5 Handcrafted Guitars; Sawdust and Soundwaves

For most sawyers, milling isn’t just about making lumber. It’s about what you can create from it. Some of the most inspiring stories come from those who take things a step further, like transforming their lumber into guitars that not only showcase the wood’s character but are unique to those who crafted them. Just like woodworking, playing an instrument requires patience, practice, and passion. The following 5 sawyers mill lumber by day and rock by night.

Colin’s Guitar: When Curiosity Meets Devotion

Colin’s journey into guitar making was as much about the woodworking as it was the music. Using his HM130MAX, he milled every piece of wood that went into his latest project - his first complete guitar.

Colin had built a few guitar bodies before, pairing them with purchased necks, but this time it would be different. He wanted to know if he could do it all from start to finish. That meant upgrading his CNC software. Not only did this cost a pretty penny, but he also devoted months to learning and working with the program until he got the results he wanted. He joked that he “manufactured a lot of kindling in the process of figuring out the neck.” Now, with his files saved and jigs made, making more guitars in the future will be much easier.

The guitar itself is made from poplar but has a white oak face with beautiful walnut accents giving it some character. The neck is also made from white oak with a rich, brown, walnut fret board. Although he plans on making many more guitars, he decided to keep this one for himself as a practice companion, since at the time he still considered himself a novice guitarist. Colin’s dedication to this project reflects more than just his woodworking skills. He put in the time to master a new software, pushed himself to build a guitar from scratch, and committed to improving his skills as a guitarist. The result was an instrument that embodies his growth in both woodworking and music.

Matthew's Guitar: Unlocking Potential

For Matthew, every log that passes over his HM122 holds the potential to become something remarkable. This year, he had the opportunity to mill some lumber that became what Matthew refers to as, “The coolest thing to come off [my] mill.”

Matthew milled a striking maple burl that found its way into the hands of Lance, a luthier from Colorado. What Lance crafted from that wood was awe-inspiring: a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind electric guitar. “It blew my mind,” Matthew shared. He feels blessed that he can provide wood to some of the best guitar makers in the world.

Lance founded Rebirth Guitar Company in 2016 with the goal of creating instruments as unique as the musicians who wield them. His commitment to detail and artistry sets his work apart from much of the industry.

Milling is more than just making lumber, it is unlocking the hidden possibilities and showing how skilled hands can turn it into something extraordinary. From Matthew’s mill to Lance’s shop, this collaboration is a testament to the passion found in both woodworking and music.

Jonathan's Guitar: Complementing Hobbies

Jonathan milled some beautiful lumber on his HM122, carefully selecting slabs that showcased the character and grain of the wood. Two of those slabs were transformed by his cousin, a talented hobbyist luthier, into a stunning electric guitar crafted from rosewood and maple.

The result left Jonathan amazed. “It’s the finest playing guitar I have ever held.” For obvious reasons, Jonathan has no plans to sell his guitar. His cousin does plan on making another one as a donation to a fundraiser, so others can benefit from his craft.

Though making guitars is just a hobby for his cousin, Jonathan has no doubt that he could easily turn it into a full-time career if he wanted to. When beautiful lumber meets creativity and collaboration, the results can be awesome.

Justin’s Guitar: A Masterpiece by Many Hands

The history of Justin’s guitar goes back decades to when a poplar tree was planted in Minnow Lake, Sudbury as part of an attempt to regreen the city. 55 years later, when it had to come down, Justin was gifted the log by his brother-in-law, Nicolas. That poplar would go on to form the core of the guitar.

For the armored, thick skin of the guitar, Justin turned to something even more striking. His friend Marc had come across a massive 40” spalted maple log that was at risk of rotting away and offered to deliver it to Justin. He happily accepted. Justin got some help from his friend Jim to trim some fat from the log and once it was on the mill, his HM130MAX devoured the rest with ease.

It was around this time that Justin crossed paths with Andre, an exceptional luthier. They quickly realized they could create something special together. Justin had the wood, and Andre had the skill to turn it into a custom guitar.

There was only one problem. The spalted maple was still not dry enough to work with. That is where Eric from Wildwood Live Cuts came in. After four weeks in Eric’s kiln, the wood was finally ready for Andre to work his magic.

The finished guitar is nothing short of a masterpiece, combining the history of the Sudbury poplar with the beauty of Canadian spalted maple. Justin is deeply humbled to own such a beautiful piece of art and forever grateful to all those who helped him along the way. The guitar tells the story of passionate people coming together, making sawdust, and supporting each other.

Kyle's Guitar: A Gift from the Mill

One of the first hardwood logs that Kyle cut on his HM122 was eastern white ash. He crafted the ash into a unique Telecaster guitar for his friend. This project marked the first guitar that Kyle built with wood from his mill. He enjoys making guitars so much that he hadn’t even finished the Telecaster before starting on a Strat-style guitar for another buddy out of wood from the same log.

Kyle’s careful approach to drying wood is the keys to his success. By letting the logs dry slowly, he avoids any grain separation or wood movement, ensuring a beautiful final product. Building a guitar from scratch is no small feat. It truly speaks to his character that he takes such pride in sharing his work with others.

These stories show how a simple log can become something extraordinary when passion, patience, and craftsmanship come together. Whether in the hands of a sawyer or a luthier, the wood lives on, ready to make music for years to come.

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