Chris Ensor fingerpicks a soft and charming folk tune on his guitar, sending rich tones throughout his 900-square-foot workshop.
The 29-year-old built that guitar by hand, as he has dozens of others in the eight years he’s been a luthier (a maker of stringed instruments), custom-building guitars to his clients’ specifications. His workshop, located behind his home in Springfield, Missouri, smells of wood from all over the world. Sinker redwood from California, African blackwood from Mozambique, spruces from Germany, ebony from Africa, rosewood from India, and cherry and maple from just down the road. Clamps, chisels, routers, bits and other tools large and small fill his wall space.
THE KEY OF CUSTOMERS
A build, Ensor said, starts with a conversation with his customers to discover what options and features they…