I was born in Chicago in 19 hundred and fitty four. My life was pretty much as any kid could expect at that time, until, later at the age of 10, I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. I was amazed at the sound that they produced, new and different. Along with other bands influences, I knew this is what I wanted to do.After that, I started making guitars out of cardboard and rubber bands. While listening to their music, I even tried to play their songs on my rubber band instruments. After receiving first real guitar in 1965, I immediately began customizing it.I ruined a series of cheap guitars over the next few years. This culminated one night at Dex Card's Wild Goose, where, at the end of my bands first set, I proceeded to destroy, ala Pete Townsend, a perfectly good Supro electric guitar.
Around 1972 I started in earnest on a guitar customizing and refinishing career. This included electrical component change outs, refinishing scratched, and repairing cracked instruments. At the same time I became interested in graphic arts, painting signs, airbrushing custom vans, pin striping motorcycles, etc. This paid the bills, so in 1980 I moved to Florida with new lovely wife
and opened a commercial sign shop in West Palm Beach.I focused on the business and didn't touch a guitar for a ten year period. In 1991 I moved to LA to continue in the sign business and business was good. By that time most of the graphic work was done on computers and not much hand painting was done. Without a real creative outlet I fell out of love with the god dam computer, so I started collecting tools and doing carpentry.I built my first proper guitar in 1998 as a response to failing knees, back, and attitude.
Little did I know at that time, that these experiences would prove to be invaluable
to my new guitar making venture. In 2000, I moved back to Chicago and continued with the guitar building passion of my earlier years. I started building solid body electrics working
in my brother Bill's garage. Then in 2002 I moved to Michigan and built a proper guitar shop. I built my first acoustic guitars at this time, and to date, I have completed
approximately 50 instruments, concentrating on acoustic guitars, both flattop and archtop.
I have also built mandolins, basses and a dozen or so experimental instruments (Octave guitars, and an odd number of string things).
I'm currently working on series of parlor (small) acoustic guitars, paying homage to instruments of the early 1900's. Along with my dog Sonar, I build quality custom guitars with the same excitement and wonder as when I was young. I take great pride not only in the construction of my guitars, but in building
lasting relationships with my customers. If you would like to see some of my work, please visit my Web Page RT Custom Guitars: www.rtcustomguitars.comThank You.
Roy Toepper
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**********Vanessa Davis and her Band at Northalstead Days
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