I began making guitars in the year 2000 when master luthier Kenny Hill hired me as his first employee for his U.S. guitar production. During the five years I worked there, I built over 100 classical guitars from start to finish, assisted Kenny in leading several guitar workshops, and helped manage his shop as the number of employees grew. 

 

In 2004 I teamed up with woodworker, David Forsyth Schooler to form Howell & Forsyth Guitars where I pursued my goal of designing and building steel-string guitars. As a performing musician, I had been eager to integrate my lutherie skills with my sensibilities as a guitar player. Combining traditional Spanish methods of guitar construction with modern steel-string design, I developed our three flagship models. These instruments not only met my goals of what could be achieved in flat-top guitar performance, but exceeded them. We shipped these instruments worldwide where they were met with elated customers. 

 

Some years later, circumstances brought me to Southeast Asia where I worked as a full-time solo artist, playing my SF model in front of audiences nightly. This continued for two years at which point some twists, turns, and run-ins with the law landed me back in the Bay Area. Here I continued on the musical path and formed HowellDevine, a blues trio which quickly grew to fill venues in the Bay Area.  

 

After years of being immersed in music with HowellDevine I reconnected with my former partner, Dave Schooler, who had been storing all the guitar tools, patterns, and materials. He suggested that I take the guitar shop contents and continue building. Several months later Dave tragically passed away. The loss of my friend, mentor, and partner gave me pause to reflect upon my career path and motivation to continue with my goals of starting my own guitar shop. After having built around 140 guitars in my previous life, I was ready for phase two. The jigs have been dusted off, the wood stacked, and guitars are being built.