Join local luthier Alex Edney for an exploration of the intersection between utility and artistry. Drawing parallels to Rufus Porter’s philosophy of elevating the practical through innovation, Edney will discuss his process for crafting custom guitars near the White Mountain National Forest. Discover how he harvests and utilizes local, indigenous tree species to create instruments that are not only acoustically resonant but visually stunning—embodying the timeless, shared principle of making the useful things around us beautiful.

Participants will learn fundamental bracing techniques. Alex will demonstrate on a dreadnougt-style guitar face. The dreadnought is a large-bodied acoustic guitar know for rich tone and powerful projections.

Presenter Biography

Luthier Alex Edney has been captivated by the artistic and physical principles of guitar acoustics for most of his life. This passion for luthiery began during his teenage years while performing basic instrument repairs at a neighborhood music shop. After graduating high school, Edney built his inaugural flattop guitar under the mentorship provided by the Vermont Instruments School of Luthiery.

In 2007, he earned formal credentials in instrument repair as a graduate of Atlanta Guitar Works. Following a career based in the greater Boston region that lasted until 2021, Edney moved his base of operations to a historic sawmill site located in western Maine. Currently, he practices his craft as a local luthier near the White Mountain National Forest, where he draws creative inspiration and harvests materials directly from the indigenous tree species that form the foundation of his handcrafted instruments.