Bob Rose

Rose Guitars

My wife bought me a used Martin guitar in 2000. I loved it and wanted a higher end model, but didn’t want to pay $2,500. I heard Martin sold kits, with back then a booklet for instructions, with sides present, neck carved etc. Built mostly in the garage and dining room I was thrilled with its sound and vowed to master the build. I took lessons from Dave Nichols ( owner of Custom Pearl and luthier on consignment from Martin) in upstate NY and haven’t looked back. We built a garage and converted the attached garage into a workshop I share with my wife’s jewelry business, Moondance Art Jewelry. I took more lessons on Pearl inlay and saw I could make earrings with left over Pearl, abalone, ebony and other woods.

It occurred to me the metal guitar stands were not up to the furnishings we had and designed one made from local cherry. It’s now in its 5th iteration as a folding stand using neodymium magnets to hold it open or shut. A few years ago I branched out into ukuleles as they are simpler to build, just as much fun to pick exotic woods, plan an inlay, and a joy to see sparkle with 20 coats of nitrocellulose lacquer. Call, email or Facebook me to elaborate or answer any questions