Justin Leslie, Luthier
Education
While I have been building handcrafted guitars for several years, I have had a keen interest in woodworking since I was quite young. I have always enjoyed working with my hands, and I see my guitar playing as a similar extension of this love. My passion for the classical guitar and its music began as a teenager.
Over the years, I went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in music from Brigham Young University, with an emphasis on guitar performance and pedagogy. In fact, I have been teaching guitar professionally at the collegiate level for over ten years, and have even made two recordings of solo classical guitar repertoire. So, it seems almost natural that my love for woodworking and the classical guitar would finally merge into guitar making.
Throughout the years I have had the unique opportunity to own and examine many fine instruments: Aram, Ruck, Traphagen, Ramirez, Fischer, Giussani, Prisloe, Blackshear are just a few of the most familiar names. I have always been compelled to make a detailed study of each instrument in terms of bracing design, overall dimensions, and even a tracing of the plantilla, or body shape.
This information has served as a great reference in my early guitar making.
My Background
As a builder, I have been fortunate to work with and receive guidance from some very talented makers. My first instrument was built under the supervision of Marlo Sagers, who not only studied guitar making in Germany with famed luthier, Gerold Karl Hannabach, but has himself been building guitars for over thirty years. I have also received a wealth of assistance and knowledge from two extremely gifted Utah guitar makers, Ken and Reo Stika.
In addition, I have made an exhaustive study of the Spanish construction method as well as many modern and progressive techniques. I feel my guitar making is a unique blend of both disciplines. Currently my shop is based in Springville, Utah, where I produce a modest six to seven instruments per year.
