The guitar is the most popular instrument in the world. As with any musical instrument, crafting one is no simple process because of the acoustic considerations. An online article from mlive.com tells the stories of two guitar craftsmen from Michigan. As evidenced by the stories of Stephen Ziegenfuss and Lance Kragenbrink, handcrafted guitar making is among increasingly popular woodwork projects and has a rewarding process.
Stephen Ziegenfuss and Lance Kragenbrink both make and sell electric and acoustic guitars in the Jackson, Michigan area. Ziegenfuss, 25, is a relative newcomer. A mechanical engineer by trade, he became interested in making his own guitar when he could not afford a bass guitar he wanted. His first effort fell flat, but he stuck with it and has now successfully made about ten guitars. Kragenbrink, who has sometimes served as Ziegenfuss’ mentor, has been making guitars since 1998. He has about twenty-five under his belt, most of which were made on commission. Like Ziegenfuss, he started when he wanted to make a guitar for himself that he could not afford. He now runs a website for guitar craftsmen called luthiersforum.com.
Kragenbrink claims that we are in a “golden age” of guitar making because of information about the process on the Internet. He claims that the age of cheaply made mass produced acoustic guitars is ending because of the emergence of so many small manufacturers with higher standards. He also claims that the bar for quality is rising higher and higher because of the sharing of information on the Internet.
The process of crafting a guitar begins with raw wood and ends with the reward of giving it to the customer. Ziegenfuss’ electric guitars start as thick planks of wood that are cut into individual pieces, glued back together, and then carved, sanded, and finished. He says that it is important for the wood not to have any blemishes because the customer cares as much for what it looks like as how it sounds. Kragenbrink says that the process is different with each guitar, some practically building themselves and others seeming to put up resistance at every step. He says that his main goal is to build an instrument with great sound quality. Both agree that the most rewarding part is to give the instrument to someone who can play it well and appreciate it.
These men are just two examples of guitar makers who claim that the craft is being helped by the Internet and is rewarding to complete. I think it is safe to say that there will always be a demand for the wildly popular instrument.
