About The Builder    I began building guitars after a series of career related, false-starts.  This list includes military service, the computer networking industry, a bachelor's degree, and two master's degrees. Although I have always applied myself 100% to my endeavors, I was never satisfied. I always longed for a balance between my academic inclinations, creative energy, and love of working with  my hands.  Additionally, I desired a career that would allow me to stay close to home in order to spend time with my wife and three children.  I crafted studio furniture for a few years, but couldn't keep my mind from wandering  toward guitar construction.  I am often asked how I got started building guitars.  The reply is simple: I built the first one and haven't been able to stop!  I primarily build classical guitars, but do delve into the steel-string acoustic and electric guitar realms occasionally.            Like many contemporary guitar makers, I got started by using how-to books and waisting a lot of wood. Needless to say,  I was underwhelmed with the early results.  I had  a lot of unanswered questions and met several stumbling blocks that I could not resolve.  Given my background, the aesthetic results in the early guitars were satisfactory but sonically they left a lot to be desired.  Consequently, I sought the advice of other builders. I spent some time with luthier James Condino followed by an acoustic guitar building class with George Morris at Vermont Instruments. I owe a debt of gratitude to both of these builder-educators.     As you can see in the photo I do not resemble the kindly Gepetto bent over his bench toiling away in dim light.  I don't even own a shop apron.  Nor do I pretend to have all the answers to the questions guitar building presents.  In fact, I suggest you steer clear of anyone who does claim such a lofty notion.  What I can tell you is that I am a craftsman to my core.  Although my prior experiences inform my construction methods, I still approach each instrument armed also with the naivete of an amateur who is working solely for his love of the craft.  For me, this is not merely a career.  Guitar building has become an integral component to my identity, my family, and my personal well being.  It is a life path.  When you hold one of my guitars, you are holding well over a hundred hours of my undivided attention, sensitivites, and calculated decisions.