Wald Guitars
About Myself
I grew up with a passion for the guitar. Eventually I needed a guitar to be setup, and I became enamored with the subject. I took a guitar repair course at Summit School of Guitar Building and Repair. The next year I returned to complete their Mastery Program, and again the year after to apprentice in archtop guitar building with Sigmund Johannesson, the owner of the school and master archtop builder. I was also earning a college degree in guitar building, I may be the only person on earth with a BA in lutherie. Later I apprenticed with Doug and Sharon Proper of the Guitar Specialist Inc. This was during my final year of college, and it was through Doug's mentorship that both my guitar repair and building skills improved dramatically.
One of the stray cats on Vancouver island who came
daily to watch the guitars being made
A gallery featuring the first Wald Guitars, performance by
Jazz artist Daan Kleijn
Today
Refining my craft
At PRS guitars, I’ve worked in the base coat department both level sanding laquer and doing what is referred to at PRS as “prep” work. Now I’m a dual prep/stain artist, and an beginning to work in the PTC department. I have an acute eye for detail and am highly practiced in touchup work. My daily responsibilities as a prep person include leveling and wetsanding laquer, doing touchup and finish repair, taping and masking for color/topcoat, and more. As a stainer I take guitars from raw wood and apply color stains to get the beautiful appearence Paul Reed Smith Guitars are known for. In addition to my daily responsibilities, I have the distinct honor of being personally guided by Paul Reed Smith in some of the finer aspects of building guitars. His advice is invaluable. Independantly I am the sole proprietor of Wald Guitars. I repair, build and restore instruments in the Stevensville MD area, as well as offering building instruction on a limited basis. Anyone with a fretted instrument and anyone who wants a truly special guitar, I welcome you to my shop.
Carved Hondruan Mahogany Back,
Sitka Spruce top
Me and my mentor Doug Proper: The Guitar
Specialist
About Myself
I grew up with a passion for the guitar. Eventually I needed a guitar to be setup, and I became enamored with the subject. I took a guitar repair course at Summit School of Guitar Building and Repair. The next year I returned to complete their Mastery Program, and again the year after to apprentice in archtop guitar building with Sigmund Johannesson, the owner of the school and master archtop builder. I was also earning a college degree in guitar building, I may be the only person on earth with a BA in lutherie. Later I apprenticed with Doug and Sharon Proper of the Guitar Specialist Inc. This was during my final year of college, and it was through Doug's mentorship that both my guitar repair and building skills improved dramatically.
Today
Refining my Craft
At PRS guitars, I’ve worked in the base coat department both level sanding laquer and as a prep artist. I have an acute eye for detail and am highly practiced in touchup work. In addition to my daily responsibilities, I have the distinct honor of being personally guided by Paul Reed Smith in some of the finer aspects of building guitars. Our meetings have given me perspective, and his advice is invaluable. Independantly I am the sole proprietor of Wald Guitars. I repair, build and restore instruments in the Stevensville MD area. Anyone with a fretted instrument and anyone who wants a truly special guitar, I welcome you to my shop.
One of the stray cats on Vancouver island
who came daily to watch the guitars
being made
A gallery featuring guitars built during my
independant/field studies; performance by Daan Kleijn
Wald Guitars
Me and my mentor Doug Proper: The Guitar
Specialist
