Like numerous cover band guitarists before him, Youngstown’s Robert Rusch has an affection for sporadically dropping in at local music shops, ogling the six-stringed wonders that sit perched on mini-pedestals.
But during one trip in the year 2000, Rusch dug a little deeper, contemplating the process of designing and manufacturing the guitar from nothing but its most basic elements.
That’s when it hit the self-professed tinkerer.
“I can do this,” he thought. “I can build guitars.”
Now, he does so for a living, all while huddled in a small shop outside his Lake Road home.
But while picking one of his hand-crafted guitars up and hammering out a tune doesn’t take much effort, the process of creating his own home-based business has required plenty of nurturing.
After that initial epiphany at the music shop, Rusch ordered a number of books, one of which was “Making an Archtop Guitar” by Robert Benedetto, a book he still refers to at times. While he was at it, he purchased some mahogany and figured maple to begin crafting.
Many of his first creations ended up, literally, in the fireplace. As he continued to tinker, however, Rusch realized he’d tapped into a skill, something that could develop from avocation to vocation. He started listing his guitars on eBay to positive results, and later developed what he called a “primative” website.
In 2010, after the better part of a decade of building the instruments part-time, he decided to pursue as a career. He’s now got orders starting to pile up, although he insists he won’t pump out the product, insisting he won’t make more than two dozen per year.
Rusch also prefers variety, determined not to get pegged into crafting one type of guitar.
“I want to stay away from mass production. I want to have that personal touch and have a one-on-one relationship with the customer,” he said. “There’s no two alike. They’re all one of a kind. The design it, if they want an extra switch or a different kind of wood, I’m happy to work with them.
“And I’ve always wanted to stay fluid in my approach to building and not box myself in with one style of stringed instrument.”
He has a number of models on his website, including acoustic, archtops, solid electric and the popular Jerry Garcia tribute guitars. He also can assemble kit guitars, and will occasionally take on a restoration project.