"Love for Fingerstyle guitar and my tendency to obsess on overdoing, has resulted in continuous refinement of my Fingerstyle SJ model."

WHAT INFLUENCED THE CHARIS GUITAR TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY -

The primary influence for my instruments is Fingerstyle guitar. The master of this style (IMHO) is Phil Keaggy. I have designed and continue to refine my Small Jumbo (SJ) guitar to excel for this style music. The size of the body, scale length, bracing, etc. are all chosen with this style music in mind. The guitar is expressive, balanced, and easy to play, with a broad dynamic range. It has good clarity in addition to lively harmonics responding well to tapping/slapping techniques. The scale length is chosen to facilitate alternate tunings allowing tuning of the low E to D and C with good sustain and volume, while not being muddy. The top bracing is a standard X brace. However, I have modified the bracing below the bridge plate from the typical tone bars to a modified fan pattern which helps achieve the character I am after. Interestingly, the design also results in an instrument that is often used for leading worship, which is very gratifying to me.

Love for Fingerstyle guitar and my tendency to obsess on overdoing, has resulted in continuous refinement of my Fingerstyle SJ model. I see no need to try to be everything to every player. While I have made some dreadnought guitars, 12 string guitars, an acoustic bass or two, and a few baritone guitars, my primary focus is the SJ body instrument.