Chris Hanlin, Luthier

Originally appeared in the July 27, 2018 issue of the Sonoma Index-Tribune

Casual concert goers at this summer’s big shows are probably very excited about seeing the headliner perform.  Before the show begins, they might notice the little army of people dressed in black swarming around the stage; lighting guys, sound guys, and technicians. One of those technicians, the “guitar tech”, does all the stuff that the headliner used to do before he or she hit the big time, like tuning guitars and changing strings.

For the casual musician, things are considerably different. Changing strings is one thing, but the fine adjustments that string instruments sometime require calls for a skilled individual.  The adjusting of a neck, re-gluing of a bridge…better take it to a pro.

Chris Hanlin is such a pro, and a local guy at that.  More than a “guitar tech”, he is a “luthier”, one who “builds or repairs stringed instruments” (Wikipedia). Hanlin is skilled enough at repairing fine wooden instruments that he is authorized by one of the most revered American guitar manufacturers to repair their guitars. When the call went out on social media for the name of a reputable local luthier, his name came up on top.

Soft spoken yet passionate, Hanlin is also an accomplished musician who has toured and played throughout the United States. With two solo albums available, and at least five more available with his various bands, Hanlin is comfortably balancing the life of a musician and craftsman. His guitar playing takes him all over the greater Bay Area, and his guitar repairing keeps him in his cozy workshop located down a shady lane in El Verano.

Born in rural Indiana to a four generation retail family, Hanlin’s first instrument was the drums. “In Indiana, what do you have to play? Drums!” He played in his high school band. He says, “I was the littlest bass drummer.” One summer while at band camp, during the free time in the evening, he came across two older band camp attendees, and his life was changed by the discovery of a new passion.  These two fellas were playing guitar and singing Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel songs.  He found what they were doing to be “absolutely fascinating.” He soon became enthralled by guitars, and later all fretted instruments. 

Hanlin moved to California in 1989, and “although I had not been a ‘tool guy’ prior to that”, he landed a position working at World of Strings, a fine instrument repair shop in Long Beach.  He apprenticed under Bob Mattingly, the most renown luthier in Southern California. Working with wooden instruments that are all slightly different sometimes required specific tools.  Mattingly once told him, “If you don’t have the right tool for the job, make it yourself.”

He has some tools that were handed down to him when Mattingly died.  “His bridge clamps, they’re worth everything to me.”

His shop in El Verano is packed with tools.  And instruments.  Some are waiting to be repaired.  Ohers are waiting to be picked up and reborn in the hands of their owners.  His bench is orderly, full of the kind of hand tools not seen in hardware stores.  He has special clamps, files, straightedges, and gauges.  Guitar necks and bodies hang from the ceiling.  Cases are stashed under benches. 

Fifteen years at the work bench has made him an expert, but he stillplaysthe guitar, too.  Very recently, Hanlin was in an Oakland recording studio “playing acoustic guitar like Keith Richards” on songs by his friend, David Marquette.

Years ago, Hanlin fronted a band called “Bourbon Jones”.  They toured extensively throughout the Midwest.  “We lived in a van.  It was fun, but it was a young man’s thing.” It was a tough lifestyle, all spent “in the service of those two hours onstage.”

Now living in what he calls “the American Tuscany”, he said, “Why wouldn’t you want to be home?” He lives with his wife Kelly, whom he met at a gig in Long Beach, and their 5 year old son.  He spends a lot of time writing music and has recently contributed music to an independent film.  

After discussing performing music with a band on the road, and trading it for life at the bench, Hanlin turned reflective, and said, “Maybe that is a shortcoming on my part, maybe it was a copout.” But he feels very fortunate to have the “home, family life, heath, and security” that a performer’s life lacks.  

Repair this guitar, play that one.  He seems to have found a perfect balance.