INSTRUMENTS

In my travels as a performer I have been privileged to meet some amazing guitar builders. Featured on this page are some of the instruments in my collection. Although I've played classical and flamenco guitars for most of my music career, in the past few years I've started adding new and exotic guitar sounds to my stage shows. About three years ago the ukulele started to intrigue me and as of recently the banjo has reached out to me as well. As I continue to explore, the electric, the steel string, and the mandolin have made their way into my sound.

Schneider Modern Classical "Leslie"

Luthier: Richard Schneider ~ Seattle, WA

One of my most interesting guitars is by the late Richard Schneider. Richard was a passionate builder who spent thirty years redesigning the classical guitar. He built a modern instrument with innovative bracing and an offset sound hole.

I met Richard in 1994 in Seattle, and he offered me a guitar to use for recording and for playing in a few concerts. I was very impressed with his guitars. We became friends while he attended many of my concerts and Richard invited me to perform at his Lost Mountain Guitar Festival. At the time of his death, Richard Schneider had a guitar he named 'Leslie' in the works for me; his good friend Jay Hargreaves finished the instrument and it is now a cherished part of my collection.

Poplar Ukuleles & Small Instruments

Luthier: David Poplar ~ Sequim, WA

Some years ago, ukulele and small instrument maker David Poplar heard me playing a store bought ukulele at a concert in his area. He approached me and offered to make me a custom uke. David builds in an old world style, using no power tools. His philosophy is that these truly unique instruments are rustic and folkloric instruments. Now we have built a player-builder relationship and Poplar has made several very exotic sounding ukuleles for me, featured here on my site and recorded on my album 'Novella'. I have a Poplar three string, a five string, a couple of beautiful tenor ukuleles, and a parlor guitar. The parlor guitar is a replica of an old Torres from Spain; it's the same guitar that you see Sting using in concert these days.

OI Ukuleles

Luthier: Kevin Gillies ~ Santa Barbara, CA

I'm currently playing a great ukulele by master carpenter and architect Kevin Gillies of OI Ukuleles. Kevin's work is cutting edge, and some of the best pro ukulele players use his instruments. I am fortunate to have a tenor and a baritone by Kevin Gillies.

Doc's Banjos Nylon String Banjo

Luthier: Patrick "Doc" Huff ~ Dallas, OR

Currently I'm using a nylon string banjo by the very creative and talented banjo maker, Patrick "Doc" Huff, of "Doc's Banjos".