Luthiery

 

I am a huge fan of Django Reinhardt's music. After studying how to play gypsy jazz guitar for two years, I decided I needed a better instrument, and as a maker, I had to do it myself. I found a luthier in Houston, Mike Viteri, with whom I apprenticed for three months, going several times a week after work. I found the craft to be beautiful and rewarding. In October 2015, I set up my own shop in New Orleans where I build Selmer-style guitars for local players. So far, three guitars are on the verge of completion and are being French polished. I had to design all of the jigs myself, and come up with my own way of doing things. I decided that to product perfect jigs, I would build a CNC machine, but the majority of the work is done by hand with clamps, chisels, and files.