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My interest in woodworking began in high school. I already had an appreciation for wood as my Mother and Grandmother were antique furniture collectors. While they were busy looking at and bargaining for their chosen pieces I would walk around these amazing shops running my hands over the beautifully shaped and ?nished tables, chairs and cabinets. The exotic veneers and fancy hardware only added to the magic of the typically mundane housewares. I was hooked on wood.!

My Grandmother also liked the beauty of the guitars my friends and I played, always wanting to buy them to hang on the walls of her home. After many semesters of high school wood shop, I decided that in addition to playing guitars I also liked working on them. The opportunity to work in a real guitar shop began in 1985. I met my friend and mentor Tom Anderson through a chance meeting and began my journey to becoming a luthier. Tom taught me a very common-sense approach to woodworking, utilizing vertical and horizontal metal working mills, large industrial sized pin routers, a host of custom-made belt sanders and palm sanders, and good old fashioned elbow grease. After perfecting the fabrication of guitar necks and bodies with those “old school” methods, we pioneered the use of CNC machinery in the guitar industry. I now run my own CNC powered shop in Alameda where I am currently developing my own line of custom guitars, in addition to performing guitar restorations and repairs for the Bay Area music community, Welcome to BJR Guitars.