Ed Claxton

Ed Claxton is an acoustic and classical guitar maker driven by his love for music and appreciation for fine craftsmanship. Claxton meticulously designs each custom commission, considering factors like body size, neck length, bracing, and wood quality, to achieve the desired sound for each client. His guitars are played by many well known guitarists including: Craig Alden Dell, Raymond Gonzalez, Neil Hogan, Mesut Ozgen, Steve Palazzo, Mike Wollenberg and Doug Young.

He emphasizes the use of hand tools like planes and chisels over powered equipment, finding it more enjoyable and precise. Despite the rising costs and scarcity of tonewoods, Claxton remains committed to using high-quality materials, such as Brazilian rosewood and Italian spruce, to create his guitars. He now builds about six guitars a year, working primarily from his home studio, where he focuses on maintaining consistent quality across his instruments. Claxton notes that his approach to selecting and working with tonewood ensures that each guitar has a consistently excellent sound without the need for extensive tuning adjustments.

Claxton first began building guitars at the University of Texas in Austin. After learning the craft and initially copying a Martin D-28, he sold guitars to local musicians, including notable figures like Jimmy Buffett and Eric Johnson, during Austin's vibrant music scene. Claxton took a 10-year break from guitar making to build wooden boats and furniture in Maine, but eventually returned to lutherie full-time upon moving to Santa Cruz around 1993, where he lives with his wife and Golden Retriever.

Source: Claxton Guitars website (25 August 2024)