In a small workshop just outside of Whitesville, seasoned luthier Willis Howard is on a mission to keep the art of instrument-making alive in his community. Over the past year, Howard has created a local luthiers’ guild, bringing together craftsmen and aspiring builders to share knowledge, skills, and passion for this meticulous craft.
What started as casual gatherings among friends like Joe Christian, Rocky Northern, and Mark Royal quickly grew into something more. Technically, Howard’s workshop sits in the small community of Oklahoma, so they named themselves the Oklahoma Luthiers Club.
“We’d joke about starting a luthiers’ club every time we met,” Howard said. “Then we realized there might be other people out there building instruments who’d want to join us, so we made it official.”
Today, the guild has around 18 regular members who meet monthly, supporting not only each other but also the younger generations.
“We thought, why not share this with the youth who are interested but might not have the resources?” He said.
That idea became reality when two local teens, Peyton O’Brien and Ethan Jarboe, expressed interest in building their own guitars. With Howard’s guidance, they spent weekends and evenings crafting instruments from scratch in his workshop.
“I was amazed at their dedication and craftsmanship,” Howard said. “I decided then that once they finished, I’d surprise them by giving them the guitar they built.”
The moment Howard revealed his plan, the boys were speechless. He said their jaws hit the floor, as these instruments typically sell for between $3,000 and $4,000.
Inspired by their success, the guild continues to grow. Howard’s neighbor, who built his own guitar with Howard’s help, donated wood so the boys could each build another guitar.
“It’s really becoming a community effort,” Howard said. “People in our guild are donating materials and time to help these kids learn.”
The guild has also attracted attention beyond Howard’s immediate circle. Mike Hawkins, a local resident, is currently crafting his guitar in Howard’s shop, and a mother from Leitchfield plans to bring her two daughters to learn the craft.
Howard is applying for nonprofit status as the guild expands, hoping to secure donations to cover material costs and offer scholarships.
“We want to educate people who truly want to build an instrument,” he said. “There’s so much talent out there; if we can help nurture that, it’s worth every effort.”
For Howard, the most rewarding part is seeing young people not only build but also play the instruments they’ve created.
“Watching those boys pick up the guitars they made and strum the first chord, knowing they did it all themselves—it’s a feeling like no other,” Howard said. “That’s what this guild is all about—passing on the craft and the joy that comes with it.”
