About Don Sharp
Luthier Don Sharp began building handmade guitars in 1988 while living near the Martin Guitar factory. He visited many times. and the more he visited, the more he wanted to learn to build a guitar with its own unique sound. The more he played, the more he wanted a guitar that suited his own playing style.
In 1988, Don built his first guitar from scratch (no kits). And so, a luthier was born.
Constantly a student, he continues to learn, drawing inspiration from respected luthiers in the guitar building community. Through their influence, Don has created his own "signature sound" which he describes as "refined and well-balanced with extra sparkle."
His love for building guitars prompted him to earn his masters degree in physics at Auburn University.
At the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, he introduced a new bracing style, which he calls "contemporary". Robin at Guitar Gallery had this to say about a guitar using the new bracing method:
"This guitar is fantastically muscial. One hears all kinds of natural reverb and pure overtones. Not a jumble of sounds, but lots of color to each note with a purity. Quite hard to describe, but unbelievably beautiful in person."