My instruments feature:

· Highest-quality figured bigleaf or eastern maple, with engelmann or red spruce tops.

· Traditional compound-tapered dovetail neck joints.

· Hot hide glue construction on all structural joints.

· Bridges that I make and individually compensate to suit each  instrument. I spend a great deal of time setting up my instruments to ensure that they play well and in tune, and my setup work is known as some of the best in the business.

· For mandolins I use 1/2" by 1/4" carbon fiber neck reinforcement bars instead of traditional truss rods, unless the customer requests otherwise. The carbon fiber stiffens the neck more than a truss rod does, and is considerably lighter.  I'll still use a truss rod at no additional cost for those customers who prefer to have the adjustability.  For mandolas and octave mandolins I prefer to use adjustable trussrods.

· Customers’ choice of hardware, color, and binding scheme (and most other details)

· Hand-stained sunbursts and French-polished varnish. The finishing process is quite time consuming but results in an extremely thin, durable film that is acoustically responsive. Over time it shrinks and highlights the beauty of the grain, resulting in an elegance unobtainable with lacquer.

 A benefit of buying an instrument from a small shop is exceptional customer service. I am very accessible, my waiting list estimates are conservative, and I make warranty repairs (what few there are) promptly. One of my favorite parts of my work is collaborating with customers to bring their dream instruments to life. I am extremely flexible because I build on a small scale, and I'm always open to discussing alternative body styles, colors, binding schemes, etc. I regularly email photos of the construction process to customers.

I guarantee the construction and materials of my work for the lifetime of the original owner. I offer a two-week trial period with a money-back guarantee. Please contact me for an estimate of my current waiting-list length.