I am an independant Luthier living outside the very small city of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. I build and repair instruments on a 70 acre plot about 15 minutes from the "city".. My motivation to learn to build guitars came from a life-long interest in playing music. I have always been driven by the challenge and need to create.
I learned the craft from Master Luthier David Freeman. He is an excellent teacher and mentor and I have returned to his shop to learn more as his knowledge is vast. It is with David that I also completed my full Buzz Feiten Tuning System training. I am a certified retrofitter and installer for all stringed instruments, both Acoustic and Electric.
I spend my Luthier time between repairs and set-ups and building custom guitars. I have collected tonewood for quite a few years and have amassed a collection of some interesting master grade wood. I only buy legal wood from reputable suppliers. The soundboard wood I prefer to build with is Lutz Spruce since it has been tested to have equal and exceeding characteristics to the sought-after Adirondack Spruce. I do not use sub-grade or standard grade wood in my builds. If someone wants that type of wood in their guitar they can find it in any manufactured guitar. Building a custom guitar allows a Luthier to really capture another level of tone and sound so using superior grade materials only enhances this potential.
I see myself as a Luthier who builds for the love of music and, as David Freeman said, to chase sound