Luthier, a day in the life of Jay Lichty at Lichty Guitars
Life stays interesting for this NC luthier. Jay operates a one-man shop and while his primary craft is building custom guitars and ukuleles, there are always other projects underway. Today seems a perfect storm of every type of project Jay works on so it’s a good day to give you a snapshot of a day in the life of this luthier.
August 11, 2014 …
Today we are not sure if we are coming or going and given business is robust, we can’t complain.
In one corner of the shop is a handcrafted violin that found its way to us in need of refinishing. While Jay does not schedule a lot of time for restoration projects, he just could not turn down this beautiful little violin.
On the workbench Jay is staging components in preparation for a four person acoustic guitar building workshop starting later this week. Students build their own guitar from start to being ready for the finish in 10 days and they do it all, other than minor prep. Ahead of time Jay works on things like the initial sanding of the back and sides and cutting wood for bracing.
The next instrument up on the custom build schedule is a cocobolo and cedar crossover guitar so the wood is getting prepped for that as well.
And … out the door today go custom instruments being shipped to destinations across the world. There is a custom pau ferro alchemist guitar headed for Kazakhstan, a custom granadillo baritone ukulele bound for Singapore, a mahogany dreadnought guitar off to Canada and a recently finished student guitar being shipped to Ohio.
Here are a few audio samples from these latest instruments packaged up and ready to fly out the door …
Hope (Jay Lichty) on Granadillo Baritone Ukulele - Jay Lichty
Ziggy Won't Walk (Jay Lichty) on Cocobolo Student Guitar
Fountains of Jody (Jay Lichty) on Pau Ferro Alchemist Guitar
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Just steps away from the shop there is another other facet of Lichty Guitar’s kicking up its own kind of dust. The photo room is staged with lights ready to shoot finish shots of the latest custom instrument to get strings, keyboard is clicking with the latest web post text and arrangements are being made for events happening around a Tryon, NC visit by Hawaiian ukulele master Kimo Hussey later this fall.
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What’s on tap for tomorrow for this luthier and his sidekick? More of the same kind of fun!
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We invite you to learn more …
Find out how to have Jay customize your own guitar or ukulele, schedule a visit to our Luthier shop, enjoy some great music played by Jay and other great musicians on Lichty guitars and ukuleles and more by staying a while to browse our site. Do feel free to get in touch if we can be of any help!