Backdropper shares her experience of being a female journalist

PHOTO STORY Lutherie in Athens

These craftspeople demonstrate the lesser known art of lutherie — repairing instruments that have neck and sound boxes.

STORY & PHOTOS BY DYLAN BENEDICT | DESIGN BY RACHEL RECTOR

Music can be a cathartic and personal experience for people everywhere, and this is especially true in Athens. Music is engrained in the city’s culture. Athens is home to Stewart-Macdonald, a massive distributer of luthier tools, do it yourself guitar kits and almost anything else you would need when it comes to working with stringed instruments. Over the years, this business has hired luthiers from all over the country and has created a community of people who are more passionate about music and lutherie than anything else. Some of the worlds most renowned luthiers live and work here, creating instruments for people all over the world and supporting the music scene around them through their life’s passion.

Dan Erlewine solders together a bridge adjuster screw to a threaded piece of metal to make custom screw capsfor guitar capos in Athens, Ohio, on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

Erlewine is a luthier in Athens where he has made a name for himself by building and repairing guitars and making an extremely successful video series sharing his knowledge of lutherie. Erlewine moved to Athens in 1986 to work for Stewart-Macdonald (StewMac), a banjo manufacturer and seller. He was hired to bring them into the world of guitars.

“Moving to StewMac was big,” he says, “StewMac wouldn’t be where they are today without me. I’d be somewhere different [too], I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Before working for StewMac, Erlewine had made guitars for music legends Jerry Garcia and Albert King, but it wasn’t until his work with StewMac that he was able to cement his place in lutherie history. Now, he runs his own shop called Dan Erlewine’s Guitar Shop.

Elyse Kautz works on an acoustic guitar bridge at Dan Erlewine’s Guitar Shop in Athens, Ohio, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.

For the past 46 years, MacRostie has been sharpening his skills as a mandolin luthier, including some time working for StewMac with Dan Erlewine.

“From high school, through college, through the military, I have played guitar and worked on my own instruments out of necessity,” he says. MacRostie has been in Athens for the past 50 years, where he now works out of a barn from the 1800s that he has converted into his workshop. MacRostie runs Red Diamond Mandolins, his business where he meticulously hand-crafts his instruments.

On average, he makes between seven to eight mandolins a year, using this time to make sure each one is made with the proper care and attention. b

Kautz is generally new to the world of lutherie in Athens with only four years of experience. Kautz is an apprentice to Dan Erlewine and has been learning many of her skills from him. Kautz’s interest in lutherie first started in her family.

“I grew up around guitars and developed a love for them through my father,” she says. However, her experience has been difficult compared to many others.

“I have dealt with many issues being a woman in this industry,” she says. It has been a major issue during her time being a luthier. “There have been instances where I have been sexually harassed and treated poorly. You aren't taken seriously, ever. It's infuriating at times.”

Despite all the sexism she faces, Kautz pushes through to achieve her goals and prove she can work just as well as any other luthier.

Don MacRostie sits in his mandolin shop in Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.