I’m sitting here on an overcast moody summer morning listening to Al Petteway, specifically The Collector’s Passion. I only knew Al for the last few years of his life and we all know he was a masterful player, but what I really miss is our conversations. He was a good man. I hope to meet more like him.

I’ve never felt comfortable with these “About Me” sections, but here we go…

I love everything about the guitar. EVERYTHING! Even old beaters and those nylon stringed specials people always seem to want to give me when they find them in their attics. According to my Papaw, I started at 10 yrs old, but he didn’t know I’d been sneaking down to the basement for a few years admiring his ‘63 Harmony Silhouette. Actually, he probably did know. He started teaching me “Wildwood Flower” and off I went on this incredible journey.

I got in trouble as a kid when I took the family boombox apart. I was certain there was a way to adjust the EQ further. My ears were telling me it needed something more. I was right, there were small potentiometers in there, which didn’t get me off the hook but it all started making sense when I joined the Air Force as a Satellite, Wideband, and Telemetry Systems technician. It fueled my attention to detail and taught me the importance of precision focused work. Ever done maintenance on an oven controlled oscillator mounted to a circuit board? I greatly enjoyed that experience.

My first gig was as a young teenager - a classic backyard show. We had a blast! I kept at it and between the USAF and my years as a full-time musician, I had the incredible opportunity to perform all over the world. Out of necessity, I started working on my own guitars, which led to others bringing theirs to me to repair. I remember being stationed in Korea and having several in a row on stands waiting for their turn on the makeshift workbench which doubled as my dresser. I loved it. Of course doing the work was fun and challenging, but the best part was returning the guitar to the player, knowing I helped them get back to making music.

When asked recently why I never put my services out publicly, it was an easy answer. I didn’t want to compete with Colosi. Heck, I was one of his customers. I heard he’d retired and the wheels started turning.

When we started talking about this, I told him there was only one way I’d want to do it, and that was by earning his endorsement, however long it took. What Bob taught me is precision and passion for the instrument is the foundation of being a true artisan who can bring guitars to life. When I went down to see him he handed me his J-45. He wanted to know if I knew my way around or not before we even switched the light on in the workshop. I’m proud to say when I left he said, “You have the skills and passion for it, now go make something great of it. Don’t be Bob, be yourself!”

So, here we are. I’m not Bob and that should be apparent, but I do strive to carry on the foundational artisan legacy he built by genuinely caring about the work and most importantly, caring about you as a player. You won’t hear me use the term “customer.” We’re a community united by our love of music and these fantastical instruments.

Bob - thank you for the many years you gave us. I’m forever grateful for the time, knowledge and wisdom you’ve shared with me. Enjoy retirement!

With Bob Colosi. Advisor, friend, and legendary standard-bearer of quality.