The Artist
The Artist
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Devin is a science teacher that collects hobbies. He collects rocks, fossils, and Star Wars toys. He also paints, sculpts, builds models, makes his own jewelry and is a woodworker. His instruments often pull elements from all of his interests and hobbies, making them wholly unique.
Our Story
Our Story
Build #1
Build #1
The very first guitar Devin built was a prototype to use as an example for his Science Olympiad team. Science Olympiad is an engineering and academic competition for middle and high school students which focuses on STEM. In 2019 one of the events was a "build your own instrument" competition. The team whose instrument could play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star the loudest, while also being the most accurately tuned, would win. The only caveat? No instrument parts could be used (except strings)! That meant the students had to use parts from the hardware store to build it. Devin's prototype used bolts for the bridge and nut, eye-bolts with wingnuts for tuners, a homemade box, and brass rods superglued to the neck as frets.
Devin's students weren't happy with just a 3-string guitar. They insisted on building a 6-string guitar, and it HAD to be a "flying V!" With Devin's help, they would build what the judges would call "the most impressive handmade instrument they'd ever seen at a competition." Devin's Science Olympiad team would go on to win 1st place in that event, and Devin was hooked on trying to improve upon his design.
Guitar #2 would still utilize a lot of the hardware from the prototype, but it turned out to be a 3-string slide guitar.
Guitar #3 would be his first shovel guitar... and at that point, he was hooked!
With over 200 instruments built, we don't plan on stopping any time soon. Every build has a new challenge to overcome, but therein lies the fun! I am so happy to be able to share our craft with customers and see these instruments bring joy to others. Nothing makes me happier than seeing them find their way to someone new who enjoys playing them as much as I enjoy building them!
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