Chasson Guitars, new shop (and house) on the way
 

I've gotten a couple of emails lately from people wondering why I haven't been on the forum so I thought I'd check in. All is well! I'm currently taking a break from guitars to build a new house and shop. I'm doing the bulk of the work myself and it's pretty hard to schedule but the goal is to be moved in by June, 2017 and have the shop running in August. I have several months of orders waiting. I'm telling people to expect me to start on new orders in early 2018. But I'm not making any firm promises on timing yet! Still a ton of work to do.

My son is working on compiling some photos and video into one slideshow but I thought I'd share a few pics while I'm waiting.

We started looking for property a couple of years ago for a few reasons. I built our current house/shop 17 years ago but I've always wanted to build one more place. My current shop is 600 sq ft and it's overflowing. I tend to get pretty cranky during the long, dark Pacific Northwest winters so we were looking for something with as much light as possible. And I've always wanted to have a view of the water.

Last year, we found a lot that fit the bill and was affordable due to the fact that the site is steep and not easy to build on. After weeks of doing our homework, it looked like a good bet.

We started working with our architect (and old friend) Greg Robinson last fall and started digging this June.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0196.jpg

Not much flat ground to work with so the shop will be in the basement. We decided to build the first floor with ICF's (insulated concrete forms) partly for soundproofing and partly to avoid me having to carry around that many plywood form panels. The carport is in the foreground and the basement/shop in the background.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...pecified-7.jpg

This gives you an idea of why it was a challenging lot. We carried an awful lot of stuff up this hill (or a worse one on the other end). Including 15,000' of rebar!

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...6/11/rebar.jpg

He's smiling here but my son, Jesse is still nursing a grudge about the few thousand feet of rebar he cut.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...16/11/oops.jpg

Five minutes into pouring the walls, the elbow in the pump blew out. Lucky it didn't blow straight down!

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...pecified-4.jpg

My awesome friend Adam. He's been working with me from the start and I'm pretty sure I would have keeled over by now if not for his tirelessness and good humor.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...ent-marker.jpg

Walls are done and I now have a permanent marker in the carport. Oops.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0258.jpg

A "telebelt" conveying pea gravel under the slabs and around the perimeter for drain rock.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0290.jpg

That's the shop! Exciting to be mostly done with concrete and finally cutting wood.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0319.jpg

First wall going up on the main floor.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0350.jpg

The trusses arrived the morning before a massive wind storm was forecast. Fortunately the storm veered a bit and we topped out at 45mph gusts instead
of the predicted 75mph.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0370.jpg

Couldn't quite get the roof on before the rains started.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0382.jpg

Looks like a bad haircut.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0404.jpg

Roof on and none too soon.

And the real reward....

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0401.jpg

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...1/IMG_0406.jpg


More as we progress.

One of the best things a man can do!

Wow, what an awesome project Kent. It looks great!

Nice relaxing view of the water!

Thanks for sharing the project with us. I suspect a flat top will seem "easy" after your done with this project...:)

Wow, Kent... what a view! That looks like quite a project, but well worth the effort. I look forward to following your progress. Congratulations!

Tell your sister hello for me! :)

Wow that's impressive and what a beautiful view! Good luck with the rest of the construction.

Did you get to cut any trees on the property to use in guitars? :D

Agreed. I can't believe how fortunate I am.

Got the sunrise pic as my desktop background!

Easier on the back, that's for sure.

Thanks. Will do. Will see her in January.

We did have to take out some cedars, western maples and one good sized Sitka. The only thing remotely tempting was the Sitka. It's big enough but it was a "pistol butt" tree, growing out of the hill at an angle and then turning up. I saved the log and will likely mill a slab out of the center and see what happens. It's probably unstable and will end up as a bench.

Wow! Follow along on my home gutting thread in open mic:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=448366

Congratulations, Kent, I'm happy for you. And what a view!
It will be interesting to see how this inspires future work.
I know that would inspire me!

Steve

Wowee...what a view!

Large congrats on the land and the project...!

You're building my dream home, Kent! Fantastic view... Congratulations!

Hey, Kent, this is a really inspiring story from every angle. I know you will have great success and happiness with your new home and workshop, which you are building yourself! I hope this leads to continually increasing success and prosperity for you.

You are doing exactly what I am dreaming of doing myself. I intend to return to my home in the Pacific NW at earliest opportunity, and acquire a parcel of land on Orcas Island, where I will build my Master workshop. I already have a name for it: Innisfree Guitar Works. I envision a cooperative arrangement with two other full time luthiers, and the creation of a school also, with comprehensive, month-long guitar building sessions, twice a year. In addition to the continual production of high-end, 21st-century guitars.
I just hope circumstances line up so I can do this before I'm too old to lift a hammer! I figure I have about 25 good years left in me.

In the meanwhile, I'll be rooting for you all along the way, for the very best of good fortune in all your endeavors. Truly, a very inspiring thing you are doing... and it means also that the best Kent Chasson guitars ever made will be coming out of your new shop, SOON!

Be well, work safe, and have great success! I'll try to come visit you sometime in the not-too-distant.
-Steve

I'm gonna have to come and see it Kent.......when you're done. Looks marvelous!

Thanks again for all the kind responses.

Steve and Ken, do stop by when you're in the neighborhood. But Ken, don't wait until it's done!

Just a few more shots that are a bit more guitar-related. The wood, anyway.

I had some time while I was waiting for the permit to do some interior work.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con...16/11/door.jpg

Sapele front door.

http://www.chassonguitars.com/wp-con.../11/sconce.jpg

Sconce from Sapele and Quilted Maple