in his own words...



Posted to the 13th Fret

Hello All,
My name is Aaron Coleman, and I'm a Senior at Millikan High school in Long Beach California. What I have to say isn't going to shock anyone who knows Kathy Wingert; she's incredible. I just read the post she put up about me, and I feel compelled to let you all know just how amazing the experience was for me.

I came to Kathy at the beginning of the year with visions of creating my own acoustic guitar. At the time, I wasn't in any position to buy myself a nice one (actually my dream guitar was a Taylor 810). So, I decided that as my senior project, I'd build a guitar. There was no way for me to understand how much that entails, and Kathy tried to explain how much it would require of me, but I just persisted in thinking I could do it, alone if I needed to. However, she took me in to her shop, one step at a time until she finally realized I wasn't going to leave her alone. Kathy and I have spent close to 100 hours together I'd say, and I can tell you that she is one amazing person. One who can explain and communicate what they know to others, is someone who really has a mastery on what they know. Kathy was my teacher the whole way through the creation of my guitar, as I knew nothing about building one, or even much about woodworking in general.

Upon completing my guitar and taking it to school, I found out that even my senior project teachers had taken bets as to when I would submit a formal change of project form. They, my classmates, my parents, and my close friends were astonished when they saw and heard the final guitar. It is not of Kathy Wingert guitar excellence, not by a mile, but it is an incredible instrument that I built to fit my needs. After a few days it started to come into it's sounds and I'm shocked. At one point this year I bought my Taylor 810, and now there are thoughts that run through my mind about selling it, because my own guitar has a sound much more pronounced then my Taylor.

Most senior projects from my class were a little bland. As far as mentors go, they were usually a parent, an uncle or aunt, or a friend. Perhaps what made my project truly unique is that I went out in to the field and found someone I had never met. What is even more incredible is that Kathy gave her time and her attention to me, a total stranger with a bunch of wood hoping to make a guitar. And I didn't find just some ordinary struggling Luthier, I found one of the best. Her knowledge and intuition about guitar creation astounded me. How someone can be so in-tune with a guitar during it's creation will baffle me forever. It's like she can understand exactly what is going on with the guitar. I'd say, "Why is it doing this?" and she'd look at it and say "oh, because you did this."

While at the shop I had a chance to play a few Wingert guitars. Well, for any of you who have had that same privilege, you know what I'm going to say. They're perfection on earth. I've seen Kathy work, and so much of her heart and soul goes in to every guitar that you'd think each one of her children. And the results prove this. For all of you that are in a position at this stage in your life to obtain a Wingert guitar, do it. I know that if I am lucky enough to make a living in time to catch Kathy before she stops building I'm going to have her create me my own beauty. However, if I don't catch that opportunity, and I only start my living too late, you better bet that I'll be finding someone who has a Wingert, and I'll just have to pay top dollar for it.

Kathy, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for your help. I’ll appreciate it whenever I pick my guitar and play, whether it be tomorrow or my years in college, or the James Taylor tunes I teach my kids.
Many praises,
Aaron