A LUTHIER'S RESUME
My training in lutherie was "Old School", beginning in 1965. At the time, I already had several years experience working in my father’s shop where I was schooled in woodworking, high-end finishing and the conservation of antiquities. We did not have the resources available to us that the new crop of technicians and builders have today, lutherie schools, ready-made tools, jigs and fixtures and "how to" videos and books. We made a lot of our own tools and fixtures, and worked very long hours under the watchful eyes of master craftsmen. That experience gave me the knowledge and confidence to engage in the craft of lutherie.
I am a conservator who specializes in the restorative arts. There is much more involved in this discipline than most people realize. It is a craft that when applied to stringed instruments, requires skills that are quite different from those of a general luthier and instrument builder. A qualified restorer must have a profound knowledge of the idiosyncrasies of older media, their design, construction, materials and finishing. I spent well over 30 years in my father's shop, and several years with guitar builders and antiquities restorers before I began to operate on my own.
I began as a part time shop helper at Dan Armstrong Guitar Service in New York City during the 1960’s under the tutelage of Edward, “Eddie” Diehl, who for several decades was recognized as the finest guitar technician in Manhattan. Mr. Diehl later introduced me to James D’Aquisto who allowed me to visit his shop for guidance with my projects. During the 1980’s I worked with Rodney Schoepfer, a former associate of legendary guitar builder Sam Koontz, after which I moved on to manage the stringed instrument repair facility at Lou Rose Music in Edison, New Jersey, before opening my own custom shop with my dear friend Robert Ruggiero. Bob and I later worked with the Guild, Kramer/Spector, Gibson, Ovation, Evets (Danelectro) and Fender Guitar companies as artist/endorsement specialists. We also trained staff at Guild and Kramer/Spector guitar companies. Several of the major acts we serviced sent their road technicians to us for advanced training. Bob and I serviced many of the top names in the music business. Our instrument work appeared on several gold, platinum and Grammy award-winning recordings during the 1980’s and 1990’s. We were all saddened by Bob Ruggiero’s sudden passing, and he is missed by all who knew him. Even today, it is not uncommon for me to hear our work on the radio, on an album, or a movie soundtrack.