Our business Ann Arbor Guitars was ten years old on April 1st, April's fools day.....
Dave Collins and I met on this very forum about 16 years ago and even though we lived in the same small city we did not know each other. After meeting Dave I apprenticed with him for three years and was very fortunate to learn what I learned from someone with both a formal Lutherie education and who has also taught Lutherie professionally at the Galloup School with Bryan Galloup.
So Dave had Collins Lutherie and I started Lenawee Lutherie (terrible name unless you live in Lenawee County) and then when the music store that we both also ghost repaired for which is where Dan E. got his start too years ago closed we opened Ann Arbor Guitars. That was ten years ago last week.
We have done very well and our business has resulted in some nice personal successes for both Dave and I. He purchased a new home on five acres last summer and I'm a year from retirement although I want to keep working and moving because I enjoy it.
As some of you know I am a numbers guy. Ann Arbor Guitars ONLY does repair work and we do not sell a thing beyond what we use in our work. We won't even sell you a pack of strings unless there is a service also being provided.
Since this is our tenth year now here are some metrics that I have kept.
Last full year without a pandemic we did 1,134 guitars, 39 mandos, 89 basses in that single year. We were averaging over 1,100 guitars annually in 2019 and are beyond that this year to date.
Our minimal service is a full set-up which is about $100 with strings. We will not do anything else less than that. If you need a strap button we are happy to throw it in but we won't take your guitar in unless what we are doing to is meets our minimum of a full set-up.
In the nine years we have been in business we have repaired now not counting this morning:
8,123 guitars
302 basses
210 mandos
95 ukes
We also created and marketed the Collins Saddle Mill.
And we offered fretting and set-up classes for several years as well.
We had one apprentice for several years in the summer and you know him, Link Van Cleave who was also Jim Krenov's apprentice and we are very lucky to have Link.
And something I am very proud of we have repurposed dozens of donated guitars and given them to homeless folks and vets and we have also befriended many of these fine folks which is a very rewarding experience if you have the opportunity.
With all this said and done Ann Arbor Guitars likely would have never happened if it had not been for the OLF and Lance Kragenbrink who I just set up a Les Paul for recently. Many, many thanks Lance!!!
I should mention as well that I built around 55 guitars with one undone, sold all 45 that I wanted to sell and the repair shop made selling them easy peezy I never had to go to shows or do any marketing at all I simply hung them in my shop and repair clients went ape **** over them.
So thanks Lance, Thanks to the OLF and everyone here it's been a wild and fun ride that continues to be wild, fun and profitable.
And my playing has never been better either.