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Benjamin R. Wilcox:
Builder and Creator of BRW Musical Instruments

I began BRW Musical Instruments in order to combine my talents as a builder, an artist, and a musician into a business that would provide musical instrument lovers with high quality musical instruments that would elevate their enjoyment of their overall musical experiences to a higher level. I offer personal one-of-a-kind attention to each customer and instrument. I enjoy working with each customer and giving them a chance to experience and take part in the creative process. I realize that the instrument will be used as an extension of the customer's personal expression and therefore gaining insight into the customer's own artistic and creative desires is a valuable asset in creating a custom instrument for them.

Though personalized construction and individualism are valuable characteristics of my business, I also place consistency and standardization among my ideals. I strive to expand my instrument construction into new forms in a creative yet thoughtful manner. New designs and shapes are only cosidered viable if they facilitate the instrument in a positive manner and increase the level of quality. I also intend to give the musical instrument shopper the opportunity to purchase a standard and uncustomized instrument that retains the look and feel of a custom made piece. I build not only out of personal motivations as an artisan but also out of a desire to bring a higher level of quality to the consumers who seek a fuller, more satisfying musical instrument purchasing and playing experience.

Background:

From the time I was a kid, I have always had a fascination with building things. I had a closet full of model airplanes and enjoyed working on any project I could get going whether it be carving figures, doing woodburning art, or making totem poles! One of my strongest childhood aspirations was to be an artist. I spent a lot of my time drawing, painting and working on two dimensional art. I had a strong fascination with wood because of its beauty and versatility.

As my teen years came around I discovered the guitar and became engaged in not only playing music but also investigating its properties and how it is made and manipulated. In high school I had the opportunity to build a flattop acoustic guitar with local hammered dulcimer builder, Michael C. Allen of Cloud Nine Musical Instruments. Building my first guitar was the experience that convinced me I could meld my loves of design, art, and music together. The idea of building a piece of functional, musical art fit well with my personal aptitudes. Combining my greatest interests into building instruments and pursuing that as a career was a natural decision.

I spent several years working with Michael C. Allen doing both experimental work of my own and learning the basic wood-working and instrument construction skills I would need. My adventures in guitar construction led to an invitation to work at the Fifth Avenue Fret Shop under Phil Maneri and Kraig Phillips. During the several years of work with Phil at the Fretshop, I acquired training in professional restoration, repair, and construction of guitars. I cultivated a pallete of skills and a familiarity with the musical instrument market at the proffesionial level.

It was there that I first encountered a mandolin, an F-Style. Its design immediately captivated me, and I made the decision to shift my attention from guitars to mandolins. I immediately loved the artistry of the arch-top form and the quality of tone it projected. This discovery gave me inspiration and direction in my building.

Consequently, I started BRW Musical Instruments and, while I was still working part-time at the Fretshop, devoted the rest of my time to developing a line of mandolins for my business. After a few years the time had come to put all of my effort into the mandolin building, so I began working on my BRW Musical Instrument line full-time.

I am currently producing four mandolin models which constitute my standard produciton line. My continuing goal is to is to produce instruments designed to achieve the sound quality, playability, and beauty that inspire the player to reach new musical plateaus. I hope to expand the production into a wide array of mandolin models and perhaps archtop guitars or violin family instruments as well. The future may bring other BRW instruments as varied as ukeleles and electric guitars.

I invite you to join me on my quest to create inspiring, artistic, musical tools that enhance the capabilites and lives of musicians world-wide.

Benjamin R. Wilcox