| "The form of my design elements always
follows functional considerations. The design of the headstock, for instance,
evolved from a concern for proper orientation of the string posts to allow
the strings to remain as parallel as possible from end to end, contributing
to more even response and feel. The veneer on the back of the headstock,
other than being beautiful to look at, provides additional strength and
stiffness to this normally weak area. As a result, more of the string energy
is directed to the body of the guitar, which translates into greater volume
and sustain. The double veneer also reduces the possibility of the headstock
breaking off at the nut as a result of an impact.
My guitars are very much designed with the
fingerstyle player in mind. I put a strong emphasis on balance across the
strings so that melody lines are not lost behind the bass notes. At the
same time, my guitars are very responsive to varying attack and have a
wide dynamic range, giving the player a larger scope of musical possibilities
to draw from. I also design my guitars to provide tremendous volume, sustain
and projection, without sacrificing complexity of tone."
"From design to selection of materials to final
assembly, no other hands touch my guitars but mine. I tune each top to
achieve a desired result, and all other components are selected and shaped
to fit in with the original vision for the instrument. My total involvement
in every step of the process, other than being personally gratifying, ensures
that consistently excellent instruments are created, not just guitars." |
