Luthier Mike Tracz Visits Oberlin Studio

Mike Tracz, guitar builder, with two very small guitars

Mike Tracz (sounds like "trace"), a Cleveland-based guitar builder, dropped in for a visit with my students. He had built two tiny guitars, sized about like a baritone uke, and he was as excited about showing them as I was to see them. I've always been a fan of smaller instruments, observing as I have, how many players struggle with the length of the standard guitar neck. Of course, a guitar THIS small is a bit unusual. But they are beautifully constructed, sound well and play easily. Mike was delighted to hear virtuoso works by Bach, Barrios and others, played on them, and my students and I enjoyed very much playing and listening to them too.

The instruments were made of local curly maple with western red cedar tops. One was set up at standard pitch while the other was pitched at A. Besides their obvious appeal for use as children's instruments, we discussed in class the many interesting uses they might have in our world, including as ensemble instruments, for those with small hands, as a novelty and so on. We look forward to future collaborations. For those who are interested in these, contact Mike at his email: mctracz@yahoo.com.

From left: Mike Tracz, Mohit Dubey, Rebecca Klein, Aidan Wiley-Lippke, Brian King, Craig Slagh, Collin Sterne and Julia Humphrey.