Roberto-Venn 50th Anniversary Build
In the Spring/Summer class of 2012, I began my journey in luthiery at Roberto-Venn. It’s the oldest luthier school in the nation, and people come from all over the world to attend. It was a 5-month course with about 40 students, and I loved every minute of it. I distinctly remember about halfway through the class wondering to myself if I’ll ever get tired of talking guitar gear, wood and parts. I never did.
Thirteen years later, they asked me to be a part of their 50th anniversary celebration by building a custom guitar along with 49 other graduates. I was incredibly honored and of course, agreed.
In the 60’s one of the school’s founders, John Roberts was employed by Robinson Lumber Company as their executive pilot at their lumbermill facility in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. With the help of the indigenous Miskito people in Nicaragua, he collected 3 railroad cars full of Mahogany and Nicaraguan Rosewood that he imported to Phoenix, AZ.
Some of this special wood still exists, and was sent to us graduates for use on our builds. When I was first asked to participate, I had just read Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, and had been pondering that landscape and it’s history. I decided to build a theme-guitar, based on the book.
The Evening Redness in the West features 1800’s Mexican coins, region-specific Turquoise, excerpts from the book, a leather armrest tied with deer sinew, and other details.
This build, and all the other 50th Anniversary builds will be on display at the 2026 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.
Here are some photos from the Roberto-Venn 50th reception, and the concert the following evening at the MIM in Phoenix.
