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  #16  
Old 01-27-2020, 10:06 PM
rolleiguy54 rolleiguy54 is offline
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Petros, and Martin
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  #17  
Old 01-27-2020, 10:15 PM
BBWW BBWW is offline
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Santa Cruz
Martin
Breedlove (3 Different Locations)
Bedell
Harvey Leach
Jim Olson
Jason Kostal
Jayson Bowerman
Rosawood in the Czech Republic
Ervin Somogyi
Micheletti Guitars
True North Guitars
Weber Mandolins
Collings
and sure I can't think of a few right now...
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  #18  
Old 01-27-2020, 10:18 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Factory - only Martin (coupla times).

Shops - Dave MacCubbin, Mark Hatcher, John Kinnaird, Steve Kovacik - all several times. And once at a couple of other guy's, both of whose names escape me now (you never hear them mentioned here).
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Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle
Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale
Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk
Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany
Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle
MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood
Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany
Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber
'31 National Duolian
+ many other stringed instruments.
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  #19  
Old 01-27-2020, 10:46 PM
H165 H165 is offline
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Kevin Ryan (twice), Taylor (the old shop), American Dream, Deering, Mossman.

I was in sort of a "common shop" class with Kathy Wingert and half a dozen other west coast boutique makers for a couple of years. THAT was interesting. Usually about 20 guitars going at once, each one unique. Classicals, archtops, jazz guitars, Selmer styles, resophonics. Size 5 to J-200 and everything in between. Learned alot in there!
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  #20  
Old 01-27-2020, 10:47 PM
zephystar zephystar is offline
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I've only done Martin but it was excellent. I want to go back and do the BtS tour next.
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  #21  
Old 01-27-2020, 11:04 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Since 1973 I've been a close friend, sometimes customer and regular visitor to the shop of builder Duane Waterman, who started building mountain dulcimers, then graduated to building guitars. I've visited him in the different states where he's had his shop, most recently in 2019 in Tucson, Arizona.

Another married pair of builders I've visited repeatedly are Janita and Bob Baker, who together build Blue Lion guitars and mountain dulcimers in Santa Margarita, California, just north of San Luis Obispo. I've been an artist endorser for Blue Lion dulcimers since 1983.

Here's what's probably a partial list of the individual builders, small shop operations and guitar factories I've visited over the years. There's at least one builder who I've omitted because I can't remember his name, but his guitars were deeply forgettable, as well, so that's no great loss.

One person shops:


Duane Waterman, KC, Missouri and points beyond, 1973-onwards.

Shelley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1998 & 1999.

Bob Clark, Anchorage, Alaska, 1999 onwards.

Roy McAlister, Watsonville, California, 2001 & 2003.

Marc Beneteau, St. Thomas, Ontario, 2013.

Kevin Kopp, Bozeman, Montana, 2016.



Small shop operations:


McKinney & Mason, Lawrence, Kansas, 1976 or so.

Kentucky Mandolin factory, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, 1983.

Blue Lion Musical Instruments, Santa Margarita, California, 1984-onwards.

Santa Cruz Guitar Company, Santa Cruz, California, 2001.

National Reso-Phonic Guitar Company, San Luis Obispo, California, 2003-onwards.

BSG Guitars, Zamberk, Czech Republic, 2010.


Large scale guitar factories:


Mossman Guitar Company, Winfield, Kansas, 1977.

Yamaha Guitar Company, Kao Hsieung, Taiwan & Hamamatsu, Japan, 1985.

Tacoma Guitar Company, Tacoma, Washington, 1997-onwards.

Larrivée Guitar Company, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1998-onwards

GibsonMontana, Bozeman, Montana, 2016.


As for other guitar factories, Martin and Taylor are two of the ones I'd like to visit that I haven't had a chance to get to yet. Collings is another one. I think Takamine and Furch guitars are two others I'd like to see if I ever get back to Japan and the Czech Republic.

As for hand builders, Lord, there's a universe of them out there that might be fun to visit.

The trouble is that I tend to spend money when I visit these people....


Wade Hampton Miller
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  #22  
Old 01-27-2020, 11:13 PM
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Acousticado Acousticado is offline
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After a business trip to San Francisco in 2003, my wife and I added a three week road trip vacation from Napa to San Diego in a convertible and made the pilgrimage to Taylor in El Cajon as the final destination. While we were in the lobby waiting for the tour, Bob Taylor exited his Hummer in the parking lot and walked in. We took a pic with him. What a trip that was! I’d like to visit Martin someday, and Emerald in Ireland.
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'21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI
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  #23  
Old 01-28-2020, 06:13 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is offline
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I've only taken the Martin tour in 2016. I've also made it point to visit Tim and Mary McKnight annually every June since 2008. They're good people who have made a bad influence upon me. I've been spoiled with guitar knowledge that I really can't afford to indulge in!
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  #24  
Old 01-28-2020, 06:56 AM
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hubcapsc hubcapsc is offline
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On a whim I wondered into Ken Stika's store/shop when
I was in Provo on bidness... I liked talking to him and
seeing his work and it led to me getting my first good
guitar...



Since then I've learned to go to a good luthier here in SC, and he
makes nice guitars too... it is fun being in these people's shops and
seeing the magic they can do... I can pound 16 penny nails into 2x4s...

-Mike
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  #25  
Old 01-28-2020, 06:59 AM
musicman1951 musicman1951 is offline
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I drove a Martin dread to the factory for some repairs, and since they said it would take 6 months I thought I'd have plenty of time to take the tour. (It only took 5).
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  #26  
Old 01-28-2020, 07:11 AM
ifret ifret is offline
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I visited the Martin Factory in 1980, then again in 2015. It was cool to see the differences. Martin was doing so much by hand in 1980, but by the time of our second visit, they were using many of the CNC processes that Taylor had started. In 1980, I got a Martin book signed by CFM III and CFM IV, and the author.

I visited the Taylor factory in 2006. That was really interesting, and I hope to get back there again, because I know a lot has changed with them. Got a Taylor book signed by Bob and Kurt.

I also did the Folkcraft Mountain Dulcimer shop in Woodburn, IN a few years back. Loved that....I have 2 of their custom dulcimers.
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  #27  
Old 01-28-2020, 08:45 AM
SoCalSurf SoCalSurf is offline
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Visited the Taylor factory a couple of weeks ago for the first time. was on a small tour of four of us given by one of Taylor's employees who is not a tour guide so got to hear some really authentic things.

When I arrived early, I went to the Taylor store, where they have on wall display dozens of models that you can just grab and play. When I first got there a large tour was about to start and it was loud and busy in the store. When the tour started and everybody left for the factory, I was in there by myself for almost an hour. I had full access to the entire Taylor line, and not once did any employee intervene or dissuade me from playing even the most expensive models. I was actually very impressed with how inviting the atmosphere is.
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  #28  
Old 01-28-2020, 08:56 AM
Deliberate1 Deliberate1 is offline
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I have been to Dana Bourgeois' shop twice, in my home town of Lewiston, Maine. I brought my new to me Slope D in for a set-up. Could not have been more impressed with Mike, the tech guru, who spent the better part of 45 minutes out of his day giving me a crash course in guitar geometry. While we were chatting, Dana joined the conversation. He was sanding the pick guard of the most radiant guitar I had ever seen, which turned out to be his 45th Anniversary NAMM build (https://bourgeoisguitars.net/2020-lu...custom-series/ - scroll to bottom). And when I collect the guitar, after a neck reset and saddle replacement, Mike spent the same amount of time going over all of it with me. World class guitars made by world class folks.
David
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  #29  
Old 01-28-2020, 10:08 AM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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I have been to a few one-person shops in California but no factories. I have a dear friend who lives in Virginia just on the other side of the ridge from Huss & Dalton, so that is on my bucket list and I would love to tour the Santa Cruz multi-person shop since it is just a couple of hours drive south.

Kathy Wingert - she made my first custom back in 2004. I have been to her shop in Southern California many times.

Sparky Kramer - he crafted my most recent guitar in 2019. Beautiful drive into the Sierras and the town of Truckee.

Hank Maul - he has retired from building guitars but I visited his shop a number of years ago when a friend of mine purchased a used McCollum from him. He is nestled in the foothills of the Sierras in the town of Auburn.

John Mello - I have been to his shop numerous times. He is in Kensington, north of Berkeley. He shaved the braces on a little Simon & Patrick parlor (improved the sound immensely) that I used years ago to fly back and forth to Indiana to visit my mom in a nursing home where I would play and sing with her.

Kenny Hill - I purchased a crossover guitar from him back in maybe 2007. I was at his first shop in the Santa Cruz area and then he moved down the road to Ben Lomond where I visited as well. While I was there on my first visit, Kenny gave us the full tour and his French Polish specialist gave a demonstration which was very cool.

David Berkowitz - Tagged along with a friend years ago to his shop in Berkeley.

Howard Klepper - I visited back in 2003 or 2004 or so when his shop was in the Berkeley area. I always wanted to check out his shop in Santa Rosa but never got the chance.

Monica Esparza - I met Monica through Kathy Wingert about 10 years ago and we visited her shop in San Clemente, CA. She makes amazing Spanish classical guitars.

Jeff Bamburg - About five years or so ago, I was at a family reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado. We drove south to Salida and I remembered that I had met Jeff at the last Healdsburg festival so it was fun to look him up and say hello. He was busy heading out for a show so I didn't get to stay long. Beautiful area to visit and play great guitars for sure.

I would love to visit Maegan Wells shop in Forestville one of these days since it is under an hour's drive from where I live.

Between Schoenberg's Guitar shop and the Healdsburg Guitar Festival (RIP), numerous guitar parties, and pictures posted on this forum, I feel like I must have been to Bruce Sexauer's shop, but I have not. Which is ironic since it is just on the other side of the town that I live in! LOL! One of these days...

Best,
Jayne

Last edited by jaymarsch; 01-28-2020 at 10:23 AM. Reason: Fixed typos
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  #30  
Old 01-28-2020, 10:11 AM
RRuskin RRuskin is offline
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Gibson, McAlister, Ren Ferguson's Los Angeles shop.
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