About the Luthier
Becoming a luthier was a very pleasant surprise in life. As a young boy my parents and I purchased a viola from a violin maker and repairman who told me "you have workman's hands". An interesting thing to say to a budding musician, but in the end, it was true. As it came to pass, nearly twelve years later in 1972 , I began my studies as a violin maker/ repairman with this very man, Mr. Ed Hunnington, in California.
My mother, of course, had her hand in this "surprise". In 1970, desperately searching for a Christmas present for a son who was interested in everything, she, for some reason, bought me a Dulcimer kit. I so enjoyed building that instrument on the dining room table of my apartment, using a couple of hand tools and books for clamps, I had to try building another which eventually led to other types of folk instruments.
Another craftsmen friend encouraged me to build a guitar. With some trepidation I did, and then I built another and another and so on. Two whirlwind years later, I was studying violin making and repair while serving a two year apprenticeship with the above mentioned luthier.