We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Josh Lamkin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Josh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I started Lamkin Guitars almost by accident. I had friends and classmates back in Boston who would regularly come to me to have work done on their instruments because the local guitar shops took forever to do work, and they charged a small fortune. Lamkin Guitars became the local budget friendly option for local musicians. As I transitioned into building custom Guitars and Basses, I wanted to keep the same philosophy of crafting instruments made to be played by working musicians; Most importantly within a budget that makes it accessible to the everyday musician. Music is such a personal experience, and I believe that the guitar you choose to play is an extension of yourself. With that in mind, a guitar built for someone should be a representation of how they play and who they are as an artist. I work directly with each client to craft something personal that they’ll hopefully have and use forever. My goal for the future of Lamkin Guitars is to get my instruments into as many players hands as possible. I love nothing more than seeing my guitars and basses being played around Nashville. It is a truly humbling experience.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been fascinated by the guitar for as long as I can remember, some might even call it an obsession. Growing up, I would sketch out my own designs on the backs of class worksheets and tear apart and modify any cheap instrument I could get my hands on. By my high school and college years I had started building my first guitars completely from scratch. Throughout my college years in Boston, I began to gain some attention from the local musicians. While the bigger music shops charged an arm and a leg for their services, I was offering my friends and classmates basic repairs and maintenance that was high quality, accessible, and affordable. Ironically, in 2020 while most of the world was in lockdown, I had more time on my hands than I knew what to do with, so I deep dived into the world of luthiery. It was during this time that Lamkin Guitars was born. I got my first 2 commissions that year, “Rose” and “Charles”, the guitars that launched the brand. Fast forward another year and I made the leap to move down to Nashville. I’ve been so fortunate since moving, word of mouth spreads like wildfire and the connections I’ve been able to make have launched Lamkin Guitars into a proper business. Being able to see my guitars and basses being played around town is extremely humbling and it inspires me to keep innovating and improving my designs.
I truly believe that the guitar is an extension of the musician, and it should be crafted in a way which reflects the musicians playing style, personality, and sonic needs. I work closely with each of my clients to find the perfect woods, pickups, and any other materials needed to create an instrument that hopefully they’ll be playing for the rest of their life. My goal with Lamkin Guitars is to continue to serve my community of working musicians. Whether it’s performing setups and maintenance, or crafting a custom made instrument, I’ve continued to keep the same philosophy, to offer the highest quality of work, with a quick turnaround, and accessibility to all musicians.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth has been the most valuable tool in my business. It all stems from customer relationships. I try to be as communicative as possible, and I always make the effort to follow up post-service to ensure the customer is satisfied with my work. I think that its the relationships I’ve built between myself and my community that has really helped propel my brand forward. Most of my business comes from referrals from previous clients. Basically, build good personal relationships and the work will come.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Youtube. Youtube youtube youtube. The amount of knowledge and information that is accessible at the click of a button is insane. I learned probably 90% of what I do from youtube. Theres a really great channel called “Crimson Guitars”, he’s a builder out in the UK doing some amazing work. There are hundreds if not thousands of videos outlining and demonstrating the processes of building guitars. Even with launching an LLC, or opening a bank account, or figuring out taxes, youtube is a great starting point. Obviously do your research, don’t just take one source or opinion, but youtube is arguably one of the greatest free resources out there for learning new skills.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lamkinguitars.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamkinguitars/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamkinguitars
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Mike Kindel