The following interview with David Schramm by Mel Hallam for fretsandfinger.com was conducted by phone on January 31, 2008. David was at his home in Clovis, California with his wife and children. The interview continues over the various pages about the Schramm guitars.
Dave, thanks for taking the time to talk, I know you are a very busy man. Let's start out by having you tell us about yourself. Where are you from, where were you raised, and what got you into music?
SCHRAMM I was born in Santa Barbara, California and grew up in Fresno. I grew up playing the violin from the time I was in the 2nd grade, then I took piano. In the 5th grade I took the trumpet but I found that to be too hard, I had trouble with the small mouthpiece so I tried the trombone and found it easier. In my teanage years I wanted guitar but my parents were against it. They were afraid of the whole drugs and rock and roll thing.
So when did you first get into the guitar?
SCHRAMM While I was 18 in my first year at college I bought a guitar and took lessons. I wanted to learn right - wanted to be classically trained. Scott Montgomery was my first teacher. Scott was like a big brother to me, we had a close friendship. He taught a course in college called Music 27 at Fresno City College which was a beginning guitar class. When he needed to leave he recommended to the college that I take over teaching the class which I did and I have been teaching the same class ever since in the same classroom as Scott.
So did you ever get into rock and roll?
SCHRAMM I did, I got into rock guitar and learning classical at the same time. I was into Randy Rhodes who was a classical guitarist as well as rock. Got good quick, I practiced 10 to 15 hours day.
What were your ambitions before becoming a guitar maker?
SCHRAMM I went to university to study business, my father was in business so I was a business marketing major at first. I was also really into ice hockey and was asking myself, 'do I want to be in sports or business or music.' I didn't really know what I wanted to do!
When did you build your first guitar and how did that come about? Did you have any woodworking experience or other skills that would lend themselves to guitar making?
SCHRAMM I came from a musical and artistic family and I was into wood carving early on. I use to make my own toys if my parents couldn't afford them. I built the first guitar in my dorm room. When I was at Northridge they had a wood shop in the Student Union were I worked and I looked in the library for books on guitar making. When I finally decided to build a guitar and found wood sources and educational resources like American Lutherie I bought a bench-top drill press then got a shop vacuum. I actually had these in my dorm room. By this time I was 25 years old and was one of the oldest guys there in the dorms. I would hear people talking outside the door and wondering what I was doing in my dorm room like I was some mad scientist or crazy person.
I refretted the guitar I had at the time and soon built my first guitar. I have the very first guitar that I made; it's not pretty but sounds pretty good. I am still playing the second guitar to this day. It's pretty beat up but sounds good. I sold it once for $700 but I got it back. I took it to Scott Tenant who liked it and encouraged me to build more. I was a guitar student of Scott's in the early1990's. I asked Michael Chapdelaine to look at it and he was very encouraging. Michael said, "I think you found your niche." That was it. After hearing those words I knew what I wanted to do. Oscar Ghiglia played it and he encouraged me to pursue guitar making. I was working on my bachelor's recital and it was around then that I changed my mind to being a maker instead of player.
Do you follow a particular school of playing technique? Tell us about your teachers and who some of your favorite players are.
SCHRAMM Ron Purcell at Northridge was a great teacher who influenced me and not just in playing, but guitar history and literature too. He studied with Emilio Pujol who in turn was a student of Tarrega. That way of playing really influenced my technique. That and the Romero method was the greatest influence on me as a player. The players I like to listen to the most are Tennant, Sakellariou, Ben Verdery, and Pepe Romero. I love Bream and Williams. I like the variety. I've met so many professional players over the years and wouldn't want to leave anyone out. Michael Chaplain has had a big influence on me, but really the Romero technique makes the most sense and I love talking to Romero students because you always learn something new.
Were there any favorite master classes that stand out in your memory?
Yes, two of them. My first masterclass with George Sakellariou, and when I was selected to play for Pepe Romero.
So how many guitars have you built so far?
I made over 120 guitars and 30 of those have been lattice braced.
It seems then that you are mostly self taught. Did you have any hands-on mentoring from any other guitar makers and who are the makers who have had the greatest influence on you?
SCHRAMM There is a recording called Sakura by George Sakellariou that was played on a John Gilbert guitar. George was the finest professional player and to me, the sound of the Gilbert on the Sakura recording is the ultimate sound for a guitar. Ron Purcell has the Gilbert #90 from 1984 which is one of the best Gilbert guitars I ever played. Around 1994 or 1995 I got up the courage and called John Gilbert and arranged a meeting with him and his son Bill. I went to his shop and met with him. He is the most amazing person. He has had the greatest influence on my work.
What is he like?
SCHRAMM There is no hype about the guitar with him. His approach is to measure strength, weight and thickness. That's what he always talked about. He had been an engineer for Hewlett Packard and while still there he would take home these expensive pieces of equipment and test guitars. He was doing all kinds of testing in the 1960's and 70's that guys do now. I have a 1998 Bill Gilbert guitar.
What does he think of the lattice bracing concept?
SCHRAMM I showed Gilbert one of my lattice braced guitars about a year or so ago, but he wasn't interested in making changes. It wasn't his cup of tea and he's had his methods down for a long time.
The guitars below are by the American luthier, David Schramm. Three are lattice braced instruments and one was closely modeled on a Rodriguez that was formerly owned by guitarist Bill Kanengiser. Each instrument is a masterpiece. Click on a picture below to see more pictures of each guitar and read the story behind each one. There you will also find information on how to purchase the guitar.
To learn more about David Schramm, read the interview below which continues about the guitars on the guitar pages.
Cedar and Cocobolo with
Redwood Lattice Bracing
Cedar and Bird's Eye Maple with
Redwood Lattice Bracing
Cedar and Brazilian Rosewood with
Balsa & Carbon Fiber Lattice Bracing
Interview :
