Sometimes, the most captivating instruments are the ones that tell a story before a single note is even played. In the world of guitars, where heritage and craftsmanship intertwine, certain names resonate with a depth that goes beyond mere sound. Dale Fairbanks, the luthier behind Fairbanks Guitars, is one such name. His instruments, inspired by the golden era of American guitar making, are more than replicas; they are a culmination of a lifelong journey steeped in music, meticulous artistry, and a profound respect for tradition.
My encounter with a Fairbanks F-20 this past summer at Mass Street Music in Lawrence, Kansas, was a testament to this allure. Amidst a sea of high-end guitars, the F-20, modeled after the iconic Gibson L-00, immediately stood out. Its aged black finish and striking fire-stripe pickguard whispered tales of vintage charm. But it was the sound that truly captivated me. From spirited fiddle tunes to soulful blues improvisations, the guitar responded with a rich, resonant voice that was both inspiring and deeply satisfying. It was clear: this was an instrument with a background, a story waiting to be explored.
Dale Fairbanks has quietly but steadily risen to prominence in the luthier community. His reputation is built on crafting vintage-inspired guitars that not only capture the magic of classic steel-strings but also enhance their design for the demands of contemporary players. His move in 2019 to Burlington, Vermont, to collaborate with Adam Buchwald of Iris Guitars and Circle Strings, marked a significant chapter in his journey. Operating from the shared workshop at Allied Lutherie, Fairbanks Guitars has become a vital part of a thriving ecosystem of talented luthiers.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dale Fairbanks himself. In our conversation, he recounted his evolution from a jazz trumpeter and guitarist juggling coffee shop jobs to becoming a master luthier. He shared insights into his early days of building guitars in a makeshift porch workshop, the relentless pursuit of refining his craft, and the intriguing challenges of fulfilling custom orders. His story is as compelling as the instruments he creates, revealing the rich background that shapes each Fairbanks guitar.
From Jazz Trumpet to Guitar Craft: An Unexpected Turn
Dale’s musical journey began with the trumpet at the age of nine, an instrument that carried him through his studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. His early musical explorations were deeply rooted in jazz, tracing its history from the legendary Louis Armstrong to the innovative sounds of Miles Davis. However, a chance encounter with fingerstyle guitar at 15 sparked a new passion.
“My girlfriend taught me guitar, fingerpicking stuff,” Fairbanks recalls, “and we went to see a house concert in Providence with Paul Geremia. I was transfixed.” This experience opened up a new world of musical possibilities. He immersed himself in the fingerpicking styles of masters like Elizabeth Cotten and Reverend Gary Davis, drawn to the looser, more improvisational approach of artists like Geremia and Tom Rush. “Because of him, I had a really hard attack,” Fairbanks notes, reflecting on Geremia’s influence. “I was also heavily influenced by Tom Rush’s first album, Blues, Songs, and Ballads, and Reverend Gary Davis—I listened to Harlem Street Singer on repeat throughout college.”
Dale Fairbanks in his Vermont workshop, where he meticulously crafts his vintage-inspired guitars.
This deep dive into guitar music, coupled with his background in jazz trumpet, laid the foundation for his future as a luthier. While performing gigs on both trumpet and guitar, Fairbanks found himself drawn to the resonant tones of 12-string baritone guitars, inspired by legends like Lead Belly and Charlie Patton. The desire to own such an instrument, coupled with limited financial resources, led him down an unexpected path. “Around that time, Del Arte in California released their Lead Belly 12-string. It was the first new guitar I’d seen in that style, but I couldn’t afford it,” he explains. This sparked a pivotal moment: “So, I bought William Cumpiano’s book, Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology, and I read it cover to cover more than a dozen times over the course of a year.”
The Piazza Workshop: Building Dreams from Scratch
Fueled by his newfound knowledge and a burning desire to create, Fairbanks embarked on his guitar-making journey. A vintage Gibson L-00, acquired at the Fretted Instrument Workshop in Amherst, Massachusetts, further solidified his fascination with classic guitars and inspired him to build his own. His first workshop was far from conventional – a small, enclosed porch in his Brighton apartment.
“It was a six-by-12-foot space, and I hauled a drill press and a bandsaw up there,” Fairbanks recounts. He ingeniously adapted tools and techniques, even modifying a hand plane to thin rosewood plates, a testament to his resourcefulness and determination. “I don’t know why I thought that was a good idea—it took a really long time,” he laughs, looking back at his early experiments. His ambitious goal was to build a 12-string baritone guitar, a project that would take time and perseverance.
Relocating to his parents’ basement in Connecticut in 2000 provided more space and a dedicated workshop. He scaled back his hours at Starbucks to dedicate more time to guitar making, driven by a perfectionist spirit. “It took me a long time to build that first 12-string because I really wanted to get it right, and I had a lot of false starts,” he admits. His commitment to detail extended to crafting custom herringbone purfling, showcasing his dedication to quality and vintage aesthetics from the very beginning. The completion of his first 12-string guitar marked the culmination of years of learning, experimentation, and unwavering dedication.
From Basement Builds to Fairbanks Guitars: Finding His Stride
The journey from a basement workshop to establishing Fairbanks Guitars was a gradual but steady progression. After building around 10 to 15 guitars, Fairbanks began to focus on creating instruments that would resonate with a wider audience. A pivotal moment came with his connection to Dakota Dave Hull, a renowned ragtime fingerstyle guitarist.
“Early on, I met Dakota Dave Hull,” Fairbanks explains. “He’s a ragtime fingerstyle guitarist based in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area… the very first one I sold—number 15—went to him.” Hull’s endorsement and continued use of his Fairbanks guitar on tour provided invaluable validation and exposure. Hull also facilitated connections with key figures in the guitar world, including a Japanese dealer and Hoffman Guitars in Minneapolis, further expanding Fairbanks’ reach. These connections ultimately led to a breakthrough with The Music Emporium, a prestigious guitar store.
Bringing a slope-shoulder dreadnought to The Music Emporium was a significant step. While the initial reception was lukewarm, a subsequent call from a co-owner changed everything. “One of the owners seemed lukewarm, but later his co-owner called me and said, ‘I think we really like it. You should bring it back up and we’ll sell it.'” This marked the beginning of Fairbanks Guitars’ presence in the retail market and provided the confidence boost needed to further develop his craft and business.
Building a Dedicated Shop and Joining Forces with Adam Buchwald
As demand for his guitars grew, Fairbanks recognized the need for a dedicated workspace. Converting a detached garage at his home in West Hartford, Connecticut, into a professional shop was a significant undertaking. “It took about three years to convert this garage I had into a shop,” he recalls. This involved insulating and upgrading the space, installing a spray booth, and creating a functional and inspiring environment for guitar making.
The Fairbanks F-20 Standard, inspired by vintage Gibson L-00 models, showcases Fairbanks’ commitment to classic design and exceptional tone.
Around 2016, Fairbanks’ path intersected again with Adam Buchwald, a fellow luthier and entrepreneur. Their shared passion for guitar making and mutual respect led to a significant collaboration. Fairbanks purchased Buchwald’s old thickness sander, which initiated a closer working relationship. In 2019, Buchwald presented Fairbanks with an exciting opportunity: joining forces at Allied Lutherie in Vermont. “He called me and said, ‘I have this opportunity to buy Allied Lutherie. What should I do?’ I said, ‘Look, if you want to take on that responsibility and move that company from California to Vermont, and you have that sort of energy, then please go right ahead. I would love to have you up there supplying me wood.'”
This conversation quickly evolved into a partnership. Buchwald invited Fairbanks to join him in Vermont to help develop Iris Guitars and contribute to the growing luthier community. “Soon after that conversation, he called me again and said, ‘Would you like to come join me?'” Fairbanks recalls. With his wife’s enthusiastic support, he made the move to Vermont, marking a new chapter for Fairbanks Guitars and a significant collaboration with Adam Buchwald.
Collaboration and Craftsmanship: The Fairbanks Philosophy
The partnership with Adam Buchwald initially involved a 50/50 ownership structure, but as the business expanded to encompass Allied Lutherie, Circle Strings, and Iris Guitars, it evolved. Fairbanks entrusted Buchwald to manage the overarching business, allowing him to focus on his passion: building guitars.
While their visions for business growth differed – Fairbanks preferring a smaller scale and Buchwald aiming for expansion – their shared commitment to quality and craftsmanship remained strong. Fairbanks played a key role in designing the Iris Guitars line while continuing to develop and refine his own Fairbanks Guitars. His building style, rooted in vintage techniques but incorporating modern improvements, complements Buchwald’s approach, creating distinct guitar lines with different price points and appeals.
“I’ve kept my own style of building, which is different from Adam’s,” Fairbanks explains. “That’s a good thing, since we want separate lines with different price points.” He emphasizes his focus on improving upon vintage designs, incorporating features like dovetail joints and double-action truss rods, and paying meticulous attention to details like top thickness and brace stiffness – aspects sometimes overlooked in factory production. While embracing helpful modern technologies like CNC machines to ease physical strain, Fairbanks remains deeply involved in the critical aspects of guitar making, including hand-applied bursts, ensuring the unique character of each Fairbanks guitar.
Custom Creations and Vintage Inspiration: The Best of Both Worlds
Fairbanks Guitars strikes a balance between stock models and custom creations. While a significant portion of his work involves fulfilling dealer orders for popular models, custom projects hold a special appeal. “Most of my work—about 60 to 75 percent—is custom,” Fairbanks estimates. “Dealers order straightforward guitars that sell well, but private clients often ask for unique builds.”
These custom builds showcase Fairbanks’ versatility and willingness to collaborate with clients to bring their visions to life. He describes projects ranging from guitars inlaid with Vermont flora and fauna to a tribute guitar incorporating wagon wheel and red cardinal inlays. These unique creations, often two-year-long endeavors, highlight the personal connection and artistic depth that Fairbanks brings to his craft.
Whether crafting a straightforward model for a dealer or a highly personalized custom instrument, Dale Fairbanks remains dedicated to creating guitars with a rich backstory – instruments that resonate with vintage charm, exceptional tone, and the spirit of handcrafted excellence. His journey from a jazz musician to a respected luthier is woven into the very fabric of each Fairbanks guitar, offering players not just an instrument, but a piece of musical history brought to life.
