A List of Experienced US Archtop Luthiers

[iim7V7IM7]

Hi,

I recently had to select a luthier to build me an archtop. I thought that it might be of use to someone else beginning such a search to have a starting point. I was trying to find highly experienced US based luthiers who had built hundreds of archtops (these guys can only build 10-25 instruments per/year). If you add less experienced builders the list gets massive. There are many new luthiers in the last decade.

This is by no means a complete list of US Archtop Luthiers (no Canadian or European and there are some fine ones), but it represents based on my research a list well established luthiers who have websites (some experienced ones do not like Roger Borys) and information regarding their bio, number of years of experience or number of instruments was available. I also have not listed a number of experienced luthiers that focus on flattops and build a few archtops (there are a number of them).

I have listed them alphabetically, where they are located and a short descriptor of what I was able to find out about their experience. I am certain that I must have missed a number of them and there are also many newer, less experienced luthiers out there (some of whom are the next great ones!) that I also did not include.

While there are sites with lists out there, you have to find out about their background and where they are located (cyber-space) in some cases. I just thought that someone i similar shoes could use this legwork. We truly live in the golden age of archtop building today to have so many experienced archtop luthiers

:-)

Bob

Company: Andersen Stringed Instruments
Luthier: Steve Anderson
Location: Seattle, WA
Experience: >30 years experience, flattops, mandolins, archtops for last 15 years
Web Site: http://www.andersenguitars.com/site/

Company: American Archtop
Luthier: Dale Unger
Location: Nazareth, PA
Experience: >30 years experience, flattops since late 1977, Early 1990's apprentice for Bob Benedetto, archtops for last 15 years
Web Site: http://www.americanarchtop.com/main.html

Company: Benedetto Guitars
Luthier: Bob Benedetto
Location: Savannah, GA
Experience: >40 years experience with archtops, Company and not single luthier since 2006
Web Site: http://www.benedettoguitars.com/

Company: Buscariono Guitars
Luthier: John Buscarino
Location: Franklin, NC
Experience: >30 years experience with archtops, Apprenticed with Augutine LoPrinzi and Bob Benedetto
Web Site: http://www.benedettoguitars.com/

Company: M. Campellone Guitars
Luthier: Mark Campellone
Location: Greenville, RI
Experience: >40 years experience as builder, >30 years building archtops
Web Site: http://www.mcampellone.com/

Company: Comins Handcrafted Artisan Guitars
Luthier: Bill Comins
Location: Willow Grove, PA
Experience: Music degree, Apprenticed with Bob Benedetto, >15 years building archtops
Web Site: http://www.cominsguitars.com/comins-handcrafted/home

Company: Grimes Guitars
Luthier: Steve Grimes
Location: Kula, HI
Experience: Musician, violin repair, mandolin maker, >30 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.grimesguitars.com/index.htm

Company: Lacey Guitars
Luthier: Mark Lacey
Location: Nashville, TN
Experience: studied furniture design, instrument repair,>20 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.laceyguitars.com/

Company: James L. Mapson Guitars
Luthier: James Mapson
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Experience: Engineering, self taught, >15 years making archtops, consultant to Eastman
Web Site: http://www.mapsoneng.com/guitars/default.htm

Company: Marchione Guitars
Luthier: Stephen Marchione
Location: Houston, TX
Experience: >15 years making archtops, studied classical and violin making as well
Web Site: http://www.marchione.com/

Company: Megas Guitars
Luthier: Ted Megas
Location: Portland, OR
Experience: Musician, cabinet maker, >20 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.megasguitars.com/

Company: Moll Custom Instruments
Luthier: Bill Moll
Location: Springfield, MO
Experience: Instrument repair/restoration, violin bow making, >15 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.mollinst.com/

Company: Monteleone Guitars
Luthier: John Monteleone
Location: Islip, NY
Experience: Instrument repair/restoration at Mandolin Bros., >30 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.monteleone.net/

Company: Mortoro Guitars
Luthier: Gary Mortoro
Location: Miami, FL
Experience: Apprenticed with Bob Benedetto, >20 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.mortoroguitars.com/

Company: Nickerson Guitars
Luthier: Brad Nickerson
Location: Asheville, NC
Experience: Musician, instrument repair, taught archtop making, >20 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.nickersonguitars.com/

Company: Ribbecke Guitars
Luthier: Tom Ribbecke
Location: Healdsburg, CA
Experience: BFA in Music, Repair & Restoration, >30 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.ribbecke.com/contact.htm

Company: Schaefer Guitars
Luthier: Ed Schaefer
Location: Austin, TX
Experience: Music Degree, instrument repair, >15 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.schaeferguitars.com/index.php

Company: Triggs Guitars
Luthier: Jim Triggs
Location: Nashville, TN
Experience: Mandolin luthier, Gibson, >20 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.triggsguitars.com/

Company: Walker Guitars
Luthier: Kim Walker
Location: North Stonington, CT
Experience: Banjos, Dulcimers, repairs at Gruhn, Guild, >15 years making archtops
Web Site: http://www.walkerguitars.com/

Company: Zimnicki Guitars
Luthier: Gary Zimnicki
Location: Allen Park, MI
Experience: >275 guitars made, >30 years making stringed instruments
Web Site: http://www.zimnicki.com/

[backdrifter]

I don't believe John Monteleone resides in Springfield, MO. I wish he did though, since that's within driving distance of me.

[iim7V7IM7]

cut and paste (doh!) I fixed it...:-)

Originally Posted by backdrifter

I don't believe John Monteleone resides in Springfield, MO. I wish he did though, since that's within driving distance of me.

[Bruce Sexauer]

You missed Michael Lewis, building not only under his own name, but also the only authorized builder of D'Angelico guitars since the death of the master. Lewis is an incredible craftsman.

Also, Michael Hemken is primarily an arch top maker; his work is innovative and quite successful. Hemken is increasingly interested in the viola, but continues to show guitars at HGF.

[backdrifter]

For supplemental reading, here is a nice list that a gentleman started on the Collings forum:

http://collingsforum.com/eve/forums/...4/m/1170051126