Evan Manthei has been a craftsman with Bedell and Breedlove since 2010. Originally working for Bedell Guitars in Spirit Lake, Iowa, when Tom Bedell purchased Breedlove in 2011, Evan made a move to Bend, Oregon and joined the team here. Originally from Minnesota, he became a fan of stringed instruments at the age of six when he started playing the violin. At 14 Evan switched to playing the guitar. He was one of the only craftsmen to come over from Spirit Lake, IA when Tom Bedell purchased Breedlove.
Currently, Evan is a part of our string up/final assembly team. With his combination of a graphic design background and a degree in guitar repair and building, he enjoys taking an artist eye to final assembly.
Since we're focusing on cocobolo this month, we sat down and asked him a few questions about cocobolo and why he likes working here.
Q: Why do you like cocobolo?
A: The color variation. I also like the bright snap it gives as a tonewood. The pieces containing sapwood have interesting grain patterns.
Q: Do you have a favorite instrument you've assembled with cocobolo?
A: A couple of years ago I did a custom concert cutaway with cocobolo back and sides, bridge, fingerboard and head plate; it had super dark streaks in the grain. Sharp instrument. Plus, orange is one of my favorite colors, and it had great orange coloration.
Q: Is cocobolo harder to work with than other tonewoods?
A: It is dense, heavy and really oily, so yes. Also its one of the more toxic species. Always a dust mask and gloves when sanding.
Q: What do you love about the tonal quality of cocobolo?
A: I think it adds more bright tones than rosewood. If it's too thick, it sounds dead. If done right, you can get a guitar with clear brights and still maintain the low end.
Q: What's would be your favorite Breedlove built with cocobolo?
A: I would take the guitar from my previous answer but make it a dreadnought. Do a spoked cocobolo rosette, maple bind, and maybe a cocobolo or matching fiber purfling.
Q: What do you like about working for Breedlove:
A: No suits or ties required! Working with my hands every day. A cool part is hearing the differences between pieces of wood of the same species – it's often subtle. Also, the climate is perfect for building. And of course the Oregon geography and beer.
You can view more of Evan's craftsman profile here.
