Q.Dan, when did you start plying the guitar… how did you get into all of this?

A. I started playing the guitar when I was 13 after three years in school band playing trumpet. I was much more intense about the guitar and progresses quickly. I loved the tone it made and I was interested in the instrument itself and how it was constructed.

Q. You have been in the industry for some time, how did you get into it?

A. As a teenager I was interested in any job around the local music store. I taught lessons, restrung guitars and moved pianos.  In my early 20’s I went to work full time for Gruhn Guitars in Nashville as a salesman and quickly developed a knack for buying instruments. That was a very natural progression in the used and vintage guitar business.  I was very adept at both buying and selling and was also a good student of business and stringed instrument mentor, George Gruhn. I worked at George’s elbow for years and later managed his business until late 2001. I then spent 4 ½ years at Gibson and worked in both the Bluegrass and Custom divisions learning much about the manufacture and distribution of high quality, traditionally designed instruments. After Gibson I spent two years as a district sales manager in the southeast visiting stores and servicing accounts. I joined Two Old Hippies in Early 2009 as the guitar guy.

Q. I know this can be hard to answer, but what is your favorite type of music to play – listen to?

A. I listen to early 70’s British Rock and American pop, the music I was listening to in high school. I developed a taste for bluegrass, string band, and pre war jazz in the mid 70’s so it was all added to the listening list. I also like world music mixed in when I am in that mood.

Q. What is the most rewarding aspect of designing guitars?

A. Two most rewarding aspects: Hearing the guitar played and someone saying ‘I like that’.

Q. With so many acousitc guitar brands on the market, what is the difference between a Bedell and, say, other brands?

A. Bedell Guitars are handcrafted guitars made of choice, seasoned materials. They are solid wood with improved traditional designs and features at the best price we can provide to our customers. A great sounding, good looking well constructed and smooth playing guitar is our goal with each and every instrument we build.

Q. Why do you do, what you do?

A. I love guitars, the guitar business, guitar players and guitar tones. To be able to design an instrument that is accepted or admired in such a crowded industry is thrilling and allows me to participate in a different thought process than simply speculating about a new instrument or series of instruments. I have had decades of exceptional opportunities to examine and evaluate the very best fretted instruments with peers and expert luthiers and have had numerous in depth conversations regarding tone and playability. Being able to translate that experience into a particular guitar or design refinement is a dream come true.

At Bedell Guitars, we use woods from:

We utilize exotic woods of North America, Africa, India, Europe and South America.  We also use smaller amounts of woods from Indonesia and Central America.

The solid woods used to craft your Bedell Guitar not only create a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous appearance for your instrument. More important, the woods-coupled with your playing style, of course-give your instrument its unique sound. All of our woods are individually hand-selected from the finest supplies to ensure a quality instrument and sound we’re certain you’ll appreciate. Once it’s cut, our wood is cured for more than two years at a precisely controlled temperature and humidity level so it’s perfect for crafting your instrument.

To learn more about the woods we use, check out http://www.bedellguitars.com/solid-wood/