Gary has been meticulously handcrafting Breedlove guitars for over two decades, making him one of the most experienced craftsmen in the workshop. Having worked in every department, he now specializes in string-up, where he takes pride in bringing each instrument to completion. For Gary, there’s nothing quite like hearing a guitar’s voice for the first time. He especially excels at fretwork, likening the process of filing, beveling, sanding, and crowning to sculpting or working with fine jewelry. Despite his vast experience, Gary’s natural curiosity keeps him motivated, always seeking ways to improve and learn something new with each task.
Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Gary’s first instrument was the trumpet. He picked up the guitar at 19 while earning his degree in social work from Wright State University. After college, he worked in a psychiatric hospital and high-end home construction before following his passion for music to study luthiery at John Jordan’s School of Instrument Building. Outside of work, Gary plays guitar in a local Bend band and is currently building a Telecaster. He owns about ten guitars, though his favorite acoustic is the first one he ever built at Breedlove. Gary is also an avid hiker, kayaker, and Nordic backcountry skier, enjoying Bend’s unique ability to transform his favorite summer hiking spots into winter skiing destinations.
Gary’s musical interests include a deep love for the Allman Brothers, and he has fond memories of seeing the Grateful Dead at Red Rocks in 1977. He has a particular fondness for Mirror Pond craft beer and the music of Bend’s Scott Fox. His first album was Meet the Beatles, and his dream vacation-home location is Hahn’s Peak Village, Colorado. When asked if Elvis is really dead, Gary’s answer is a playful, “No, just resting.” He’d love to have Keith Richards over for dinner and describes his daughter Hanna as his personal hero. Gary’s preferred mode of transportation is walking, and he is driven by an unrelenting obsession with music.
