1978-1980 Apprentice
at Renaissance Guitar Company under John Marshall (now with Martin
Guitars). Work consisted of learning to build jigs to mass produce
necks and bodies, painting and buffing finishes. All instruments were
made from raw materials in house. I personally produced over 300
instruments from scratch.
In house luthier
and repairman for Soundboard Music. Repaired and redesigned
instruments and electronics for customers. Over 1000 instruments
serviced.
Guitar Repair
Company owner. Owned a large musical instrument repair shop located
in Christiana, DE (Half way between NYC and DC off of I-95). Guitar
Repair Company (GRC) was a full service instrument repair and
design facility. It serviced nation wide, on a yearly average,
over 3000 guitars and 1000 amplifiers and various other
electronics. At its peak in the late 80’s GRC employed over 30
apprentices and technicians. GRC was a service center for most
major instrument manufacturers such as Fender, Martin, Gibson,
Ovation etc. It had an all-star roster of clients such as George
Thorogood, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Allman Brothers, Ricky
Medlock of Lynard Skynnard and Trevor Rabin of Yes to name a few.
GRC produced over 500 custom instruments for clients and
manufacturers. Also designed at the luthiering division of GRC was
the MMR award winning and patented Alvarez Dana Scoop Guitar.
1992-1995 Designed the
Alvarez Electric Guitar line for ST. Louis Music. Consulted on the
Alvarez Yari acoustic line.
1995-June of 2005
Consultant for St. Louis Music for Alvarez Guitars, Crate and Ampeg
Amplifiers.
June of 2005 –
Present: Returns as a practicing Master Luthier and string instrument
repairman in Newark, Delaware.
2005-2009 Dana has
enjoyed restoring historic instruments for clients through out the
USA. Specializing in exact protocol restorations of Martin, Gibson,
Taylor, Collings, Breedlove, Corbin, Eastman, Derring, Fender, Etc.
Instrument Repairs and Restorations include Guitars, Mandolins,
Banjos, Ukuleles, Baglamas and Dobros.
References Joe Zon of
Zon Guitars, Jack Schwarz of Fender, Bruce Kaminski of KYDD Basses,
Kevin Brubaker of Brubaker Guitars, John Marshall of Martin Guitars.
