My long-time dream of building a guitar took 21 years. It started in 1984 with my first try and wasn't completed until 2005. Three failures and a lot of life happened in between (i.e. marriage, babies, career, etc.) In 1984 there was very little help for a self-taught guitar maker. Irving Sloan and Arthur Overholtzer were among the few sources available. Cumpiano & Natelson, the internet and Youtube were not yet on the scene. Hence three tries aborted in disappointment. I was on my own.
Dennis Ray
Studying with the pioneer steel string guitar builder Charles Fox, in 2005, greatly reduced the learning curve and enabled me to complete my first guitar. In 2012 I studied with Irvin Somogyi who helped shape my concepts in design and voicing.
Each guitar is handcrafted, one at a time, using a minimum amount of power tools. I select materials and painstakingly hand shape every part. Before I retired from my custom woodworking career in 2013, I built two guitars a year. I have since been able to increased my builds and still give hands-on attention to each instrument. What fun!
