackguard in many pieces.
Around the same time I apprenticed and worked at Arrowhead Guitars in Duluth, Mn, a shop that specialized in six and twelve string acoustic guitars and repairs and restorations. I learned from two talented luthiers who had worked with long time builder Charles Hoffmann from Minneapolis. Later I built custom "T" style guitars with phenolic and wood composite necks with one piece swamp ash bodies (a few with artwork engraving) in the early '90s working out of Greg Curbows shop in North Georgia (visit Early Guitars). Greg was an immensely talented designer, builder and cranky perfectionist, a friend and an inspiration to me.
My inspirations are obvious but I build each guitar to have a individual voice and vibe, i focus on playability and tone.
I still play live every week, this was Eddie Tigner's (red shirt) 84th Birthday Party, Eddie and I play together every week along with Ross Pead (to Eddie's right) and some of Atlanta's best at a club in Atlanta, GA. I love field work.
