For centuries, the violin has stood as the highest achievement in instrument building. But today in a small shop in Santa Cruz, artist Richard Hoover is achieving a lifelong goal: the creation of acoustic guitars that will become the Stradavari for future generations.
Richard learned woodworking from his father at an early age. In his youth, he dreamed of becoming the next Bob Dylan, but his crafting background and love of music were soon combined when he took apart his first guitar at the age of 15. Now he's making amazing instruments for some of the top musicians around the world.
Join the Carol Duvall Show cameras in Richard's warehouse and see the process of making a handcrafted acoustic guitar. It begins with reclaimed woods (rosewood, maple and spruce) that are put in a dehumidifying room to reach equilibrium. Then in a climate controlled work area, Richard goes about cutting a single board of wood into component pieces (the top, bottom and sides). Using chisels, planes and sanders, each piece is hand-shaped to the desired thickness (depending on the desired tone for the instrument). Next, the neck of the guitar is shaped from rosewood. Jewelry and carving tools are used to create a customized neck. Once the body and neck pieces are carved, they are glued together. A nitro cellulose finish is added in multiple layers with a compressed air gun. This process takes three weeks, but results in an instrument with sustained resonance.
Guests Richard Hoover
Master Guitar Craftsman
Santa Cruz Guitar Company
Santa Cruz, CA
Phone: 831-425-0999
Website:
www.santacruzguitar.com Also in this Episode
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