Well, the move to Seattle is complete!

The new shop in Seattle is coming together and Running Dogs are being built. Located in what was once a sculptor's studio, the new home of Running Dog Guitars is on the western edge of trendy Fremont. According to the welcome signs, Fremont is "The Center of the Universe -- Set your watches back 5 minutes." It's artsy and wacky. There's a rocket ship attached to a neighboring building and a statue of Lenin (that's Lenin, not Lennon) in the center of town. Under the bridge connecting us to downtown Seattle, there is a two-story high concrete troll crushing a real VW Beetle under one hand and glaring at the world through a hubcap eye. You may see the troll on a Running Dog headstock someday soon.

Partner Cat Fox has her space in the shop, where she continues doing fine repairs and restorations to all sorts and vintages of fretted instruments. For almost twenty years, Cat has been Seattle's go-to person for everything from simple set-ups to no-compromise restorations. She was trained in the lutherie program at Minnesota's Red Wing Technical College, then apprenticed with well-known luthier William Cumpiano. After her apprenticeship, Cumpiano hired her to do repairs for his shop in Amherst MA. She has taught at luthier's Symposia and authored articles for several professional journals as well as training several apprentices of her own. It's a privilege to work alongside such an accomplished luthier. Read more about Cat at www.catfox.com

Cat, making a new headstock for a mandolin, in the as-yet incomplete shop.

Together, Cat and I are offering courses for luthiers though our new school, Sound Guitar Workshop. This is an exciting new venture that promises to become a valuable addition to the lutherie community. We will have both long-term and short courses, taught by us and by visiting world-class luthiers. Watch the website (click the logo below) for more information, courses, and schedule.