Crafting Custom Instruments

CUSTOM STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

As a side project, I am a self-taught luthier of hand build, custom strings instruments under the brand name Artisan Archtops. I had a separate website but have decided to merge my visual design, photography and custom stringed instruments under one umbrella site to show my span of design thinking and exploring possibilities.
This pursuit is the result of working in the design industry for many years and seeing hours and hours of work vanish as new trends and marketing needs make them obsolete. These instruments are an extension of my design vision that are meant to last for generations.

Working in the 3-dimental space is quite different than 2D/3D design. You can’t change your mind halfway through and iterate. You have to stay the course and meticulously focus on each step and every detail. Each instrument is an original design that is highly customized, requiring 100 to 200 hours to craft from raw blocks of wood to final hand polished finish.
Below is a collection of some of the Archtop Guitars, Mandolettos (guitar shaped mandolins) and Viol da Gambia I have built.

Would you like to hear what my instruments sound like? - Play the YouTube video!