So much has happened in 5 years. It’s easiest to see what I’m up to by following me on Instagram, @guitarleys. But while you are here, please check out this video made by my good and very talented friend, Tyler Spooner (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk3yhEQG-n53IPIqRTzMPZw). Share just enough to make it viral! š
I am excited to make a new, long overdue, post here on my site! I have been a busy luthier and musician so I’ll fill you in on what’s new at Guitarley’s!
Let’s start with the wood shop. For the past two and half years I’ve been acquiring tools and lumber to build guitars, patiently might I add. I recently made some further purchases and got the tools I need to finally get started with the next step in my career as a luthier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luthier)! It feels great to have a functioning studio to make things. I now have the freedom and opportunity to obsess! I have started to learn the tools and dial them in for my purposes. I have also started to size and dimension my collection of lumber and organize stock!
I spent yesterday afternoon running my tools, revealing the hidden beauty of some very special lumber that I purchased two years ago. I got the wood from the estate of famous American wood worker and artist, Wharton Esherick (http://www.whartonesherickmuseum.org/studio.html). This was a special chance opportunity to select some of the finest of lumber, especially at this early stage in my career. I was in the right place at the right time.
The density, color and other characteristics of these boards have a different feel than other quality woods available today. It’s hard to describe, but if you held each board you would feel the difference from others. There’s something spiritual about these boards as compared to others. Perhaps I’m feeling, in hindsight, the foresight of Esherick’s sense of quality in lumber. After all, he picked this wood out for his own personal endeavors as a wood worker, but passed before he could get to it. Does that mean he just had a lot of wood, or was he saving some of these boards because they were so special? I’ll never know, but it’s amazing to consider the story and spirit of these boards that are in my wood shop! I picked the cream of the crop, from a master craftsman’s cream of the crop!
I really look forward to the projects and creations to come and hope you will follow my adventures. I promise to keep it interesting! I’ll be posting pictures as usual to my social media accounts so get ready to follow, share and like some content! Follow me on Instagram (http://instagram.com/guitarleys), Twitter (https://twitter.com/guitarleys) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/guitarleys). Thanks supporting me as I chase my dreams as a craftsman, artist and musician.
It was an honor to represent the Billtown Blues Association (www.billtownblues.org) in Memphis, TN, at the 2013 International Blues Challenge! Thank you to my supporters for providing me with another great opportunity like this. This was my third time competing and I realized how different each Beale Street experience has been. My first time in Memphis (2008) I competed with Black nā Blues (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/blacknb), the second time (2009) with the Ann Kerstetter Band (http://www.annkerstetter.com) after having reconstructive surgery on a freshly reattached thumb. This last time (2013) I competed as a solo artist and Luthier! The one constant, when reflecting on my Memphis trips, is how great a time Iāve had and how much Iāve learned. The amount of talent in both the band and solo/duo divisions never ceases to amaze and humble me.
For many reasons this recent visit has been my favorite thus far! The IBCs inspired my first solo tour, which encompassed 7,000 miles of travel, performing in 15 different cities across the USA! I played just shy of 30 shows all in fantastic new venues while promoting my fresh solo album, āKarmaā (http://bit.ly/KarmaCD). See tweets from my solo tour by searching for the hashtag #SWKarmaTour on Twitter (https://twitter.com/guitarleys). I was always nervous about playing solo shows, so to conquer my fears I took them head on in a big way! Not only did I promote and share my music on this tour, but I shared my profession in the art of lutherie! I was proud to perform my original songs on the guitars that I obsessively built myself. I also got to share this great experience with my love and best friend.
Memphis has really grown since the last time I visited! While the usual Beale Street barbecue and blues joints are amazing, it was nice to see many new and successful shops and restaurants on Main Street. I remember taking long runs in the afternoons on my last visit when it was all under renovation! Now Memphisā downtown, just outside of the Beale St. section, has more of a localās feel — itās less touristy, very safe, and full of great places to shop and eat! The beautiful buildings, cobblestone walkways and the Trolley system are comforting and give the town a quaint feel. I really felt it was a city and area that I could move to! I could open a Luthierās repair and wood shop, build and fix all the stringed instruments and amplifiers by day, then, after sunset, head down to Rum Boogie Cafe or Kingās Palace and show them off! Sounds like the good life to me!
All in all my recent trip to the Memphis IBCs was stellar! It was my favorite visit yet! I plan to compete again in the Billtown Blues Auditions next year and will hopefully return to Beale in 2015. By then I should have at least another album or two and some cool new custom built guitars to show off. I think Iāll just keep competing in the IBCs as long as I am able and hopefully Iāll win it someday! Itās always worth a trip for all the great music, and itās always an enriching learning experience. I feel I have many years left of paying my dues in the world of the blues, but will hopefully one day deserve recognition as a guitar player, singer, songwriter and a Luthier.
Does everyone know what First Friday of April is!? Friday April 5th marks the 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Guitarley’s!!! I can’t believe how time has passed and I want to celebrate with an open house! I’m still working out all the details for what all I’ll be doing, but please plan to stop by and let’s hope for a beautiful spring day!
I’m hoping to at least have the whole place all spruced up, put together a slide show of my southwest tour and/or shop photos, have custom guitars on display, and more! This is also a great opportunity to grab my new cd “Karma”, if you haven’t done so already!
Hope to see you for First Friday celebration, in downtown Williamsport! Thanks!
I’m in the process of recording my next album, which will be a self produced solo project! The songs are coming along nicely, and it’s a great new experience for me too. My good friend and musical colleague, Tyler Spooner ( https://www.facebook.com/tspoonmusic )Ā also happens to be savvy with a video camera and film editing program. We have collaborated on a music video! The plan is to start a regional production company for musicians in need of quality media for their portfolios, and even small businesses that need advertising media. It’s a valuable asset to have readily and affordably available. It’s also fun for me to find another musician who wants a similar career model as what I’ve been trying; luthier or videographer by day, and working musicians by night! It’s also the beginning of plans for a greater organization in our region to provide opportunities to musicians, artists, venues, and businesses. Please click on the youtube link, go to my Guitarley’s channel, and check out an all-local production of one of my original song “Sedona”. It was written about my times spent in beautiful Arizona, while attending The Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery (Ā http://www.roberto-venn.com ). I’m very pleased with how this song is represented by the video.
I’m happy to announce that I recently won a regional Blues competition hosted by the Billtown Blues Association! This makes me a quarter finalist in the International Blues Competition (http://www.blues.org/ibc/#ref=ibc_index) to take place in January of 2013 on Beale Street, Memphis TN! I have done this competition twice before with two different bands and had a blast every time. Last time I played with a freshly re-attached left thumb, playing slide on my lap while in a fancy cast. I hope to make up for it this time around. The saying goes “third time’s a charm!” I’m hoping it applies this time. Not only do I hope to gain from this as a musician, but now as a luthier also. It will be an amazing networking platform for me to play my original music through guitars that I have built myself. I can’t wait to tell everyone about them! I have to remember to take a few business cards with me! I attached a link that will take you to the article about the event I participated in, the musician involved, and a little about myself too. Enjoy!
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/576235/BLUES-TIME.html?nav=5011
Here’s a recent local press release about my music, business, being a luthier, and the dreams I chase…
http://sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/574369/A-Guitarley-life.html?nav=5016
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