Official Luthiers Forum!

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.

Mega-kudos, guys!!!!!!!!!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Thanks Chris it's been a lot of fun and very rewarding on a bunch of levels. Made some great friends too.

I'm 65 now and as Woodie suspected went on Medicare last year but am holding off on social security since I am still working and want to keep working as long as I can because I love this stuff.

Happy Birthday!!!

Thanks JF!

Congrats to you and Dave!

I've personally learned a ton from your posts so thank you sincerely for your contributions here.

I dearly hope that you and Dave might offer your classes again one day

Leo

Congrats Hesh and to Dave too! The setup class and a bit of your business wisdom turned my shop into a paying proposition but on a much smaller scale.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Happy Birthday! Your fretting and setup class have raised the bar in and around Knoxville!

Congrats Hesh. You guys ever plan to offer classes again?

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Congrats to you both! So glad I got to come up and spend time with you guys in the class. Looking forward to seeing you in the summer, Hesh!


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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Thanks everyone it's been a lot of fun and I'm up right now at 3:30 AM to go in early to have more fun

Regarding classes I don't know it was awfully hard on us what we tried to pack into two days and I know it was hard on our students/friends too. We may offer them in the future I just don't know. I've been wanting to offer a on-line set-up class too but this is going to be a busy year for us so no time.

I'll let Dave know there is demand and of course now the pandemic complicates planning events too.

Anyway I'll let Dave know and thanks again.

Keep on keeping on Guys!

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Congratulations Hesh, and best wishes for many more successful years ahead for yourself and Dave.

Congratulations Hesh!


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Congratulations!!