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"Luthier Jim Worland builds just about anything that has a soundbox and strings. His offerings start out with very affordable steel-string flattops and move all the way into outlandish multi-string harp guitars." -Acoustic Guitar April 2007 (read more)
I began building instruments when I was 16 by taking scrap wood and mounting old microphone parts for pickups. Those experiments weren't very successful but they sent me on a path to being a full time musical instrument maker.
My first foray into acoustic instruments began in 1991 when I built a simple wooden banjo as a wood working project. As I got my courage up I began to build acoustic guitars for myself and was amazed that the crude guitars I built played and sounded so much better than the nice looking factory guitars I owned. My playing took off to a much higher level and I was sold on the benefit of a hand made instrument.
In 1997 I studied with Charles Fox and began to set up a guitar making shop. Eventually I was able to quit my day job as a design engineer and work on guitars full time. Currently I build custom guitars and other string instruments in my shop full time. I also teach guitar making on a one-on-one basis and occasionally take on an apprentice to help out.
Simple or elaborate, the instruments I build are custom made according to whatever the customer wants. What I enjoy doing most is collaborating with artists and musicians in designing and building their dream instruments. The greatest payment I receive is to hear the new instrument being played by its new owner and seeing the smile on their face as they see and hear it for the first time.
-Jim
The Worland Guitars workshop
in winter. The garden in front of my shop is covered in snow while
the shop inside is nice and warm inside.
Power tools fill the machine
side of my shop. Many of my jigs and fixtures hang on the wall
next to the tools where they are used to shape parts.
The handtool area is where
all of the hand work and assembly is done. I usually have several
guitars in process in various stages of completion.
My faithful shop helpers.
Pochoco takes a break by the window while Max, a neighbor's cat
stops by for a visit to see what I'm working on.
"You dream it, I build
it"
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