Local Artist Crafts Custom Guitars

There are many kinds of artists, each working in a medium of their choice. All of them strive for recognition. Bakersfield's Bill Gruggett has been producing beautifully hand-crafted guitars for the better part of 32 years, and is recognized as one of the best of the custom guitar makers in the country. Each one-of-a-kind instrument is built to the specifications of the musician who will eventually play it. When finished it is not only an instrument, but a stand-alone work of art. When you see one of Bill's masterpieces, you almost expect to see a sign saying, "Look, but please don't touch." Very few Gruggett guitar owners would feel comfortable seeing their prized instrument in someone else's hands. He recently presented one of these unique instruments to his friend of many years, Red Simpson, pictured below.

Born in Tulare [CA], Sept 14, 1937, Bill finished high school there and moved to Bakersfield in 1955. He played bass and sang in a band for several years. After repairing his own and others' guitars for a few years, he decided he would try to build his own. As his skill increased, he became more and more in demand to make and repair the instruments of fellow musicians-until he finally went to work for the Mosrite Guitar Company, a company formed by the partnership of Semie Moseley and a man named Boatwrite. At one time, Mosrite had a payroll of 125 employees and produced substantial quantities of guitars in Bakersfield. Bill was in charge of quality control with Mosrite for four years. (The company subsequently moved to Arkansas, and still produces guitars.) When he left Mosrite, he worked for a time for a company called Hallmark. When financial difficulties forced its closure, he opened his own shop.

With the exception of four years when he helped his ailing father in his business, Bill has been working steadily at his trade. He presently works out of his home. He builds his new guitars at a slower pace than formerly, but still manages to make about two every three months.

From specially selected blocks of woods of many kinds, he works his magic to develop each instrument. He uses maple, mahogany, and ash primarily, but he can use any type a client might request. In choosing the wood, he looks for attractive grain and color. He shapes the neck and the body separately with a band saw, sometimes using different kinds of wood bonded together for special effect. When he has these in approximate shape he requires, he begins the sanding and detailed shaping necessary to accomplish the finished guitar.

Much of the early part of the process can be done with power sanders, but the work soon reaches the point when true skill and artistry becomes necessary and power tools are put aside. The final shaping and sanding is done by hand, and requires many hours to accomplish. For the custom paint and detailing, Bill uses fifteen layers of lacquer on each instrument. From start to finish, if can take two months or longer to craft a custom guitar. When finished, the instrument can cost into four figures, but can appreciate in value with time, as is the case with many one-of-a-kind works of art.

He met and became a close friend of Red Simpson shortly after his arrival in Bakersfield. To commemorate their thirty year relationship, Bill and his wife Caroline decided they would like to surprise Red with a custom guitar for his sixtieth birthday. They lured Red to a popular bar and during a break in the music, presented Red with a truly magnificent custom guitar. Red later said, and witnesses confirmed. "It brought tears to my eyes."