05/16/2025
Nine years ago this fall, I was just beginning my guitar building journey at .school.of.luthiery , learning to listen to the wood, to trust my hands, and to understand what it means to build something that will outlive you.
This fall marks the school’s 50th anniversary, and to commemorate, ~50 luthiers from around the world were invited to build an instrument in their own voice, using lumber brought back from South America by John Roberts himself over half a century ago.
We’re humbled to be part of this tribute alongside many other builders we admire deeply, paying homage to the foundation laid by John Roberts, Bob Venn, William Eaton, and the legacy of this place that shaped so many of us.
Because we’re building an electric guitar, I asked John Reuter if he could cut me off an end piece- something full of voids, cracks, and imperfections. What he returned with was a bundle so fragile it had to be taped together to keep it from falling apart.
It was perfect.
I held on to that wood for over two years, letting the weight of the build sink in, deciding how to not only showcase what we do, but honor the past that made it possible. The result is this Bighorn Hollowbody L-Mod: rosewood top, back, fretboard, and headcap, Mahogany body and neck, all from the Roberts collection. Turquoise and stone inlays, also from John’s stash — each piece carrying a bit of Arizona’s soul with it.
Though I never had the chance to meet Mr. Roberto or Mr. Venn, this guitar is built in their honor. For the tradition they created, for the people they taught, and for that legacy to carry on over the next 50 years and beyond! 🍻
⛰️🎸