A lot of people ask me how I learned the skills to build guitars, and looking back, I guess I started woodworking at about the age of five. I started piano and later sax lessons during primary school, then I got into electronics and also model making at around 12 or 13, and at about 16 I was regularly rewiring my strat copy and also my electric bass. One major step was taking a subject that was offered in high school called "the Physics of Sound and Music". At the same time we were learning about Bach and the equally tempered tuning system in music class, I was having the "twelfth-root-of-two" explained to me by the physics teacher! Later, at about 18, I learned a lot about spray finishing by working on mine and my friends first cars. Then, while undertaking my music degree at QUT, I came across Don Teeter's "The Acoustic Guitar" in the campus library. In about '95, I discovered mimf.com (the "Musical Instrument Maker's Forum") and stewmac.com (Stewart Macdonald Guitar Shop Supply). I also have to mention Gary Albrecht; a fine local luthier, who not only graduated from, but also instructed at the Roberta-Venn School in the United States. Gary is always ready to freely offer the benefits of years of experience with his down to earth advice. Over Christmas/New Year 2006/7 I undertook a mentorship with famous luthier Michael Tobias at his custom shop in upstate New York. My stay culminated in a trip to the winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. A truly amazing experience that has given me so much. Here's a few examples of my work. If you have any questions or comments about this stuff, feel free to email me. Click on the images for info, pics, and sounds... |
Blue Ox |
Luthiery |
A lot of people ask me how I learned the skills to build guitars, and looking back, I guess I started woodworking at about the age of five. I started piano and later sax lessons during primary school, then I got into electronics and also model making at around 12 or 13, and at about 16 I was regularly rewiring my strat copy and also my electric bass. One major step was taking a subject that was offered in high school called "the Physics of Sound and Music". At the same time we were learning about Bach and the equally tempered tuning system in music class, I was having the "twelfth-root-of-two" explained to me by the physics teacher! Later, at about 18, I learned a lot about spray finishing by working on mine and my friends first cars. Then, while undertaking my music degree at QUT, I came across Don Teeter's "The Acoustic Guitar" in the campus library. In about '95, I discovered mimf.com (the "Musical Instrument Maker's Forum") and stewmac.com (Stewart Macdonald Guitar Shop Supply). I also have to mention Gary Albrecht; a fine local luthier, who not only graduated from, but also instructed at the Roberta-Venn School in the United States. Gary is always ready to freely offer the benefits of years of experience with his down to earth advice. Over Christmas/New Year 2006/7 I undertook a mentorship with famous luthier Michael Tobias at his custom shop in upstate New York. My stay culminated in a trip to the winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. A truly amazing experience that has given me so much. Here's a few examples of my work. If you have any questions or comments about this stuff, feel free to email me. Click on the images for info, pics, and sounds... |
Fretted 5 |
Fretless 5 |
Piccolo 5 |
Peric 5 |
'73 P |
Fretted 7 |
Black Tele |
Headless 7 |
Luthiery |
N E W |
The Ox |
What I Did Last Summer... |
NEW |
Refinished Sadowsky |
The Leo |
N E W |
N E W |
