I find the creative process to be a conversation. Great conversation requires the ability to both express yourself as much as listen. As a musician, composer, performer, those parameters are obvious. As a builder, I am now listening to a different audience. That audience can be the client, the wood, or an ethereal concept searching for earthly form. I find every one of those conversations intoxicating. I built my first Bass somewhere in the mid 80’s, mostly because I couldn’t find what I wanted. I built it from a fretless maple P-bass neck I found hiding in the back corner of a music shop. I think it cost all of 55 dollars. Truth be told, I had no idea how to do it. Yet to this day that instrument remains one of my top two “go-to” axes. Then, as a working musician I continued to experiment with builds, but playing and day jobs took precedent. I built out of necessity, either because I couldn’t find what I wanted, or couldn’t afford it. Now that my priorities have shifted I’m finally having those long overdue conversations with wood, metal, wires, and yes, clients. Now, I build for the sheer joy of it.